The Story of Ah Gong and Ah Kim

Written in Hokkien Couplets

with English Translation

1
Ah Gong Gee Chap Huei
Cha Bor Ee Ai Tuei
Ah Gong is twenty years old.
He likes to follow or go after girls.

2
 Ee A Kang Tai Too
Ee Chin Chia Kia Soo
He works as a pig slaughterer
He is a Kiasu fellow. ( Kiasu ~ Afraid to lose out )

3
Lim Chew Ah Gong Ai
Boh Tuei Tay Goh Kai

Ah Gong loves
to drink liquor.
He doesn’t follow
the 5th Precept.

4
 Sok Hoon Chin Chia Chay
Kio Ee Keh Ee Bay

He smokes
a lot.
When asked to
quit, he can’t.

5
Poot See Khee Puak Kiau
Oo See Khee Pak Chiau
He always goes to gamble.
At times he goes to shoot birds.

6
Ah Gong Ai Chuei Bor
Kia Chuei Tiok Lau Hor
Ah Gong wants to find a wife.
He is afraid to find a ‘tigress’.

7
 Cha Bor Ee Kau Suah
Poot See Khee Sung Hwa
Ah Gong courts or woos women.
He always goes to present flowers to them.

8
 Kow Eng Boh Kang Tang
Oo See Boh Peng Aun

Marriage is no
simple matter.
Sometimes it
does not give
peace.

9
Ah Gong Pai Seng Tay
Ee Seow Ee Siong Tay

Ah Gong is hot-
tempered.
He thinks
he is God.

10
 Ee Chin Boh Lau Sit
Kia Oay Kia Boh Tit

He is very
dishonest.
He goes on the
wrong path, not
the right one.

11
 Ah Kim Ho Cha Bor
Boh Hor Lang Khang Kor

Ah Kim is a
good girl.
She doesn’t
cause others
to suffer.

12
 Ee A Thor Teik Swee
Sim Siang Cheng Khee Chooi

Her morality is
beautiful.
Her heart is like
clear pure water.

13
Chub Kow Huei Ah Kim
Ee Chin Chiak Ho Sim

Ah Kim is
19-years old.
She is very
kind-hearted.

14
 Ah Kim Chin Soo Boon
Kong Owah Chin Chia Soon

Ah Kim is very
gentle.
Her speech is
good and smooth.

15
 Ee A Chin Thoon Loon
Seng Tay Gau Kor Poon

She is very
patient.
She also
watches
carefully
her temper.

16
 Ah Kim Tuei Hood Li
Ee Put See Hua Hee

Ah Kim follows
the Dhamma.
She is always
happy.

17
 Ee Por See Siew Kai
Boh Kong Luan Choo Pai
She does charity and observes morality.
She just doesn’t simply pray foolishly.

18
Ah Kim Poon Chay Sian
Ee Oo Lang A Ean

Ah Kim also
meditates.
She is well-
liked by others.

19
 Ah Kim Oo Choo Pee
Kong Owah Chin Jia Tee

Ah Kim is
compassionate.
She speaks
gently and
sweetly.

20
Choo Pee Tee Huei Oo
Peng Aun Ee Boh Soo
She has compassion and wisdom.
She is peaceful and not troubled.

21
Ah Gong Khee Par Ti
Cheng Kah Chin Seksi
Ah Gong goes to parties.
He dresses sexily.

22
Thiau Boo Thiau Kah Seow
Looi, See Kan Ee Liau

He dances very
crazily.
He wastes his
money and time.

23
 Ah Gong Too Ah Kim
Nah Kuah Nah Jeep Sim
Ah Gong meets Ah Kim.
He gets more and more infatuated.

24
 Ah Gong Tui Ah Kim
Ee Noh Lang Siau Chim
Ah Gong courts Ah Kim.
The two of them kiss.

25
 Boh Koo Ai Kow Eng
Min Kia Koh Boh Beng
Not long later, he wants to get married.
Things are still not settled.

26
Kah Ah Long Cheok Looi
Chiah Lang Chit Tuah Tooi

He borrows
money from the
loan sharks.
He invites lots
of people.

27
Ah Gong Chin Khang Khor
Beh Chee Ee A Bor

Ah Gong has
great suffering.
He cannot
support his wife.

