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.

视帝
shì dì
Best Actor
视后
shì hòu
Best Actress
侍应生
shì yìng shēng
waiter or waitress
市长
shì zhǎng
Mayor
市镇理事会
shì zhèn lǐ shì huì
Town Council
私会党
sī huì dăng
secret society
头家
tóu jiā
boss (colloquially known as towkay)
土生华人
tǔ shēng huá rén
Peranakan Chinese
谐星
xié xīng
comedian
新加坡华族文化中心
xīn jiā pō huá zú wén huà zhōng xīn
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
新加坡中华总商会
xīn jiā pō zhōng huá zǒng shāng huì
Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI)
新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会
xīn jiā pō zōng xiāng huì guǎn lián hé zǒng huì
Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA)
亚细安
yà xì ān
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
烟客
yān kè
smoker
银会
yín huì
tontine group
永久居民
yǒng jiǔ jū mín
Permanent Resident (PR)
杂工
zá gōng
odd-jobs or odd-job worker
战备军人
zhàn bèi jūn rén
Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman)
政联公司
zhèng lián gōng sī
Government-Linked Companies (GLC)
制服人员
zhì fú rén yuán
uniformed officer