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.

shā

laksa

Food/Plants

食物、植物

Food / Plants

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laksa

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Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
Food/Plants

食物、植物

Food / Plants

释义

名词

一种新加坡汤类面食,主要特色是加入椰奶和各类香料的浓汤。

DEFINITION

Noun

A Singaporean noodle soup dish known for its thick soup made with coconut milk and various spices.

由来
  • 在新加坡普遍写为“laksa”,而叻沙是其音译。
  • 叻沙据说是一道融合华人文化和马六甲文化的美食,早在19世纪就已存在,后来传入新加坡。
  • 对于叻沙的来源,说法不一。有一说法是这个词源自波斯语lakhsha,就是“米线”的意思。另一说法是它来自梵语laksha,意思是指“一万”,用来比喻这道食材所使用的大量食材,包括姜黄、南姜、香茅、石栗、虾米、红辣椒酱、椰奶、叻沙叶等。
  • 此外,还有一说是这个词来自于粤语(广东话)“辣沙”(laaht sā),除了指这道面食的香辣味道,也形容浓汤中使用磨碎的虾米,汤底呈现像沙一样的小颗粒。
ETYMOLOGY
  • Its Chinese name "叻沙" is the transliteration of the term "laksa".
  • Laksa is said to be a dish that combines Chinese and Melaka culture. It existed as early as in the 19th century and was later introduced into Singapore.
  • There are different beliefs on the origins of laksa. Some believe that the word "laksa" originated from a Persian word - lakhsha, which means "rice noodle". Others believe that it came from the Sanskrit word - lakhsha, which means "ten thousand", referring to the large number of ingredients used in making the dish, which includes turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, candlenut, dried shrimps, red chili paste, coconut milk and laksa leaves.
  • There is also another belief that the name originated from the Cantonese (Guangzhou dialect) term “辣沙” (laaht sā). This is not only a reference to the fragrance and spiciness of the dish, but also describes the ground shrimps used in the thick soup, which resembles tiny grains of sand in the soup base.
例句
两家本地美食被提名“世界餐厅奖”,其中包括位于惹兰白锡的“结霜桥叻沙”,受访摊主表示,入围已经是一种肯定。(《新明日报》,17/12/2018)
SAMPLE SENTENCE
Two local restaurants were nominated for the "World Restaurant Award", including "Sungei Road Laksa" at Jalan Berseh. In an interview, the stall owner  said that being nominated is already a form of recognition. (Shin Min Daily News, 17/12/2018)
相关资料

  • 叻沙在新加坡虽然是道常见的美食,但加东一带所售卖的叻沙远近闻名。据说在这一带售卖最久的叻沙摊贩在1950年代就已开业,因此有“加东叻沙”(Katong Laksa)之称。叻沙的名气也传到外地,据说在1960年代首次传到香港,但到了2000年代才开始盛行。1970年代末至1980年代初叻沙还传到了澳洲阿德莱德。

RELATED INFORMATION

  • Although laksa is a common dish found in Singapore, the Katong area is particularly famous for its laksa. It is said that the oldest laksa stall in the area has been selling laksa since the 1950s, which gave rise to the term, "Katong Laksa". Laksa's fame has also spread to other countries. It is said that laksa first spread to Hong Kong in the 1960s, but did not gain popularity until the 2000s. Laksa was even brought to Adelaide, Australia, in the late 1970s to the early 1980s.

参考资料
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