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.
挥春
huī chūn
writing of Chinese New Year calligraphy
降头
jiàng tóu
black magic (colloquially known as gong tau)
历史走道
lì shǐ zǒu dào
heritage trail
马打
mǎ dǎ
police (colloquially known as mata, derived from mata-mata)
全面防卫日
quán miàn fáng wèi rì
Total Defence Day
石叻坡
shí lè pō
Selat (old term referring to Singapore)
天公
tiān gōng
Jade Emperor (colloquially known as tni gong)
文化捐献配对基金
wén huà juān xiàn pèi duì jī jīn
Cultural Matching Fund
文化遗产资助津贴计划
wén huà yí chǎn zī zhù jīn tiē jì huà
Heritage Grants Scheme