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.

shí wù/zhí wù
Food/Plants
豆花水
dòu huā shuǐ
soya bean milk
豆爽
dòu shuǎng
tau suan
嘟嘟糕
dū dū gāo
kueh tutu
shēng huó
Speech
打包
dă bāo
takeaway
打底
dǎ dĭ
at least
打书
dǎ shū
to promote a new book
调头
diào tóu
to make a U-turn
顶限
dǐng xiàn
limit
shè qún/tuán tǐ
Communities/Organisations
大耳窿
dà ěr lóng
loan shark
地牛
dì niú
Sanitary inspector (colloquially known as te gu)
jiāo tōng
Transport
搭客
dā kè
passenger
大型豪华德士
dà xíng háo huá dé shì
limousine taxi
德士
dé shì
taxi
赌船
dǔ chuán
gambling ship
fǎ zhèng
Legal/Politics
打鞭
dǎ biān
to cane
单选区
dān xuǎn qū
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
党鞭
dǎng biān
Party Whip
独立候选人
dú lì hòu xuǎn rén
independent candidate
dì lǐ xiāng guān
Places
大巴窑
dà bā yáo
Toa Payoh
大草场
dà cǎo cháng
The Padang