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.

ā

窿

lόng

loan shark

Communities/Organisations

社群、团体

Communities / Organisations

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loan shark

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Communities/Organisations

社群、团体

Communities / Organisations

释义

名词

从事非法贷款活动并收取高额利息的人或集团。他们以不抵押的方式贷款,因此吸引一些急需用钱的人上钩。也称大耳窿

DEFINITION

Noun

A person or entity engaged in illegal loan activities and charging high interest rates. The loans require no collateral, thus attracting those in desperate need of money to borrow from them. Also known in Mandarin as "大耳窿".

由来
  • “阿窿”一词源自香港的广东话(广州话、粤语)俗词“大耳窿”(发音为daaih yíh lùhng),传到新、马之后从三字词演变成二字词”阿窿”。
  • “大耳窿”或“阿窿”的英语词汇“loan shark”,产生于十九世纪的美国。当年在美国从事高利贷活动都是一些黑手党,手段残酷,因此被称为“loan shark”。
  • 对于“大耳窿”的来源,有三种说法:一是当时在香港的借贷商主要是遮地人(Chettiars)而他们有许多会在耳朵上戴上大耳环。另一种说法则是放高利贷的人,将钱币放在耳朵里,日子久了钱币越放越多,他们的耳朵就显得越来越大,所以称为“大耳窿”。第三种说方法是 “loan shark”这个英语词语在香港与广东话合并成词语“鲨鱼loan”,后来演变成广东话谐音的“大耳窿”。
ETYMOLOGY
  • The term “阿窿” (ah long) was derived from the Cantonese colloquial term “大耳窿” (pronounced as daaih yíh lùhng, which literally translates as “big ear hole”) in Hong Kong. The usage of this term spread to Singapore and Malaysia, where the three-character term evolved and shortened to a two-character term, “阿窿”.
  • The term “大耳窿”was said to originate from the English term “loan shark”, which was used in the United States in the nineteenth century. At that time, usury in the United States was carried out by mafias with cruel means, hence they were called “loan shark”.
  • On the origin of the term “大耳窿”, there are three beliefs: first, moneylenders in Hong Kong at that time were mainly Chettiars, and many of them would wear big earrings on their ears. Another belief is that loan sharks would put coins in their ears. The number of coins they put in their ears increased over time, so their ears seem to grow in size, thus they were called “大耳窿”. The third belief is that in Hong Kong the English term “loan shark” was merged with Cantonese to form the term “鲨鱼loan “ or “shark loan”, which later evolved into the Cantonese homophonic term “大耳窿” .
例句
巴西立组屋区阿窿猖獗,短短两周内,先后两次上门骚扰,先是泼漆写大字报,又再派人上门,泼汽油放火烧屋,惊动警方民防到场。(《联合早报》,21/9/2018)
SAMPLE SENTENCE
Within a short period of two weeks, Ah Long ran wild in the Pasir Ris Housing Estate, and conducted two acts of loanshark harassment. They splashed paint and scribbled “big character posters” (loanshark-related graffiti) on the walls, then sent their accomplices to splash gasoline and set fire to the houses, which alerted the Police and Civil Defence personnel to the scene. (Lianhe Zaobao,21/9/2018)
其他地区用语

大耳窿(港、马)、高利贷(大陆、港、台、马)、非法放贷(大陆、马)、地下钱庄(台)

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

大耳窿 (Hong Kong, Malaysia), 高利贷 (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia), 非法放贷 (Mainland China, Malaysia), 地下钱庄 (Taiwan)

相关资料

  • 阿窿在收取借款和利息时,常采用恐吓或暴力手段,在新加坡造成了社会问题。
  • 马来语不但报章使用,也正式收入词典,拼写采用along

RELATED INFORMATION

  • Ah long often uses intimidation or violence when collecting loans and interest, causing social issues in Singapore.
  • Not only is this term used in Malay newspapers, it also has an official entry in the Malay dictionary, spelled as along.

参考资料
REFERENCES