28
 Ah Kim Oo Sin Liau
Ah Gong Seow Kar Siau

Ah Kim pregnant.
Ah Gong is
worried like mad.

29
 Boh Koo Oo Tua Soo
Boh Looi Koh Boh Chu

Before long he
faces great
problems.
He has no money
and no house
to stay.

30
 Ji Lay See Chin Khor
Chiak Moi Puey Chai Por

This is great
suffering.
He eats porridge
with pickled
vegetable.

31
 Ah Kim Ai Li Khooi
Guan Yin Si Boh Looi
Ah Kim wants to leave Ah Gong.
This is because of financial woes.

32
 Ah Kim Khee Pak Ooi
‘Oo Kang Boh?’ Ee Mooi
Ah Kim goes to another place.
‘Any work?’ She wonders.

33
 Ee Koot Lat Cho Kang
Mai Seow Boh Ho Aun

She works
very hard
not thinking of
her bad husband.

34
Koot Lat Chin Iau Keen
Hock Khee Lai Kah Kin
Hard work is very important.
Blessings will come quickly.

35
Ah Gong Koh Boh Pian
Tor Teik Boh Hoon Lian
Ah Gong has not changed.
He does not practice morality.

36
 Ee Koh Cho Ork Soo
Lim Chiew Ee Koh Oo

He still does
unwholesome
actions.
He still continues
his drinking.

37
 Ah Gong Chin Gong Tai
Har Mee Lang Pun Chai

Ah Gong is very
deluded.
Everyone knows
about this.

38
Boh Koo Puah Peh Lo!
Khor Leng See Eng Ko

Alas! Soon he
falls sick.
Perhaps it’s due
to Kamma.

39
 Ah Kim Chin Seng Kong
Ee Peng Aun Kiang Khong
Ah Kim is very successful.
She is peaceful and healthy.

40
Ah Kim Chin Cheng Sim
Boh Hai Lang, Boh Lim

Ah Kim is very
religious / pious.
She doesn’t harm
others, she
doesn’t drink.

41
 Ah Kim Oo Por See
Au See A Khee Thee

Ah Kim Does
Charity work.
In a future life,
she can go
to Heaven.

42
 In Wei Boh Hood Li
Ah Gong Cham Kah See
Because he has no Dhamma,
Ah Gong has terrible suffering.

43
 Ah Gong Boh Siew Kai
Hooi Hiam Chin Li Hai
Ah Gong doesn’t keep his precepts.
The dangers are very great.

44
Ah Gong Boh Hua Hee
Ee Oo Siau Ai See
Ah Gong is not happy.
He does think of ending his life.

45
 Ah Gong Tiok Tua Soo
Sung Khee Loh Koon Choo

Ah Gong has a
critical problem.
He is sent to
the Hospital.

46
Peh Kah Chin Lee Hai
Jee Lay Boh Lang Ai
His sickness is very serious.
Nobody wants to be sick.

47
Lang Kah Ah Kim Kong
Ah Gong Peh Boh Song

People inform
Ah Kim
that Ah Gong is
miserably sick.

48
Ah Kim Chin Choo Pi
Ai Ah Gong A Ee

Ah Kim is very
compassionate.
She wants
Ah Gong
to be cured.

49
 Noh Lang Ho Toh Tui
Jee Lay Hood Li Swee
Both of them reconcile.
This is beautiful Dhamma.

50
 Ah Gong Ho Liau Lo
Chai Tiok Ai Cho Ho

Ah Gong
recovers.
He knows he has
to do good.

51
 Ah Gong Tuei Hood Li
Ah Kim Chin Hua Hee
Ah Gong follows the Dhamma.
Ah Kim is very happy.

52
Noh Lang Gau Siew Heng
Ah Neh Khor A Theng
Both of them cultivate well.
This way, suffering can end.

53
 Uncle Kah Auntie!
Mai Beh Kee Hood Li
Uncle and Auntie!
Do not forget the Dhamma.

54
The End Oh Uncle Auntie!
Koot Lat Thak Hood Li
Hee Bung Lu Hua Hee
Be diligent in learning the Dhamma.
May you be happy!

With Metta,
Bro. Oh Teik Bin

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