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.

shè huì
Social
南大精神
nán dà jīng shén
Nantah Spirit
shí wù/zhí wù
Food/Plants
南洋咖啡
nán yang kā fēi
Nanyang coffee
酿豆腐
niàng dòu fu
yong tau foo
shēng huó
Speech
to take
脑力激荡
nǎo lì jī dàng
brainstorming
闹双包
nào shuāng bāo
two similar things appearing together unexpectedly
shè qún/tuán tǐ
Communities/Organisations
南大诗社
nán dà shī shè
Nanyang University Poetry Society
fǎ zhèng
Legal/Politics
内阁资政
nèi gé zī zhèng
Minister Mentor
dì lǐ xiāng guān
Places
南部山脊
nán bù shān jǐ
The Southern Ridges
牛车水
niú chē shuĭ
Chinatown
女皇镇
nǚ huáng zhèn
Queenstown
wén huà
Culture
娘惹
niáng rě
nyonya / nonya