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.

大学先修班
dà xué xiān xiū bān
Pre-University Education
大衣
dà yī
suit
达致
dá zhì
reach (an agreement)
大字报
dà zì bào
big-character poster
单班制
dān bān zhì
single-session system
单程车资卡
dān chéng chē zī kǎ
single trip fare card
单肩装
dān jiān zhuāng
One shoulder outfit
淡马锡
dàn mǎ xī
Temasek
淡米尔语文节
dàn mǐ ěr yǔ wén jié
Tamil Language Festival
单位信托
dān wèi xìn tuō
unit trust
单选区
dān xuǎn qū
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
党鞭
dǎng biān
Party Whip
当店
dàng diàn
pawnshop
德光岛
dé guāng dǎo
Pulau Tekong
德士
dé shì
taxi
德育在于行动
dé yù zài yú xíng dòng
Values in Action (VIA)
登布西山
dēng bù xī shān
Dempsey Hill
抵步
dǐ bù
reach (a place)
地段
dì duàn
district
地牛
dì niú
Sanitary inspector (colloquially known as te gu)