新加坡英语字汇
新加坡英语(Singlish),新加坡式英语,是以英语为基础的通俗语言。新加坡英语有其独特的俚语和语法,这是在非正式的口头更加明显。它通常是英语,华语,泰米尔语,马来语的混合物,和其他地方方言就像福建话,广东话或潮州话
字的起源
新加坡式英语词典和单词列表
缩写
交通用语
- AYE - 亚逸拉惹高速公路
- CTE - 中央快速公路(新加坡)
- ECP - 东海岸快速公路(新加坡)
- ERP - 新加坡公路收费门架的缩写。
0–9
- 4D - 4-Digits,一组新加坡博彩号码
- 5 C's - : 现金,汽车,信用卡,共管式公寓,乡村俱乐部
- 6 C's - : 职业,现金,汽车,信用卡,共管式公寓,乡村俱乐部
A
单词 | 起源 | 定义 |
---|---|---|
ABC | 英语 | 泛指在美国出生的华人。 |
Abit the | 英语 | 意味着一点点。 |
Action | 英语 | 在此背景下,该术语是指所描述的人是 自大和傲慢。 |
Agak-Ration | 马来语和英语 | 估计或预测。 |
Ah Beng | 福建话 | 一个乡下人,常见的中国男性名字,"阿明" (a-bêng)是本地不良少年和流氓的俚称. |
Ah Lian | 福建话 | 一个乡下人,常见的中国女性名字,"阿莲" (a-lián),"阿明" 的女性版也就是太妹的俚称。 |
Ah Long | 广东话 | "阿窿", "大耳窿".放高利贷的人. |
Ah Tiong | 福建话 | 福建话"阿中" (a-tiong),泛指有中国大陆国籍的人。 |
Ai See | 福建话/潮州话 | 闽南语音译“爱死”。用来形容某人如履薄冰。 |
Ai See Buay See | 福建话 | 闽南语音译“爱死袂死”。用来形容某人如履薄冰。 |
Ai Tzai | 福建话 | 闽南语音译。用在鼓励的方式来平息人们失望。 |
Aiyah | 中文/淡米尔语 | 有时用作“Aiyoh”(淡米尔语:ஐயோ)。中文术语的音译“哎呀”和“哎唷”。相当于中国的“哦不!”,“哦,亲爱的!”。 |
Akan Datang | 马来话 | 意思是“即将推出”,如电影预告片看到。用来安抚一个没有耐心的人。 |
Alamak | 马来话 | 语音学贴近中国术语“哦,我的母亲!”。它表示震惊或惊奇。 |
Amacam | 马来话 | 马来字“阿帕MACAM”,这是作为一个问候,类似的收缩,“怎么了?”。 |
An Zhua? | 福建话 | 闽南语术语“按怎” |
Ang Moh | 福建话 | 字面意思是“红色的头发/红毛”。该术语指的是白人后裔。 |
Ar Bo | 福建话/潮州话 | 意思是“还有什么?”或“怎么回事?”。通常用作具有明显的答案是回答了问题。音译术语“阿无”(A-BO)。 |
B
单词 | 起源 | 词义 |
---|---|---|
Balik Kampong | 马来语 | 打包行李、然后回家(甘榜代表家乡)。 |
Banana | 英语 | 指的是华裔新加坡人只会说英语。意思是'外表是黄色的,内在是白色的。' |
Bodoh | 马来语 | Idiot , ignorant.[1] |
Boh Chup | 福建话 | 福建话指的是不关心。 |
Boh Gay | 福建话/潮州话 | 福建话/潮州话 pronunciation of "无牙" (bô-gê), which literally means "no teeth". Usually used to describe someone with a missing tooth. |
Boh Liao | 福建话/潮州话 | 福建话/潮州话 pronunciation of "无聊" (bô-liâu), which means "boredom". A slang expression to describe being in a situation of idleness. Also used to describe an act of doing something silly. |
Boleh | 马来语 | 能; 可行的. |
Bo Jio | 福建话/潮州话 | 无招(意思是你没有邀我做什么事情)(You didn't invite me) |
Bo Ta Bo Lan Pa | 福建话 | Literally means you have no balls if it's not dry. Usually used in drinking for "bottoms up". |
Bo Pien | 福建话 | No choice. |
Botak | 马来话 | Used to describe someone bald. This term inspired the famous Botak Jones in Singapore.[2] |
Buay | 福建话 | 福建话的口语是"袂" (buē).意思是"不能"。 |
Buay Song | 福建话 | 福建话的口语是"袂爽" (buē-sóng,意思是:不开心)。指的是生气和不开心。 |
Buay Steady | 福建话/英语混合 | Usually used to reply to someone whose conduct spoils the pleasure of others. A spoilsport. |
Buay Tahan | 福建话/马来话混合 | 福建话 "袂(buay)"与马来话"tahan"的混合语。意思是"无法顶住"或俗称“受不了”。 |
