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.
讲标准英语运动
jiǎng biāo zhǔn yīng yǔ yùn dòng
Speak Good English Movement
降头
jiàng tóu
black magic (colloquially known as gong tau)
历史走道
lì shǐ zǒu dào
Heritage Trail
马打
mă dă
police (colloquially known as mata, derived from mata-mata)
马来语文与文化活动月
mǎ lái yǔ wén yǔ wén huà huó dòng yuè
Bulan Bahasa
全面防卫日
quán miàn fáng wèi rì
Total Defence Day
石叻
shí lè
Selat (old term to refer to Singapore)
天公
tiān gōng
Jade Emperor (colloquially known as ti gong)