Singaporean Mandarin Database

This database contains a collection of Mandarin terms which have cultural, historical or sentimental value unique to Singapore. These terms may be used by Singaporeans in the past or at present. Some of the terms are read in print while others are used in our everyday conversations.

jiào yù
Education
初级学院
chū jí xué yuàn
junior college
shè huì
Social
财副
cái fù
clerk
财路
cái lù
General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO)
残障
cán zhàng
physically disabled
扯购
chě gòu
broad-based buying
车匙
chē shí
car keys
充电
chōng diàn
to rest and recharge
抽润
chōu rùn
resale levy
储值购物卡
chǔ zhì gòu wù kǎ
gift card
创业基金
chuàng yè jī jīn
venture fund
雌威
cí wēi
female power
shí wù/zhí wù
Food/Plants
菜燕
cài yàn
agar agar
茶乌
chá wū
teh-o
潮州饭粿
cháo zhōu fàn guǒ
png kueh
shēng huó
Speech
插车
chā chē
forklift
吃风
chī fēng
to travel or have a vacation overseas (colloquially known as jiak hong)
吃蛇
chī shé
skiving off (colloquially known as jiak tsua)
冲凉
chōng liáng
to take a shower
臭酸
chòu suān
rotten smell (colloquially known as cao sng)
shè qún/tuán tǐ
Communities/Organisations
唱片骑师
chàng piàn qí shī
disc jockey (DJ)