Profanity in Hokkien most commonly involves sexual references and scorn of the object's ancestors, especially their mother.

[citation needed] Hokkien is the preferred language for swearing in Singapore.

[1] As in English, a vulgar word for the sexual act fuck is used in insults and expletives.

Kan (Chinese: 姦; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kàn), literally meaning fuck, is the most common but grossly vulgar profanity in Hokkien.

Used in a manner similar to the English word fuck, kan can express dismay, disgrace, and disapproval.