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.

阿嫂杀手
ā sǎo shā shǒu
aunty charmer
爱它死
ài tā sǐ
ecstasy (drug)
爱之病
ài zhī bìng
AIDS
按柜金
àn guì jīn
deposit
巴冷刀
bā lěng dāo
parang
巴仙
bā xiān
percent
百慕达裤
bǎi mù dá kù
bermuda shorts
版位
bǎn wèi
article placement
绑紧跳
bǎng jĭn tiào
bungee jumping
保健储蓄
bǎo jiàn chǔ xù
MediSave
暴露
bào lù
revealing
报聘
bào pìn
to pay a return visit
报生纸
bào shēng zhǐ
birth certificate (colloquially known as po se tsua)
报效
bào xiào
to sponsor
便利贴
biàn lì tiē
post-it notes
波道
bō dào
television channel
帛金
bó jīn
condolence gift (colloquially known as peh kim)
财副
cái fù
clerk (colloquially known as zai hu)
财路
cái lù
General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO)
残障
cán zhàng
physically disabled