The Rain is Falling (folksong)
This is a folk song or nursery rhyme that begins with the line hou6 loh8loh8 雨落落 “the rain is falling”. Here are three different versions from three collections. The basic story of the (short) folk song is the same in all three: Grandpa catches a fish, Grandpa and Grandma disagree on what to do with it, and they get into a fight.
This story is reminiscent of the Hokkien folk song Thiⁿ O͘-o͘ 天烏烏. In version 3 below, a completely different folk song appears to have been fused onto the end of the first, with a short transition.
The first two versions were originally published in Chinese characters only (reproduced below). They illustrate different choices in transcribing specific words that do not have a standard character, like ain3 (“want”) – 欲 / 要. The third version was originally published as a transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), with a Mandarin translation when a corresponding character was not available or unknown. To all three versions, a transcription in Pêng’im has been added.
Contents
《潮屬兒歌》 version (1930)
Source: 徐鋕菴（1930）《潮屬兒歌》（民間文藝叢書）汕頭：文明商務書局。(pg. 138)
Digitized version of the book available from Teochew Store
雨落落
hou6 loh8(4)loh8
The rain is falling
阿公去柵箔
a1gong1 ke3(2) zah8(4)bo2
Grandpa goes to check the fish trap
zah8bo2 柵箔 – to use a bamboo fence to catch fish
柵着一個大鯉母
bo2 diêh8(4) zêg8(4)gai5(7) dua7li2(6)bho2
In the trap is a large mother carp
阿公哩欲喫
a1gong1 li1 ain3(2) ziah8
Grandpa wants to eat it
ain3 欲 – to want; this source uses the character 欲; elsewhere in this site transcribed as 愛
阿媽呢欲賣
a1ma2 nê1 ain3(2) bhoi7
Grandma wants to sell it
惡語不落可
ag4(8)ghe2 bug4(8)loh8(4)ko2
The quarreling does not cease
二人相打鬥挽毛
no6(7)nang5 siê1pah4 dao3(2) mang2(6)mo5
The two of them fight and pull each others’ hair
《潮歌》 version (1929)
Source: 金天民（1929）《潮歌》南大書局。 (pg. 9)
Digitized version of the book available from Teochew Store
雨落落，
hou6 loh8(4)loh8,
The rain is falling
阿公去柵薄。
a1gong1 ke3(2) zah8(4)bo2
Grandpa goes to check the fish trap
This version uses 柵薄 instead of 柵箔 to transcribe zah8bo2.
柵着鲤魚共苦魦。
zah8 diêh8(4) li2(6)he5 gah4(8) kou2(6)co1
In the trap are a carp and fry
kou2co1 苦魦 – a type of small fish, described in Li (1959) as 「像指頭大小的一種小魚，常成群游於水面」 (“a type of small fish that is about the size of a finger, commonly forming schools that swim close to the water surface”)
阿公哩要煮，
a1gong1 li1 ain3(2) ze2,
Grandpa wants to boil it
ain3 要 – “to want”; this source uses character 要, elsewhere in this site transcribed as 愛
阿婆哩要炣。
a1ma2 li1 ain3(2) ko1.
Grandma wants to broil it
二人相打相挽毛。
no6(7) nang5 siê1pah4 siê1-mang2(6)mo5.
The two of them fight and pull each others’ hair
挽去見老爹，
mang2(6) ke3(2) gin3(2) lao6(7)dia1,
They drag each other to see the magistrate
lao6dia1 老爹 – official, magistrate
老爹笑呵呵，
lao6(7)dia1 ciê3(2) he1he1,
The magistrate laughs tee hee hee
呾儜二老好佚佗！
dan3 ning2 no6(7)-lao6 ho2(6) tig4(8)to5!
Saying, “you two old people are playing a fun game!”
tig4to5 佚佗 – to play; Taiwanese Hokkien uses the characters 𨑨迌 for the corresponding word
ning2 儜 – 2nd person plural pronoun, here transcribed with the character 儜, but in other publications written with 恁
《四個閩南方言》 version (1959)
Source: Tung Tong-ho 董同龢 (1959). Sì gè Mǐnnán fāngyán 「四個閩南方言」 (Four Southern Min dialects). Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica 30 (2) : 729-1042. BIHP website
Tung states that his source was 王兆崑, a native of Gêg’ion district who was studying at National Taiwan University.
