Phofsit Daibuun

Phofsit Daibuun (PSDB) (普實臺文) is an orthography in the Latin alphabet for Taiwanese Hokkien based on Modern Literal Taiwanese. It is able to use the ASCII character set to indicate the proper variation of pitch without any subsidiary scripts or diacritic symbols.

Phonology

**Consonants^[1]**
			Dental	Alveolo-palatal	Bilabial	Alveolar	Velar	Glottal
Plosive	voiceless	unaspiration			p	d	k	' ([ʔ])
	voiceless	aspiration			ph	t	q
	voiced	unaspiration			b		g
Affricate	voiceless	unaspiration	z	c
	voiceless	aspiration	zh	ch
	voiced	unaspiration		j
Fricative	voiceless	unaspiration	s	si
Fricative	voiceless	aspiration						h
Nasal	voiced	unaspiration			m/v	n	ng/v
Lateral	voiced	unaspiration				l

Nasalized syllables are indicated by "v" preceding the syllable nucleus. Except for b, j, l, which do not precede nasalized vowels, and m and n, which are already nasals.

Normal	c	ch	d	g	h	k	p	ph	q	s	t	z	zh	ø
Nasalized	cv	chv	dv	gv	hv	kv	pv	phv	qv	sv	tv	zv	zhv	v
Example	爭(cvy)	星(chvy)	鄭(dve)	硬(gve)	耳(hvi)	件(kvia)	病(pve)	鼻(phvi)	扲(qvii)	漬(svi)	縫(tvi)	濺(zvoa)	青(zhvef)	院(vi)

**Vowels^[2]**
	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		u
Close-mid	e		oi(2)
Mid		oi(1)
Open-mid			o
Open	a

Regarding the pronunciation of "oi":

in southern regions such as Tainan, the pronunciation tends toward oi(1), the mid central vowel ə
in central and northern regions, the pronunciation tends toward oi(2), the close-mid back unrounded vowel ɤ

Tone spellings

The table below shows the spelling of the basic tone (7) mid tone, and the four sub-tones (1) high, (5) rising, (3) low falling/low, (2) falling/high falling
(') indicates a changed tone
(**) indicates a tone that does not exist in standard Taiwanese

Monophthongs

a (ha)夏	af 阿	aa (gaa)牙	ax (pax)豹	ar (kar)絞
i 異	y 伊	ii 姨	ix 意	ie 椅
u 有	w 污	uu (guu)牛	ux 熨	uo 羽
e 下	ef (qef)溪(qef)	ee 的	ex (kex)嫁	ea 矮
o 芋	of 黑	oo 湖	ox (tox)兔	or 挖
oi (goi)餓	oy 渦	ooi 蚵	oix 奧	oir 襖
ng (hng)遠	ngf 秧	ngg 黃	ngx 怏	ngr 阮
m 毋	mf' (mfpooi)姆婆	mm 蕾	mx' (mxsi)不是	mr 姆

Diphthongs

ai (dai)代	ay 哀	aai (daai)台	aix 愛	ae 藹
au 後	aw 歐	aau 喉	aux 懊	ao (kao)狗
ia 夜	iaf 埃	iaa 爺	iax 厭	iar 野
iau 耀	iaw 邀	iaau 姚	iaux (tiaux)跳	iao (ciao)鳥
ioi (bioi)廟	ioy 腰	iooi 搖	ioix (kioix)叫	ioir (cioir)少
iu 柚	iw 憂	iuu 油	iux 幼	iuo 友
oa (doa)大	oaf (koaf)歌	oaa (zoaa)蛇	oax (hoax)化	oar (zoar)紙
oai (hoai)壞	oay (koay)乖	oaai (hoaai)懷	oaix (koaix)怪	oae (koae)拐
oe 話	oef 鍋	oee 唯	oex (hoex)貨	oea 挖
ui 位	uy 威	uii 圍	uix 畏	uie 委