Buay Pai | 福建话 | 福建话 pronunciation of "袂歹" (buē-pháiⁿ, Mandarin: 不错/不坏). 字面意思是"不坏"。这通常被用来形容食物,说这不是非常坏或是不坏。它也可以用在形容一个人。 |
Bo wei kong | 福建话 | 源自于福建话的“无话讲”。 |
C
单词 | 起源 | 字义 |
---|---|---|
Chao | 福建话/潮州话 | 源自福建话 或 潮州话的 臭 (chhàu)。 |
Char Bor | 福建话/潮州话 | 女孩/女人,源自福建话 或 潮州话的 查某 (cha-bó)。 |
'Cher (Tcher) | 新加坡英语 | "teacher"的简化。 |
Chicken Business | 英语与粤语 | 粤语俗话 "做鸡"的直接翻译。 |
Chee Bai | 福建话 | 意思是 鸡掰。 |
Chiong | 福建话 | 冲、鲁莽。 |
Chin Chai | 福建话/潮州话 | 源自福建话或潮州话的发音 "凊彩" (chhìn-chhái)。意思是 “随便”。 |
D
单词 | 起源 | 词义 |
---|---|---|
Double Confirm | 新加坡英语 | 确认与再确认。用来强调确认。也强调话题的严重性,'三次确认' 是被使用的。 |
Du lan | 福建话 | 可指“非常生气”。也可以用来形容人是非常挑剔、盲目地遵守规则。字面意思是“捅家伙”、“堵滥”。 |
Dey | 印度话 | 语助词,友善地呼叫某人,与"Hey!"相同。仅用于对朋友或相同年龄层的人,例:"Dey! 你在做什么?" |
H
单词 | 起源 | 词义 |
---|---|---|
Hao Lian | 潮州话 | Slang term for "boast". From Teochew word “好脸 haon3 liêng2” (love to boast, show off). |
Hor Liao | 福建话 | Marked by superiority or distinction |
Heng | 福建话/潮州话 | 福建话/潮州话的直接音译,即 "幸" (hīng), which means to be lucky or fortunate. |
Horlan | 英语/福建话 | 意思是唬滥的福建话发音,音同英语的Holland,在福建话是贬义词。Deliberate mispronunciation of "Holland". Of uncertain origin, the term is used to denote finding oneself in a far-off place, or unexpected consequence, usually unpleasant. |
J
单词 | 起源 | 定义 |
---|---|---|
Jiak | 福建话/潮州话 | 中文字"食"在福建话与潮州话的发音,(chia̍h),音同呷。 |
Jiak Chao | 福建话/潮州话 | 字面意思是吃草,源自福建话 或 潮州话 "食草" (chia̍h chháu)。这可能指没有钱的情境或 日用 (i.e. 超支).。(略有不同的发音) 。 |
Jiak Zua | 福建话 | 字面意思是 '吃蛇'。 或 福建话 "呷" (食), "Zua" (蛇)。这基本上意味着“消极怠工”。 |
S
单词 | 起源 | 定义 |
---|---|---|
Sabo | 新加坡英语 | "Sabotage" 的简写,意指牵连他人 |
Saman | 马来语 | 罚单 |
Sam Seng | 广东话与福建话/潮州话 | 或Sam Seng Kia (三牲囝, saⁿ-seng-kiáⁿ) - gangster. From Chinese term 三牲 (Hokkien/Teochew saⁿ-seng).拜拜用。 |
Sargen | 新加坡英语 | "Sergeant" 的谐音,指中士 |
Sakar | 马来语 | 拍马屁 |
Sekali | 马来语 | 读作"SCAR-ly",意指假如,如果 |
Send | 新加坡英语 | 带某人去某处,例如:"I will send you to the airport"(“我会送你去机场。”)。 |
Shame Shame | 新加坡英语 | “挺可耻”或“尴尬”,幼稚俚语的意思。 |
Shiok | 旁遮普语 | 满足 |
Showflat | 英语 | 示范单位 |
Sia | 马来语 | 感叹号。 |
Siam | 福建话/潮州话 | "Get out of the way!" Considered rude but effective. From Hokkien term 闪 (siám). |
Sian/Sien | 福建话/潮州话 | 无聊、累、对某事感到厌烦[3]原于福建话的 (siān).[4]。 |
Siao | 福建话/潮州话 | Refers to either "crazy" in response to a silly suggestion or an offensive term used to address a friend. From Hokkien or Teochew word "siáu 嬲". Also refers to somebody who is a fanatic. "He Siao bicycles" is saying that someone is crazy about bicycles. |