hou¹⁴ loʔ¹ loʔ⁴
hou6 loh8(4)loh8
雨落落
The rain is falling
a³³ koŋ³³ kʰə⁴¹ tsaʔ¹ po⁴¹
a1gong1 ke3(2) zah8(4) bo2
阿公 去 閘 箔
Grandpa goes to check the fish trap
tsaʔ¹ tio¹¹ li²⁵ hə⁵⁵ tʰeŋ¹¹ kʰou²⁵ tsʰo⁴⁴
zah8(4) dio7 li2(6)he5 têng5(7) kou2(6)co5
閘着 鯉魚 （同） 苦𩷞
he has caught a carp and fry
a³³ koŋ³³ li⁰ ai⁴¹ tsə⁴¹
a1gong1 li ai3(2) ze2
阿公 哩 愛 煮
Grandpa wants them boiled
a³³ ma⁵² li⁰ ai⁴¹ kʰo³³
a1ma2 li ai3(2) ko1
阿媽 哩 愛 （煎）
Grandma wants them fried
no¹¹ naŋ⁵⁵ sio³³ pʰaʔ²¹ tau⁴¹ maŋ²⁵ mo⁵⁵
no6(7) nang5 sio1pah8(4) dao3(2) mang2(6)mo5
兩儂 相拍 鬥 挽毛
The two get in a fight and pull each other’s hair
maŋ²⁵ kau⁴¹ tsʰaŋ¹¹ huã¹¹ taŋ³³
mang2(6) gao3(2) cang5(7)huan6(7) dang1
挽 到 田岸 中
They tussle out to the fields
ŋo¹¹ tioʔ¹ a¹¹ ku¹⁴ lai⁵⁵
ngo6(7) dioh8(4) a1gu6 lai5
遇着 阿舅 來
and encounter Uncle coming by
liaʔ¹ koi²¹ tʰai⁵⁵
liah8(4) goi1 tai5
掠 雞 刣
He catches a chicken to slaughter
koi³³ kiã⁴¹ soi²¹³
goi1gian2 soi3
雞囝 細
but the chicken is too small
liaʔ¹ aʔ²¹ tʰoi²¹³
liah8(4) ah8(4) toi3
掠 鴨 替
He catches a duck instead
aʔ²¹ oi²⁵ aʔ²¹
ah4 oi2(6) ah4
鴨 喂 鴨
Duck O duck
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁴¹ tsek¹ me⁵⁵ paŋ⁴¹ tsek¹ pu⁵⁵
ua2 zêg8(4)mê5 bang3(2) zêg8(4) bu5
我 一夜 放 一脬
Every night I leave a pile of dung behind
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ gu⁵⁵
l2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) ghu5
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 牛
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the cow
gu⁵⁵ oi²⁵ gu⁵⁵
ghu5 oi2(6) ghu5
牛 喂 牛
Cow O cow
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
teŋ²⁵ kʰu³³ si¹¹ ua²⁵ loi⁵⁵
dêng2(6)ku1 si6(7) ua2(6) loi5
頂區 是 我 犂
I ploughed that field above
e¹¹ kʰu³³ si¹¹ ua²⁵ pe⁵⁵
ê6(7)ku1 si6(7) ua2(6) bê5
下區 是 我 耙
and I tilled that field below
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ be⁴¹
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) bhê2
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 馬
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the horse
be⁴¹ oi²⁵ be⁴¹
bhê2 oi2(6) bhê2
馬 喂 馬
Horse O horse
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁴¹ teŋ²⁵ kua²¹³ ia¹¹ a³³ kuã³³
ua2 dêng2(6)guan3 ia7 a1guan1
我 頂旰 X 阿官
The official rode on me yesterday
e¹¹ kua²¹³ ia¹¹ a³³ nio⁵⁵
ê6(7)gua3 ia7 a1nio5
下旰 X 阿娘
And today the maiden
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ iõ⁵⁵
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) ion5
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 羊
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the goat
iõ⁵⁵ oi²⁵ iõ⁵⁵
ion5 oi2(6) ion5
羊 喂 羊
Goat O goat
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁵² tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁴¹ bo¹¹ tsiaʔ¹ lə⁴¹ kai⁰ iõ¹¹ kak⁴ tau³³
ua2 bho5(7) ziah8(4) le2-gai ion5(7)gag4(8)dao7
我 無 食 汝個 羊角豆
I didn’t eat your okra beans
iu¹¹ bo¹¹ tsiaʔ¹ lə⁴¹ kai⁰ iõ¹¹ kak⁴ tsʰau⁴¹
iu6(7) bho5(7) ziah8(4) le2-gai ion5(7)gag4(8)cao2
又 無 食 汝個 羊角草
And I didn’t eat the shoots
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ kau⁵¹
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) gao2
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 狗
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the dog
kau⁵¹ oi²⁵ kau⁵¹
gao2 oi2(6) gao2
狗 喂 狗
Dog O dog
naŋ¹¹ ai⁵¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁵¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
