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 qún/tuán tǐ
Communities/Organisations
阿兵哥
ā bīng gē
National Serviceman
阿姐
ā jiě
top actress
阿窿
ā lόng
loan shark
阿明阿莲
ā míng ā lián
hooligan (colloquially known as ah beng ah lian)
暗牌
àn pái
plainclothes police officer
背包客
bēi bāo kè
backpacker
卜基
bǔ jī
bookmaker (bookie)
唱片骑师
chàng piàn qí shī
disc jockey (DJ)
船民
chuán mín
boat people
大耳窿
dà ěr lóng
loan shark
地牛
dì niú
Sanitary inspector (colloquially known as te gu)
菲佣
fēi yōng
Filipino domestic helper
共和联邦
gòng hé lián bāng
Commonwealth of Nations
过番客
guò fān kè
old term referring to early immigrants from China
骇客
hài kè
hacker
华社自助理事会
huá shè zì zhù lǐ shì huì
Chinese Development Assistance Council(CDAC)
活跃乐龄
huó yuè lè líng
Active Ageing
基层领袖
jī céng lǐng xiù
grassroots leaders
机组成员
jī zǔ chéng yuán
aircraft crew
加龙古尼
jiā lóng gǔ ní
rag-and-bone man (colloquially known as karung guni)