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.

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后

hòu

巷

xiàng

back alley

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释义

名词

两排背朝背建筑物之间的狭窄通道。

DEFINITION

Noun

A narrow passage between two rows of back-to-back buildings.

由来
  • 英语 “backlane” 的意译。
  • 由于后巷并不是正式的通道，所以没有路名。
  • 新加坡在 19 世纪兴建的店屋都是背对背而建，中间并没有后巷，救火员和挑粪工必须从前门而入，对防火安全和卫生造成问题。
  • 1909 年，在英国殖民地政府颁布的修订版《市政条例》（Municipal Ordinance）中，首次要求新建筑之间需设后巷，已有的建筑之间则须拆除连接部分来开辟后巷。
  • 1920 年之后，建筑之间便一律设有后巷。
  • 后巷大致上可分成三种：
  1. 两排背对背的店屋之间的窄小通道，有些只可以让行人、电单车和推着手推车的送货员使用，有些则可以让货车和车辆出入，视后巷的宽度而定。
  2. 一排旧店屋背向较高的新建筑之间的通道，这些后巷较宽，有时候可让新建筑的租户或客户的车辆出入。
  3. 两排背对背的店屋之间开辟的绿地，绿地上有一条步行道，可供行人和脚踏车骑士使用。
ETYMOLOGY
  • The Mandarin term “后巷” is a paraphrase of the English term “back alley”.
  • As a back alley is not an official passage, it has no road name.
  • In the 19th century, shophouses in Singapore were built back-to-back without back alleys. Firefighters and night soil men had to enter via the front doors, which caused problems for fire safety and hygiene.
  • In 1909, the revised Municipal Ordinance promulgated by the British colonial government stipulated for the first time that back alleys have to be constructed between new buildings, and that connecting structures between existing buildings have to be demolished to create back alleys.
  • After 1920, back alleys are found between all buildings.
  • There are generally three types of back alleys:
    1. A narrow passage between two rows of back-to-back shophouses. Depending on the widths of the back alleys, some can only be used by pedestrians, motorcycles and deliverymen using trolleys, while others allow lorries and vehicles to access.
    2. The passage between a row of old shophouses and the taller new buildings behind them. These back alleys are wider and may allow access to vehicles of the tenants or clients of the new buildings.
    3. The green area between two rows of back-to-back shophouses, which has a walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.
例句
经过一番整顿及洗刷，绝大部分的后巷已 “重见天日”，是个明净、整洁的地方。（《联合早报》，7/1/2021）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
After undergoing cleaning and repair, most of the back alleys are rejuvenated and have become bright, clean, and tidy. (Lianhe Zaobao, 7/1/2021)
相关资料

  • 虽然早期的后巷通常是不法分子从事非法勾当的地方，但也是小孩玩乐、以及流动小贩和后巷理发师做生意的地方。
  • 现在的后巷一般都扮演辅道的角色，例如放置垃圾桶、装置冷气机和作为停车用途，但有一些地区的业者有将后巷开辟为户外用餐空间，或在后巷漆上精美的壁画，吸引游客拍照留念。

RELATED INFORMATION

  • Although back alleys were often a place for lawbreakers to conduct illegal activities in the early days, it was also a place for children to play and for street hawkers and back alley barbers to earn a living.
  • Today, back alleys are commonly used as area for placing rubbish bins, installing air conditioners and parking. However, some developers have transformed back alleys into outdoor dining spaces, while others painted exquisite murals on the walls, turning back alleys into photo taking sites for tourists.

 

参考资料
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REFERENCES

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