teŋ²⁵ haŋ¹¹ si¹¹ ua²⁵ pui¹¹
dêng2(6)hang7 si6(7) ua2(6) bui7
頂巷 是 我 吠
I bark in this alley
e¹¹ haŋ¹¹ si¹¹ ua²⁵ suŋ⁵⁵
ê6(7)hang7 si6(7) ua2(6) sung5
下巷 是 我 巡
and I patrol that alley
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ou³³ tə³³ tʰuŋ⁵⁵
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) ou1de1tung5
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 烏豬豚
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the black piglet
ou³³ tə³³ tʰuŋ⁵⁵ oi²⁵ ou³³ tə³³ tʰuŋ⁵⁵
ou1de1tung5 oi2(6) ou1de1tung5
烏豬豚 喂 烏豬豚
Black piglet O black piglet
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁴ tsek¹ dzek⁴ tsiaʔ¹ dzek¹ tso⁵⁵
ua2 zêg8(4)zêg8 ziah8(4) zêg8(4)zo5
我 一日 食 一糟
Every day I eat up the dregs and swill
lə⁵¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ go⁵⁵
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) gho5
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 鵝
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the goose
go⁵⁵ oi²⁵ go⁵⁵
gho5 oi2(6) gho5
鵝 喂 鵝
Goose O goose
naŋ¹¹ ai⁵¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁵² tsiaʔ¹ pa⁴¹ kua¹¹ a³³ kua⁵⁵
ua2 ziah8(4)ba2 gua5(7)a1gua5
我 食飽 䠚啊䠚
When I have eaten my fill I honk and honk
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ tsua⁵⁵
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) zua5
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 蛇
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the snake
tsua⁵⁵ oi²⁵ tsua⁵⁵
zua5 oi2(6) zua5
蛇 喂 蛇
Snake O snake
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁴¹ tsek¹ seŋ³³ hue³³ li²⁵ loŋ³³
ua2 zêg8(4)sêng1 huê1 li2(6)long1
我 一身 花 XX
I have spots and patterns all over my body
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ niau²⁵ tsʰə²⁵ koŋ³³
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) niao2(6)cê2(6)gong1
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 貓鼠公
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the rat
niau²⁵ tsʰə²⁵ koŋ³³ oi²⁵ niau²⁵ tsʰə²⁵ koŋ³³
niau2(6)cê2(6)gong1 oi2(6) niau2(6)cê2(6)gong1
貓鼠公 喂 貓鼠公
Rat O rat
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nâng5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
ua⁴¹ tsek¹ me⁵⁵ liu²⁵ kai¹¹ kʰaŋ³³
ua2 zêg8(4)mê5 liu2(6) gai5(7) kang1
我 一夜 X 個 空
Every night I dig a hole
lə⁴¹ mai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ ua⁴¹ kʰə⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ pʰaŋ³³
le2 mai3(2) tai5(7) ua2 ke3(2) tai5(7) pang1
汝 勿刣 我 去 刣 蜂
Don’t slaughter me, go slaughter the wasps
pʰaŋ³³ oi²⁵ pʰaŋ³³
pang1 oi2(6) pang1
蜂 喂 蜂
Wasp O wasp
naŋ¹¹ ai⁴¹ tʰai¹¹ lə⁴¹ tso⁴¹ ni¹¹ tã²¹³
nang5(7) ai3(2) tai5(7) le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) dan3?
儂 愛 刣 汝 做呢 呾
People want to slaughter you, what do you say?
uaŋ⁴¹ hiã³³ ti¹⁴ tsʰek⁴ tsʰaĩ³³
uang2 hian1di6 cêg4(8)cain1
阮 兄弟 七千
We are seven thousand brothers
The final -oin is often pronounced -ain in the Gig-ion 揭陽 accent, e.g. cain1 vs. coin1 千 in this line, and gain1 vs. goin1 間 below.
kʰi²⁵ tsʰu²¹³ teŋ¹¹ kaĩ³³
ki2(6)cu3 dêng6(7)gain1
起厝 重間
Who have built a sturdy house
tsʰiõ³³ to³³ iam¹¹ iam¹⁴
cion1do1 iam6(7)iam6
槍刀 炎炎
Our knives and spears are flashing
ai⁴¹ tʰai⁵⁵ tsiu¹¹ lai⁵⁵
ai3(2) tai5 ziu6(7) lai5!
愛 刣 就 來
If you want to slaughter us, come and try!