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.

guò

fān

old term referring to early immigrants from China

Communities/Organisations

社群、团体

Communities / Organisations

Share via

old term referring to early immigrants from China

Share via
Communities/Organisations

社群、团体

Communities / Organisations

释义

名词

历史上从中国移居到东南亚、加拿大、欧美、澳大利亚等地谋生的中国人。也称“番客”。

DEFINITION

Noun

Migrants from China to Southeast Asia, Canada, Europe, the United States, Australia, and other regions in pursuit of livelihood. Also known in Chinese as “番客”.

由来
  • “番”指外地或外国。
  • 19世纪初,由于中国面对局势动荡、人口增长及粮食短缺的问题,不少居住在中国南方的人为了谋求更好的生活,选择远渡重洋,成为了过番客。
  • 当时离开中国的移民主要可以选择前往“南洋”或“西洋”,前者指东南亚各国,后者指欧美等地。
  • 与此同时,英国殖民地政府在新加坡推行自由贸易政策,因此吸引了大批移民前来从事各种工作。这些工作包括种植业、人力车夫、红头巾、小贩等。
  • 最后一批获准登陆的过番客于1959年抵达新加坡。

ETYMOLOGY
  • The character “番” refers to foreign lands.
  • In the early 19th century, amidst turmoil, rapid population growth and food shortages in China, many in southern China chose to move overseas in search of a better life, becoming “过番客”.
  • Some chose to head to Nanyang (literally, “South Seas”), i.e. Southeast Asia; while others headed to “Xiyang” (literally, “West Seas”), i.e. the Western sphere, including Europe and the United States.
  • At that time, the British colonial government had a free trade policy in Singapore, which led to rapid economic development of the settlement. This attracted a large number of Chinese migrants, who came to work as plantation workers, rickshaw pullers, Samsui women and hawkers, among other jobs.
  • The last batch of “过番客” to receive approval to arrive in Singapore came in 1959.

例句
东北季风从海上航道送来的过番客,必须等西南季风起时才能返家,一来一往至少一年,万一有差错,只得再等一年,数年,甚至终老异域。(《联合早报》, 21/2/2015)
SAMPLE SENTENCE
The early immigrants from China, who came with the northeast monsoon on maritime routes, had to wait for the southwest monsoon season to return home. The two-way journey took at least one year. If something went awry, they had to wait another year or several years. Some eventually died in a foreign land. (Lianhe Zaobao, 21/2/2015)
参考资料
REFERENCES