Sibeh | 潮州话 | Similar to "very". Originated from Teochew word 死父 (si2-bê6) (literally a curse vulgar word meaning "dead father"). Interchangeably used in Singaporean Hokkien and Singlish. |
Si Mi | 福建话 | 在福建话里称为甚物 (sím-mi̍h),意思就是华语中的什么,英语的"What?"。 |
Si Mi Lan Jiao | 福建话 | A much more derogatory term of "What's up?" Literally means "What's up dickhead?" |
Si Mi Tai Dzi | 福建话 | 闽南语称甚物代忌,意思就是华语中的"什么事情?" |
Sod | 广东话/英语 | Used to express a machine, person, or object that has gone mental or haywire. Localization of the word "short" from English term "short circuit". |
Song | 福建话/广东话 | Used to express pleasure. Lit. "refreshing". From Hokkien/Cantonese 爽 (sóng). Same meaning as Shiok. |
Sotong | 马来语 | Forgetful or not knowing what is going on. Lit. "squid". Spineless or without principles, like the cuttlefish. |
Spoil | 新加坡英语 | 损坏、破、糟。 |
Stay | 新加坡英语 | 生活(居住) "如:我住在宏茂桥(I stay in Ang Mo Kio)"。这是直接从马来语直译(tinggal)。 |
Stun | 新加坡英语 | 偷窃(动词)。看: Cope. Can be used as part of "Gostan". See: Gostan |
Suku | Malay/潮州话 | Meaning of "silly" or "foolish" |
swaku | 福建话 | Not well informed or backward; a country bumpkin. From Hokkien 山龟 (soaⁿ-ku; lit. "mountain tortoise"). |
Suay | 福建话/潮州话 | 不幸运的意思[5]。音与意皆相同于汉字的衰. |
T
单词 | 起源 | 定义 |
---|---|---|
Ta Pau | 广东话 | 带走(仅用于熟食)。源于广东话的"Da Bao打包"。 |
Tak Boleh | 马来语 | 不能。 |
Tak Boleh Tahan | 马来语 | 字面上的意义是无法忍受。通常被使用在当有人遭受痛苦、或、当你不能等待的东西时。 |
Tau Pok | 闽南语 | 字面上的意义是指'豆粕'。By students who throw themselves on one another in a pile, usually for fun or to bully. Special cases with vertical tau pok where a person gets squashed against a vertical object, found in MRTs on a crowded day. |
Tai Ko (also spelled "tyco") | 福建话 | Lucky (only used sarcastically). Literally "leper". |
Talk Cock/Tok Kok | Singlish | 意思是“胡说八道”、“胡言乱语” |
Tekan | 马来语 | Bully/Torture/Put under pressure. Military slang for punishments. |
Terbalik/Tombalek | 马来语 | 相反/倒置/内而外。 |
Thiam/Diam | 福建话 | 请用闽南语去念这个音。如果作为一个必要的,说法非常粗鲁的方式“闭嘴!”或“请保持安静”,但它的字面意思是“安静”,这用法非常直接。 |
Tio | 福建话/潮州话 | 意思是中、得到。例如:他中彩票(4D或多多)。 |
Toot | 新加坡英语 | 笨/傻[人]。 |
Tahan | 马来语 | Handle/tolerate, commonly used as 'I cannot tahan' meaning 'I can't bear it". |
Y
单词 | Origin | Definition |
---|---|---|
Your Head | 新加坡英语 | Mild curse used to disabuse someone of his or her erroneous assumption. Directly transliterated from Chinese "你的头". |
Yandao | 福建话/闽南话 | 用来称赞一个穿着英俊的男生,直接从福建话闽南语的"缘投" (iân-tâu)翻译。 |
Z
单词 | Origin | Definition |
---|---|---|
