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
气闻
qì wén
news that will anger or amuse people
迁册
qiān cè
Transfer of Registration
强力胶
qiáng lì jiāo
super glue
清道夫
qīng dào fū
road-sweeper
清谈节目
qīng tán jié mù
talk show
shí wù/zhí wù
Food/Plants
清汤
qīng tāng
cheng tng
shè qún/tuán tǐ
Communities/Organisations
全国工资理事会
quán guó gōng zī lǐ shì huì
National Wages Council (NWC)
全国职工总会
quán guó zhí gōng zǒng huì
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)
jiāo tōng
Transport
汽车共享计划
qì chē gòng xiǎng jì huà
car-sharing programme
汽车入境准证
qì chē rù jìng zhǔn zhèng
Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)
汽车天桥
qì chē tiān qiáo
viaduct/flyover
骑士
qí shì
rider
轻轨列车
qīng guǐ liè chē
Light Rail Transit (LRT)
fǎ zhèng
Legal/Politics
骑劫
qí jié
hijack
强制性监禁
qiáng zhì xìng jiān jīn
mandatory imprisonment
穷籍
qióng jí
bankruptcy records
dì lǐ xiāng guān
Places
七马路
qī mǎ lù
Selegie Road (colloquially known as tek-a-kah)
七条石
qī tiáo shí
vicinity of Beauty World MRT station (colloquially known as chit kok jio)
钱币兑换商
qián bì duì huàn shāng
money changer
青桥头
qīng qiáo tóu
Ord Road (colloquially known as chni kio tau)