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.

南洋咖啡
nán yáng kā fēi
Nanyang coffee
酿豆腐
niàng dòu fu
yong tau foo
碰饼
pèng bǐng
pong piah
葡萄桑
pú tao sāng
pulasan (colloquially known as pu tou san)
清汤
qīng tāng
cheng tng
肉脞面
ròu cuǒ miàn
bak chor mee
肉骨茶
ròu gŭ chá
bak kut teh
参峇
sān bā
sambal
三层肉
sān céng ròu
pork belly
沙爹
shā diē
satay
山瑞
shān ruì
softshell turtle
山竹
shān zhú
mangosteen
生鱼
shēng yú
snakehead
食水
shí shuǐ
drinking water
水粿
shuǐ guǒ
chwee kueh
四川菜
sì chuān cài
Sichuan preserved vegetable
文头雪
wén tóu xuě
ice jelly
乌达
wū dá
otah (derived from otak-otak)
五香虾饼
wǔ xiāng xiā bǐng
ngoh hiang and prawn cracker (colloquially known as ngoh heong hei piah)
西果
xī guǒ
confectionery