Zai | 福建话 | 例句:伊今有才(闽南语)。to be very good in something. From Hokkien 才 (tsâi). |
Zhun | 福建话/潮州话 | Means accurate. From Hokkien 准 (chún). |
Zhun Bo | 福建话/潮州话 | From Hokkien 准无 (chún-bô). Literally means accurate or not. Means "Are you sure or not?" |
Zi siao | 福建话 | means to disturb, ridicule or tease. From Hokkien term 耻笑 (thí-siâu). |
食物
新加坡的小贩中心当地共同菜肴的名称通常是以本地方言或原乡语言作为称呼。然而,由于没有英文单词可以对应某些食品,而使用于他们的方言,已经慢慢演变成新加坡式英语词汇的一部分。使用新加坡英语点餐,能够被小贩商家广泛的理解。一些食品项目的例子已优先成为新加坡式英语的一部分:
小吃
Term | Origin | Definition |
---|---|---|
Char Kway Teow | (福建/潮州话) | 就是炒粿条(一种闽粤沿海常见的米面食,以米制成) |
Chwee kueh | (潮州话; 水粿) | cup shaped steamed rice flour cakes topped with preserved vegetables (usually radish) and served with or without chilli |
Hokkien char mee | (福建话; 福建炒麺) | Refers to the Kuala Lumpur Hokkien noodle. It is a dish of thick yellow noodles braised in thick dark soy sauce with pork, squid, fish cake and cabbage as the main ingredients and cubes of pork fat fried until crispy. |
Hokkien hae mee | 福建话 | 福建虾麺。系指无论是槟城虾面(汤,槟城)或新加坡虾面(炒,新加坡)。使用没有使用老抽的鸡蛋面条和米粉,主要成分是虾与鸡肉或猪肉片、鱿鱼、和鱼蛋糕。而空心菜常见于槟城版本。 |
Ice Kacang | 红豆冰 | Crushed ice with flavoured liquids poured into them. Beans and jelly are usually added as well. |
Kaya | (马来语) | Local jam mixture made of coconut, sugar and egg of Straits Chinese origins |
Roti-Kaya | (马来语) | 烤咖椰面包 |
Mee Goreng | (华人/马来) | 马来炒面 |
Otah | 马来语 | 乌打,在东南亚一带非常常见 |
Popiah | (福建话) | 薄饼 Chinese spring rolls (non fried). Various condiments and vegetables wrapped in a flour skin with sweet flour sauce. Condiments can be varied, but the common ones include turnip, bamboo shoots, lettuce, Chinese sausage, prawns, bean sprouts, garlic and peanut. Origins from China. Hokkien and Straits Chinese (Nonya) popiah are the main versions. |
Rojak | (Malay) | local salad of Malay origins. Mixture of sliced cucumber, pineapple, turnip, dried beancurd, Chinese doughsticks, bean sprouts with prawn paste, sugar, lotus buds and assam (tamarind). |
Roti John | (Malay/English) | Indian version of western hamburger consisting of two halves of French loaves fried with egg and minced beef/mutton. Colonial origins. |
Tze Char | (福建话; 煮炒, POJ chí-chhá) | Literally means cook and fry. General term for food served by mini restaurants in local hawker stalls serving restaurant style Chinese
dishes, like fried noodles, sweet and sour pork, claypot tofu etc. |
饮品
茶类
Term | 起源 | Definition |
