Asia is a home to thousands of ethnic groups and a diverse variety of Asian languages. Over time, our ancestors have shared bits and pieces of languages with each other, and with migration and globalization, variations of dialects and bilingual languages now take root in our multifaceted Asian identities. Language exists as a connector from individuals to their identity, then those individuals to a community.
To celebrate AANHPI month, I have compiled a list of favorite words and phrases in some of your Asian languages:
Definition: An honorific of what younger siblings would call the eldest sibling
Example: “Ai’long can you buy me robux?”
From Humaira
Definition: A brother
Example: “My anna is a loser.”
From Anonymous
Definition: Bad, hard-headed, bold
Example: “Nag bangad!”
From Joeph
Definition: Term to use when properly addressing an older sibling
Example: “Thank you bong Emily for the birthday present!”
From Anonymous
Definition: Darling
Example: “How are you chellam?”
From Shalini
Definition: Chicken
Example: “I am eating cookard.”
From Kavneet
Definition: Life
Example: “Meri jaan.”
From Sachmitt Kaur
Definition: Beautiful
Example: “You are khoobsurat.”
From Anonymous
Definition: Do your best
Example: “Lalaingem!”
From Jaykub
Definition: Bag
Example: “Go get me the Lifafa.”
From Aishwarya Chawla
Definition: Love
Example: “Mujhse tumse mohabbat hai.”
From Anushreya Karir
Definition: Grandma
Example: “I love my Paati.”
From Keerthi
Definition: Sun
Example: “Sooraj is out today.”
From Simran
Definition: Grandpa
Example: “I love my Thatha.”
From Disha
Definition: Life
Example: “Zindagi na milegi dobara.”
From Anonymous
Definition: Term to use when you’re properly addressing a younger person or sibling
Example: “Nong, are you hungry?”
From Jasmine
Definition: In a wider world, there are people more talented than oneself
Example: “若你自認高人一籌，切記：人外有人 天外有天” (“If you think yourself superior, remember, in a wider world, there are always people more gifted than oneself.”)
From Kevin
Definition: Aw, i just want…
Example: “你不来？啊我就想。。。” (“You’re not coming? Aw, i just want…”)
From Athena Bao
Definition: Garden
Example: “有小鳥在花園裡”
From Eileen Chang
Definition: Oh my
Example: “아이고, 뭐하노~”
From Sarah Kim
Definition: Uh oh
Example: “아이고, it’s OK, you got it next time.”
From Anonymous
Definition: The tiger is getting married (literal meaning). It's an idiomatic expression to describe a sunshower.
Example: “호랑이가 장가가는 날 이다!” (“Would you look at that? It's raining while the sun is out.”
From Joshua Yoon
Definition: Same connotation as “bruh” or “that’s crazy”, but it’s very versatile (around 20 different meanings)
Example: “このたこ焼きまじやばい“ (“This takoyaki is crazy for real.”)
From Chris
Definition: Older sister
Example: “姉ちゃんの頭がいいから手伝って貰う”
From Lynn Owejan
