Tu Si A-Nay

From the archives of Sisuahsia.

TU SI A-NAY phr. adj. (phrase) "just like that, what to do?"

I apologise, I have actually been teaching you really useless words and phrases so far. Let me make it up.

Today, I promise, is going to be a very useful phrase. It gets you out of trouble in the Hokkien-speaking world. And in some cases, it can also give an impression that you really care about the things they say.

The magical words are TU SI A-NAY. Individually, these words are quite meaningless, but combine them together.... wah seh, the effect is damn CHIAK LAT! (see previous entry, you see like American English, words with negative connotation can mean the exact opposite, like BAD is actually GOOD!)

Together these words mean JUST LIKE THAT, WHAT TO DO? This phrase saves you from having to explain bad decisions. Don't believe? See the following usage:

SCENARIO 1:

You are entrusted to bring the dry laundry in, but you forgot because you were too busy reading Kennysia.com or if you are male, busy oogling at xiaxue.blogspot.com. And then it started raining. Die, chiak lat! (now chiat lak actually means BAD, don't confuse ok.)

Mother: Ado. I told you to bring the clothes inside. Why you like that! So useless.

You: (you feel guilty, but you need to maintain eye contact when you say this) Mother, TU SI A-NAY lo.

Mother: Haiz. Useless. (Mother walked away, gave up.)

See, you have successfully avoided a lenghty, unnecessary argument with your mother. What you did there was agreeing with mother by saying the magical words. BTW, lo is a necessary suffix to give the phrase a rhythmic punch.


SCENARIO 2:

Teacher: You still haven't finished your homework? What is wrong with you?

You: TU SI A-NAY lo.

Teacher: I will report you.

You: (stay silent. The phrase is so powerful, you only need to say Tu Si A-Nay once.)

Teacher: I give up.

Saved again by the phrase! No need lenghty reasoning with your teachers. And you eventually still passed your SPM exams anyway...


SCENARIO 3: (this one needs practice, advanced level usage)

Aunty: Cham si! I send him to tuition, pay so much money, still he cannot get the grades.

You: What subject? (show a bit of emotion once in awhile)

Aunty: Bahasa. Gone case. Everyone in his class seems to do so much better.

You:(look into her eyes like you care) Aunty, TU SI A-NAY lo.

Now make your exit. See? You showed Aunty that you have the capacity to listen and by saying the magical phrase, you can exit the conversation leaving her feeling that you really shared her child's problem.

I hope I have taught you an important phrase today. Join me for more tomorrow.

Gwen, thank you for your suggestion. Girl, you si beh hiaw...(play-play, don't MAI-KU me ok?)

Sisuahlai.