---|---|---|
Teh | 福建话 | 茶,福建话的念法。 |
Teh-O | 福建话 | 茶乌(tê-o),福建话的念法。系指加糖不加牛奶的茶(字面意思是“红茶”)。 |
Teh-O-ice-limau | (福建话-English-Malay) | 自家酿制的冰柠檬茶 |
Teh-C | 福建话/海南话 | 茶与淡奶。 |
Teh-cino | 福建话/罗马字母 | 牛奶在这杯茶的茶的顶部分层(类似于玛奇朵拿铁),它的名字暗示是卡布奇诺的茶版本。 |
Teh-Peng | (福建话) | 茶冰(tê-peng),福建话的念法。冰镇奶茶加甜炼乳。 |
Teh-Poh | 福建话 | 茶薄(tê-po̍h),福建话的念法。系指加口味较弱或淡的茶。 |
Teh-kosong | 纯茶。 | |
Teh-kah-dai | 福建话/福州话 | 茶加炼乳、添加更多的糖。 |
Teh-siu-dai | 福建话/福州话 | 茶加炼乳、少糖。 |
Teh-pua seo | 福建话 | Luke-Warmed tea. From Hokkien 茶半烧 (tê puànn-sio) |
Teh-O-kah-dai | 福建话/福州话 | 茶、不加奶(保持茶的原色)、添加更多的糖。 |
Teh-O-siu-dai | 福建话/福州话 | 茶、不加奶(保持茶的原色)、少糖。 |
Teh-C-kah-dai | 福建话/海南话/福州话 | 奶茶、添加更多的糖。 |
Teh-C-siu-dai | 福建话/海南话/福州话 | 奶茶、少糖。 |
Teh-packet or Teh-pao | 福建话 | 福建话的茶包(tê pau)。(那杯茶)打包带走。 |
Teh-Tarik | 福建话/马来语 | '拉'奶茶,一种马来特产。 |
Teh-Halia | 生姜茶 | |
Teh-Halia Tarik | 加了生姜的'拉'奶茶(拉茶) |
咖啡类
Term | Origin | Definition |
---|---|---|
Kopi | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡(ka-pi),福建话的念法。 |
Kopi-O | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡乌(ka-pi-o),福建话的念法。即不加奶的咖啡,(字面上的意思是黑咖啡)。 |
Kopi-C | 马来语/海南话 | 咖啡淡奶。'C'在此指的是淡奶,由早期经营的海南人所影响。 |
Kopi-Peng | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡冰(ka-pi-peng),福建话的念法。即充满冰块的咖啡。 |
Kopi-packet or Kopi-pao | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡包(ka-pi-pau),福建话的念法。即把咖啡打包带走。 |
Kopi-pua seo | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡半烧(ka-pi-pua-sio),福建话的念法。即温度较温和的咖啡。 |
Kopi-gao | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡厚(ka-pi kāu),福建话的念法。即口味较厚的咖啡。 |
Kopi-poh | 福建话/马来语 | 咖啡薄(ka-pi-poh),福建话的念法。即口味较淡或薄的咖啡。 |
Kopi-kosong | 纯咖啡 | |
Kopi-kah-dai | 马来语/福州话 | 咖啡、多加一些糖。 |
Kopi-siu-dai | 马来语/福州话 | 咖啡、少糖。 |
其他饮料
Term | Origin | Definition |
---|---|---|
Bandung | 马来语 | 添加玫瑰糖浆的牛奶,起源于印度。 (旧时代是使用羊奶) |
Ice kosong | 英语-马来语 | 冰开水 |
Horlick-dinosaur | 冰好立克饮品加上浮在上面尚未溶解好立克粉末 | |
Horlick-sio | 英语-福建话 | 好立克-烧,即热的好立克 |
Horlick-peng | 英语-福建话 | 好立克-冰,及加了冰块的好立克 |
Milo-sio | 英语-福建话 | 美禄-烧,及热的美禄 |
Milo dinosaur | 冰美禄饮品加上浮在上面尚未溶解美禄粉末 | |
Milo-Peng | 英语-福建话 | 美禄-冰,即冰的美禄 |
Tak Kiu | 福建话 | 字面意思是踢球、美式橄榄球或欧式足球),雀巢公司经常使用的足球和其他运动作为其美禄广告的主题。 |
Tak Kiu-Peng | 冰的美禄 | |
Tiau Herr | (福建话; 字面意思是'钓鱼') | 茶+茶叶袋。参考茶包浸泡。类似福建话钓鱼的念法。 |
The above list is not complete; for example, one can add the "-peng" suffix (meaning "iced") to form other variations such as Teh-C-peng (tea with evaporated milk and ice) which is a popular drink considering Singapore's warm weather.