Nasal finals

an (han)限	afn 安	aan 緊	axn 案	arn (karn)簡
ang (bang)網	afng 翁	aang 紅	axng 甕	arng (karng)講
am 頷	afm 醃	aam 涵	axm 暗	arm 洝
eng 用	efng 鷹	eeng 閒	exng 應	erng 泳
iam 艷	iafm 閹	iaam 鹽	iaxm 厭	iarm 掩
iang 恙	iafng 央	iaang 陽	iaxng 泱	iarng 養
ien 沿	iefn 煙	ieen 鉛	iexn 宴	iern 演
in 胤	yn 因	iin 云	ixn 印	irn 引
im (dim)燉	ym 音	iim 淫	ixm 蔭	irm 飲
iong 用	iofng 央	ioong 容	ioxng 擁	iorng 勇
oan 緩	oafn 冤	oaan 完	oaxn 怨	oarn 遠
ong 旺	ofng 汪	oong 王	oxng 罋	orng 往
un 運	wn 溫	uun 勻	uxn 搵	urn 隱
om' 掩'埋	ofm 掩	oom**	oxm (doxm)頓	orm' (dorm)頓'頭

Checked syllables

# symbol represents characters used for their meaning, rather than their pronunciation

Monophthong

	Labial	Dental	Velar	Open
Low	ab 壓	ad 握	ag 渥	aq 鴨
High	ap 盒	at (bat)密	ak (bak)目	ah (tah)疊
Low	ib 揖	id 壹	ig**	iq (tiq)鐵
High	ip 佾	it 軼	ik**	ih 胰
Low	ub**	ud 熨	ug**	uq (duq)拄
High	up**	ut (kut)滑	uk**	uh (duh)刺
Low	eb**	ed**	eg 億	eq (keq)格
High	ep**	et**	役	eh 狹
Low	ob (lob)#踏	od**	og 惡	oq (moq)漏平
High	op (lop'lob)	ot**	ok (dok)獨	oh (moh)膜
Low	oib**	oid**	oig**	oiq #慢
High	oip**	oit**	oik**	oih 學

Diphthong

iab #掩藏	ied 謁	iag (siag)摔	iaq 扼
iap 葉	iet 搧	iak (diak)彈	iah 頁
	oad #轉	iog	auq (kauq)輾
	oat 悅	iok 育	auh (bauh)貿
iuq (kiuq)縮			iauq (hiauq)剝
iuh' (kiuh)縮			iauh (hiauh)剝
oaq (koaq)割	ioiq #猜	oeq (hoeq)血	uiq (huiq)血
oah 活	ioih 藥	oeh 劃	uih 劃

Rarely used vowels

Vowel	Example
io	nio, =nio 讓；svio, =sviu 想
iof	diofng 忠；hviof, =hviw香
ioo	nioo, =niuu 量，想；hioong affectionate, cruel
iox	cioxng 將，從；hioxng 向
ior	nior, =niuo 兩；bioir 秒
ioq	hioq 嗎 (interrogative)
oaiq	voaiq 瘸著走
oaih'	vih'voaih'kioix 噫椏叫
mq	hmq, =hmr strike down forcefully
mh	hmh insidious, silent; hmq'hmh
ngq	hngq (expression of agreement)
ngh	dngh 當, 擔任；hngh (expression of disapproval)

PSDB examples

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

PSDB

English

Lienhabkog seakaix jinqoaan soangieen

De id diaau

Sofu ee laang cit zhutsix doixsi zuxiuu ee, jichviar di zungiaam kab qoanli siong itlut pengderng. Langlaang tiensefng doi u lysexng kab liongsym, erngkay aix kafnnar hviadi kaxngqoarn laai hoxsiong duietai.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

PSDB Greetings

PSDB	Translation	Remarks
Ciaqpar`boe?	Greetings.	("Have you eaten?")
Sitlea!	Sorry for my impoliteness!	(lit., "Disrespect")
Goar tviaf booi.	I don't understand.	(lit., "I hear not")
Piexnsor di doyui?	Where's the bathroom?	(lit., "bathroom is where?")
Loflat! Kafmsia!	Thank you
Ho daf `lax!	Cheers!	(lit., Let it [the cup/glass] be dry [empty]!)
Lie karm korng Engguo?	Do you speak English?
Siensvy korng, hagsefng diaxmdiam tviaf.	The teacher talks, the students quietly listen.	listen^ⓘ
Kin'afjit hit'ee zabor-gyn'ar laai goarn daw qvoax goar.	Today that girl came to my house to see me.	listen^ⓘ
Kin'axm larn beq qix Suxliim Iaxchi'ar.	Tonight, we want to go to Shilin Night Market.

