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.

jiào yù
Education
特别学校
tè bié xué xiào
Special Education (SPED) school
特选学校
tè xuǎn xué xiào
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school
shè huì
Social
太空梭
tài kōng suō
space shuttle
汤匙
tāng chí
spoon
特惠银行服务
tè huì yín hang fú wù
privilege banking
跳蚤市场
tiào zǎo shì chǎng
flea market
同舟共济配套
tóng zhōu gòng jì pèi tào
Solidarity Budget
涂改剂
tú gǎi jì
correction fluid
团结预算案
tuán jié yù suàn àn
Unity Budget
推介式
tuī jiè shì
launch
脱售
tuō shòu
to sell
shēng huó
Speech
铁公鸡
tiě gōng jī
having a fist fight
贴士
tiē shì
tips
头手
tóu shǒu
foreman
头尾
tóu wěi
from beginning to end
shè qún/tuán tǐ
Communities/Organisations
头家
tóu jiā
boss (colloquially known as towkay)
土生华人
tǔ shēng huá rén
Peranakan Chinese
jiāo tōng
Transport
停车转搭公共交通工具计划
tíng chē zhuǎn dā gōng gòng jiāo tōng gōng jù jì huá
Park and Ride Scheme
拖车头
tuō chē tóu
prime mover
fǎ zhèng
Legal/Politics
太平绅士
tài píng shēn shì
Justice of the Peace