英语字汇在新加坡英语的意思
Word | Meaning | Example/comment |
---|---|---|
follow | - 一起走/陪[6] | "Can follow anot?" |
having here | 在一家餐馆用餐 | The antonym is "take away" or "tah-bao". Used by fast-food restaurant counter staff as in, "Having here or take away?" (Are you eating in here or do you want to have it for take-away?) |
help, lah | please, do lend me a hand by desisting from whatever it is you are doing; help me out here | "Help lah, stop hitting on my sister" |
last time | previously, in the past[7] | "I last time want to go Africa, but now don't know 'ready."[8] |
lightbulb | an unwelcome companion in a couple; a third wheel | Originates from colloquial Cantonese term 电灯胆 (lit: electric light bulb). "You two go ahead lah, I don't want to be lightbulb."(你们两个走先啦,我不想当电灯泡!) |
mug | 研究 | Derived from British 'mug up'. Common expression amongst all students. Instead of 'He's mugging up...', locally used as 'He's mugging for...' |
smug | 学习(SMU学生) | The term smugging or smugger refers to mugging by SMU students. Derived from SMU and mugger. |
marketing | going to the market or shops to buy food | Rare expression."My dad may help in the marketing side, by going to the market to get some things."[9] |
never | did not(没有) | "you never tell me"(你没有告诉我) |
next time | in the future | "Next time when you get married, you'll know how to cook."[8] |
on, off | to switch on/off | "I on the TV"(我上电视了) |
on ah | It's settled then? | "It's settled then, bro?" |
open | 转或扭开某种东西 | "I open the light."[10] (源自中国,它以这种方式使用动词“打开”。使用“开(open)”代替(turn on)的意思,仅限于电器。 |
pass up | to hand in | "Pass up your homework". Although once common, usage is now discouraged in schools. |
revert | to get back (commonly used in business emails) | "Please revert your decision to us" doesn't mean "Please change your decision", but rather "Please get back to us with your decision". |
send | to take (i.e. drive) somebody somewhere | "She gets her maid to send the boy in a cab."[11] |
solid/steady | capable; excellent | "Solid sia, that movie." See also "Kilat" |
sabo | to play a trick on someone | Short for "sabotage", but with an everyday usage.[12] - "Because he sabo me, now boss mad at me!" |
stay | to live (in a place).[13] | From Malay "tinggal". - "My grandmother, my aunt and uncle also stay next door."[9] |
steady | attached (in relationships) OR agreeing over something, usually over an appointment | "Eh u two steady liao ah?", "Today, come 3 o'clock? Steady."