Comparison chart

Vowels
IPA	a	ap	at	ak	aʔ	ã	ɔ	ɔk	ɔ̃	ə	o	e	ẽ	i	iɛn	iəŋ
Pe̍h-ōe-jī	a	ap	at	ak	ah	aⁿ	o͘	ok	oⁿ	o	o	e	eⁿ	i	ian	eng
Revised TLPA	a	ap	at	ak	ah	aN	oo	ok	ooN	o	o	e	eN	i	ian	ing
TLPA	a	ap	at	ak	ah	ann	oo	ok	oonn	o	o	e	enn	i	ian	ing
BP	a	ap	at	ak	ah	na	oo	ok	noo	o	o	e	ne	i	ian	ing
MLT	a	ab/ap	ad/at	ag/ak	aq/ah	va	o	og/ok	vo	ø	ø	e	ve	i	ien	eng
DT	a	āp/ap	āt/at	āk/ak	āh/ah	ann/aⁿ	o	ok	onn/oⁿ	or	or	e	enn/eⁿ	i	ian/en	ing
Taiwanese kana	アア	アㇷ゚	アッ	アㇰ	アァ	アア	オオ	オㇰ	オオ	オオ	ヲヲ	エエ	エエ	イイ	イェヌ	イェン
Extended bopomofo	ㄚ	ㄚㆴ	ㄚㆵ	ㄚㆻ	ㄚㆷ	ㆩ	ㆦ	ㆦㆻ	ㆧ	ㄜ	ㄛ	ㆤ	ㆥ	ㄧ	ㄧㄢ	ㄧㄥ
Tâi-lô	a	ap	at	ak	ah	ann	oo	ok	onn	o	o	e	enn	i	ian	ing
Example (traditional Chinese)	亞洲	壓力	警察	沃水	牛肉	三十	烏色	中國		澳洲	澳洲	下晡		醫學	鉛筆	英國
Example (simplified Chinese)	亚洲	压力	警察	沃水	牛肉	三十	乌色	中国		澳洲	澳洲	下晡		医学	铅笔	英国

Vowels
IPA	iək	ĩ	ai	aĩ	au	am	ɔm	m̩	ɔŋ	ŋ̍	u	ua	ue	uai	uan	ɨ	(i)ũ
Pe̍h-ōe-jī	ek	iⁿ	ai	aiⁿ	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	oa	oe	oai	oan	i	(i)uⁿ
Revised TLPA	ik	iN	ai	aiN	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	ua	ue	uai	uan	ir	(i)uN
TLPA	ik	inn	ai	ainn	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	ua	ue	uai	uan	ir	(i)unn
BP	ik	ni	ai	nai	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	ua	ue	uai	uan	i	n(i)u
MLT	eg/ek	vi	ai	vai	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	oa	oe	oai	oan	i	v(i)u
DT	ik	inn/iⁿ	ai	ainn/aiⁿ	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	ua	ue	uai	uan	i	(i)unn/uⁿ
Taiwanese kana	イェㇰ	イイ	アイ	アイ	アウ	アム	オム	ム	オン	ン	ウウ	ヲア	ヲエ	ヲァイ	ヲァヌ	ウウ	ウウ
Extended bopomofo	ㄧㆻ	ㆪ	ㄞ	ㆮ	ㆯ	ㆰ	ㆱ	ㆬ	ㆲ	ㆭ	ㄨ	ㄨㄚ	ㄨㆤ	ㄨㄞ	ㄨㄢ	ㆨ	ㆫ
Tâi-lô	ik	inn	ai	ainn	au	am	om	m	ong	ng	u	ua	ue	uai	uan	ir	(i)unn
Example (traditional Chinese)	翻譯	病院	愛情		歐洲	暗時		阿姆	王梨	黃色	有無	歌曲	講話	奇怪	人員	豬肉	舀水
Example (simplified Chinese)	翻译	病院	爱情		欧洲	暗时		阿姆	王梨	黄色	有无	歌曲	讲话	奇怪	人员	猪肉	舀水

