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.

dì lǐ xiāng guān
Places
樟宜
zhāng yí
Changi
樟宜礼拜堂和博物馆
zhāng yí lǐ bài táng hé bó wù guǎn
Changi Chapel and Museum
政府大厦前大草场
zhèng fǔ dà shà qián dà cǎo chǎng
the Padang
中峇鲁
zhōng bā lǔ
Tiong Bahru
中途之家
zhōng tú zhī jiā
halfway house
中央商业区
zhōng yāng shāng yè qū
Central Business District (CBD)
综合诊疗所
zōng hé zhěn liáo suǒ
polyclinic
组屋
zǔ wū
Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat
组屋区
zǔ wū qū
Housing & Development Board (HDB) estate
wén huà
Culture
峇峇
bā bā
Baba
峇迪
bā dí
batik
巴刹语言
bā shā yǔ yán
pasar language
背包客
bēi bāo kè
backpacker
酬神戏
chóu shén xì
Chinese opera performed for the gods
春到河畔迎新年
chūn dào hé pàn yíng xīn nián
River Hongbao
大宝森节
dà bǎo sēn jié
Thaipusam
大伯公
dà bó gōng
Tua Pek Kong
大日子
dà rì zi
special occasion
淡马锡
dàn mǎ xī
Temasek (old term referring to Singapore)
多元种族
duō yuán zhǒng zú
multi-racial