|
stone | to space out; to do nothing | - BAKED |
take | to eat; to have a meal[14] | "Have you taken your lunch? I don't take pork." |
tok kok | (talk cock) | Probably from the English "cock and bull story". Talking senselessly/rubbish; "Don't tok kok lah!" |
earpiece | Earphones/headphones | In standard English it is used by handphone/mobile phone manufacturers to refer to the little speaker above your phone screen that you use to listen to a caller, but in Singlish it refers to a pair of earphones or headphones. Can be used as in, "Ah boy, don't wear your earpiece while crossing the road!" (Boy, don't use your earphones/headphones while crossing the road.) |
表达式
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Blur like sotong | 字面意思就像是乌贼,乌贼作为自我防卫机制逃脱,喷出来的墨汁形容一个人做事很模糊,一团黑。例如: - "Wah! You damn blur leh! Liddat also dunno!" |
Don't fly my kite/aeroplane | 罕见的表达。一个新加坡式英语表达的意思是“不要吃了你的话'或'不要放我鸽子” |
Don't play play! | Uncommon expression, popularised by the local comedy series Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd. Used only to evoke humour. Means 'Don't fool around' or 'Better take things seriously' |
Got problem ah? | an aggressive, instigatory challenge. Or an expression of annoyance when someone is disturbed. 'Do you have a problem?' |
He still small boy one | a remark (Often offensive) made against someone who is not of a legally median age allowed by the law. Or expression used to excuse someone because he is either immature or still too young to know the difference. |
Issit/Izzit? | Abbreviated form of "is it?" used as a standard tag question. E.g.: You going home now issit? E.g.: You not going home issit? E.g.: Someone comments: "You look good today." Answer: "Issit??" |
Last time policemen wear shorts! | a retort made to someone who refers to how policies were made in the past. Or in response to something which is passe. Or to brush aside old references or nostalgia. Direct reference to the British colonial police forces who wore three-quarter khaki pants in the 1950s and 60's. |
Liddat oso can!? | (English - Like that also can?) In response to feats of achievement or actions which are almost impossible, or unexpected. Usually with tinge of awe, sarcasm or scepticism. |
My England not powderful! | (English - My English is not powerful (good)) Uncommon expression, used only to evoke humour. Literally means 'My English is not good'. |
no fish prawn oso can | accepting a lesser alternative (From the Hokkien idiom "bo hir hay mah hoh." literally translates as "no fish, prawns also ok" -) |
Not happy, talk outside! | Used as a challenge to a fight to settle an argument, by taking it outside. (Hokkien: Ow buay gong (settle it at the back/alley way)) |
No horse run! | (Hokkien - 无马走, POJ bô bé cháu) Original Hokkien expression used in horse racing jargon to describe a champion horse which is way ahead of the field. Used to describe things (food usually) which are ahead of its peers. |
On lah!/On!/Set! | "It's on!"; expression used to voice enthusiastic agreement or confirmation (of an arranged meeting, event etc.) |
Relak lah! | (Malay-English for Relax) Expression used to ask someone to chill, cool it. 'Relak one corner' means to skive, or to literally go chill out in one corner. |
..then you know! | Expression used at the back of a sentence to emphasise consequence of not heeding advice. 'Tell you not to park double yellow line, kena summon then you know!' |
Why you so liddat ar? | (English - Why are you so "like that"?) 'an appeal made to someone who is being unreasonable.' |
You thought, he think, who confirm? | army expression used during organisational foul ups. Generally used as a response to "I thought..." when something goes wrong. |
You think, I thought, who confirm? | army expression used in uncertainty during questioning. Generally used as a response to "I think..." when a higher ranking abuses someone of a lower rank, which is a norm in the nation's army. |
You want 10 cent? | Means to "buzz off!" Refers to public phones that require 10 cents per call. |
Your grandfather's place/road ah?, Your father own this place/road? | Used to cut someone down to size in terms of their obnoxious boorish behaviour, behaving as if they owned the place. |
You play where one? | Used to challenge someone to state his gang affiliations (if any) |
参考
- ^ 引用错误:没有为名为
Brown, Adam 1999 p. 33
的参考文献提供内容 - ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 35.
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 195
- ^ Hanji character[永久失效链接]
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 215.
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, pp. 85-6
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 128.
- ^ 8.0 8.1 Deterding, David (2007) Singapore English, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, p. 80.
- ^ 9.0 9.1 Deterding, David (2007) Singapore English, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, p. 81.
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 154.
- ^ Deterding, David (2000) 'Potential influences of English on the written English of Singapore'. In Adam Brown (ed.) English in Southeast Asia 99: Proceedings of the 'English in Southeast Asia' conference held at NIE Singapore, Singapore: National Institute of Education, pp. 201-209.
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, pp. 187
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 211.
- ^ Brown, Adam (1999) Singapore English in a Nutshell, Singapore: Federal, p. 217