Consonants
IPA	p	b	pʰ	m	t	tʰ	n	nŋ	l	k	ɡ	kʰ	h	tɕi	ʑi	tɕʰi	ɕi	ts	dz	tsʰ	s
Pe̍h-ōe-jī	p	b	ph	m	t	th	n	nng	l	k	g	kh	h	chi	ji	chhi	si	ch	j	chh	s
Revised TLPA	p	b	ph	m	t	th	n	nng	l	k	g	kh	h	zi	ji	ci	si	z	j	c	s
TLPA	p	b	ph	m	t	th	n	nng	l	k	g	kh	h	zi	ji	ci	si	z	j	c	s
BP	b	bb	p	bb	d	t	n	lng	l	g	gg	k	h	zi	li	ci	si	z	l	c	s
MLT	p	b	ph	m	t	th	n	nng	l	k	g	kh	h	ci	ji	chi	si	z	j	zh	s
DT	b	bh	p	m	d	t	n	nng	l	g	gh	k	h	zi	r	ci	si	z	r	c	s
Taiwanese kana	パア	バア	パ̣ア	マア	タア	タ̣ア	ナア	ヌン	ラア	カア	ガア	カ̣ア	ハア	チイ	ジイ	チ̣イ	シイ	サア	ザア	サ̣ア	サア
Extended bopomofo	ㄅ	ㆠ	ㄆ	ㄇ	ㄉ	ㄊ	ㄋ	ㄋㆭ	ㄌ	ㄍ	ㆣ	ㄎ	ㄏ	ㄐ	ㆢ	ㄑ	ㄒ	ㄗ	ㆡ	ㄘ	ㄙ
Tâi-lô	p	b	ph	m	t	th	n	nng	l	k	g	kh	h	tsi	ji	tshi	si	ts	j	tsh	s
Example (traditional Chinese)	報紙	閩南	普通	請問	豬肉	普通	過年	雞卵	樂觀	價值	牛奶	客廳	煩惱	支持	漢字	支持	是否	報紙	熱天	參加	司法
Example (simplified Chinese)	报纸	闽南	普通	请问	猪肉	普通	过年	鸡卵	乐观	价值	牛奶	客厅	烦恼	支持	汉字	支持	是否	报纸	热天	参加	司法

Tones
Tone name	Yin level 陰平(1)	Yin rising 陰上(2)	Yin departing 陰去(3)	Yin entering 陰入(4)	Yang level 陽平(5)	Yang rising 陽上(6)	Yang departing 陽去(7)	Yang entering 陽入(8)	High rising (9)	Neutral tone (0)
IPA	a˥	a˥˧	a˨˩	ap˩ at˩ ak˩ aʔ˩	a˧˥		a˧	ap˥ at˥ ak˥ aʔ˥	a˥˥	a˨
Pe̍h-ōe-jī	a	á	à	ap at ak ah	â	ǎ	ā	a̍p a̍t a̍k a̍h	ă	--a
TLPA (and Revised TLPA)	a1	a2	a3	ap4 at4 ak4 ah4	a5	a6	a7	ap8 at8 ak8 ah8	a9	a0
BP	ā	ǎ	à	āp āt āk āh	á		â	áp át ák áh
MLT	af	ar	ax	ab ad ag aq	aa	aar	a	ap at ak ah		~a
DT	a	à	â	āp āt āk āh	ǎ		ā	ap at ak ah	á	å
Taiwanese kana (normal vowels)	アア	アア	アア	アㇷ゚アッアㇰアァ	アア		アア	アㇷ゚アッアㇰアァ
Taiwanese kana (nasal vowels)	アア	アア	アア	アㇷ゚アッアㇰアァ	アア		アア	アㇷ゚アッアㇰアァ
Extended bopomofo	ㄚ	ㄚˋ	ㄚ˪	ㄚㆴ ㄚㆵ ㄚㆻ ㄚㆷ	ㄚˊ		ㄚ˫	ㄚㆴ˙ ㄚㆵ˙ ㄚㆻ˙ ㄚㆷ˙
Tâi-lô	a	á	à	ah	â	ǎ	ā	a̍h	a̋	--ah
Example (traditional Chinese)	公司	報紙	興趣	血壓警察中國牛肉	人員	老爸	草地	配合法律文學歇熱	昨昏	入去
Example (simplified Chinese)	公司	报纸	兴趣	血压警察中国牛肉	人员	老爸	草地	配合法律文学歇热	昨昏	入去

Note: The bopomofo extended characters in the zhuyin row require a UTF-8 font capable of displaying Unicode values 31A0–31B7 (ex. Code2000 true type font).

Notes

^ IPA: Pulmonic Archived 2009-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
^ IPA: Vowels Archived 2009-03-13 at the Wayback Machine

External links

PSDB(Phofsit Daibuun) (in Chinese)
Formosa culture(Kun dor guan'de) (in Chinese)

[1] IPA: Pulmonic Archived 2009-03-16 at the Wayback Machine

[2] IPA: Vowels Archived 2009-03-13 at the Wayback Machine

[1]