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Ah Then? by Steven Sim
All Over the Shop! by Malcolm Oh
- Means: all over the place, in a haphazard manner. May have originated
from Ah Beng's corner provision shop.
Example : Hey Ah Beng, I want to buy some Maggie Mee but cannot find,
leh? How you arrange things, one? Your things lay-long all over the shop!
(see Lay-long)
Arrow by Jeremy Tan
- Means: to be given a task by your superior that you don't want to do.
Can also mean that you have been allocated a task in your absence
Example : Wow lau! My boss "arrow" me to do this job. I very
pek chek lah!! "You sabo king! Just because I never come for meeting
you arrow me to do this leport!"
Arrow by Poh Keng Hian
- Meaning: to be tasked to do something (especially something undesirable).
Example : Eh, don't be like dat lah, everytime also arrow me!
Bakchew tah stamp/sai by Edwin Chan
- Which literally means "eye stu ck with a stamp/smeared with shit"
Connotative meaning is "very blind."
Example : Wah liao ayy! His girlfriend so argly, bakchew tah stamp!
Example : She so happening! He like tek ko she really bakchew tah sai!
Blanket by Pinky of DISCS
- Meaning : To beat a person up. Originated from Blanket Parties, where
a much-hated person is covered with a blanket and the "blanketeers"
will rain blows on him. Normally used to threaten or check a person's acti
ons or behaviour so that he doesn't go overboard.
Example :
- A: Oi! Dun be so like that har... wait they come and blanket you then
you know.
- B: This guy har, really too much know. Tonite must blanket!
Blur like Sotong by Bryan
- Blur (adj.) a mixture of a few things, but somewhat self-explanatory
could mean dense, or just plain stupid - think 'dorkish'. Sotong (n.) Cuttlefish/Squid
- these poo r creatures have been the butt of 'blur' jokes in Singapore
for as long as I can imagine. Can someone tell me why squids are so blur
!? I think they're cool coz they squirt ink !
- Example :
- Sergeant : Recruit Tan, you blur like sotong, how come ?!?!
- Rec.Tan : Dunno leh, Sergeant !
- Sergeant : Neber mind, see that wall there ? 5 second go tats the wall
and come back !
- Rec.Tan : Yes, Sergeant !!
Bo Eng Lah! by Johnny
- Meaning : Not free or can't be bothered Aiyoh! So many things to do.
Go bowling? Boh eng lah!
Borrow Me by Cheryl Tan
- Commonly used by Singaporeans of the Ah-beng and Ah-lian species. It
means "lend" and is usually used in the context of a request.
Example : Ah-Beng: Eh, my Brylcream (popular headcream in the 70s) donno
go where. Can you borrow me your hairgel? N.B. "Donno go where "
= "I don't know where it went"
Buey tah han by Aw Theng Yue
- Translation:(Hokkien) Cannot take the pressure or cannot solve problem.
Example :
- Student 1: Wahlaoeh, this exam I really buey tah han it ah. Soo meny
questions i dunno.
- Student 2: Yah lor... I also wanto bengsan already.
CAB by Serena Sim otherwise known as Chow Ah Beng!
- Means: Or in a more frendly way ... TAXI!!!!
Can by Cheryl Tan
- Often used to praise someone for something specific. Origin: Mandarin.
Example : (eg. "Ni zhen xing!") Ah-Kow: Walanay, you so fast
finish your homework already har. You very the can, man! N.B. Can also
be used without "the." Eg. "Wah, you very can!"
Catch No Ball! by Chan Seck Yuen
Cham siong by Lim Swee Ching
- Means : To compromise (usually to get out of trouble)
Example: Ah Lian to an ow ka (traffic police) who is giving her a ticket:
"Why like dat, can cham siong or not?"
Cher by pepperMINt
- Means : A quick way of calling "teacher". Most prominently
heard from secondary schoo l students.
Example :
- Student A: Cher cher! Can I go to the loo?
- Teacher : Go lah go lah!
Chiminology by Eddie Tham
- Means : To describe difficult words such that one cannot understand
Example :
- Ah Beng: Ooi! Wat you say I dun understand lah, stop using those chiminology
can or not!
- Ah Sheng: When writing must use some chiminology, then teacher will
think that I am very educated mah.
Diam by I.V Lee
- Meaning : An english equivalant would be 'be quiet!'
Example: Diam Diam! You had better be good or mummy will butcher you
up into minced pork. Diam Diam is the same as Diam, except it is more serious.
Dom Pang by Edmund
- Meaning : Usually used as an expression to request a favour from someone
who might be going your way
Example : My buy-si-cal broke down today, can dom pang your kar to werk
today or not.
Example : Since you are going out for lunch, can I dom pang you to buy
me some cheeken lice (rice)?
Ekscew me by Vivian Rodrigues
- Translation : To excuse one self pls see variations of ekscrew me and
eksqueue me more commonly used by Ah Lians and Ah Bengs who obviously do
not know the English language enough.
Fwweling by Antonio
- Meaning : Feeling
Eample: I haf "fwwelings" for you, you know!
Fri-end by Edmund
- Meaning : The Singaporean equivalent of buddy or mate, or it can be
used by kids to mean 'befriend'.
Example : Fri-end, you better not come round here anymore or else I
wah-lap you
Example : If you fri-end Ah kaw then I don't fri-end you.
Ga Na THRASH! by Steven Ling
- Ga Na : Meaning got targeted or aimed in Hokkien Thrash : A English
word of being beaten or defeated Man : A cool word usually ends with some
long sentences. Usually being used by Ah Bengs and Ah Lians. This expression
has been a very good example of a mixture of a Hokkien, an English and
an English-cum-Singlish version of words " Wah-Lau ! That Team is
too good for your team, you all GA NA Thrash Man !"
Giam Chai by James Wong
- Meaning : Salted vegetable , born loser
Example : Hey, why you so giam chai, forever gana condemned by tow kay.
Meaning : Why are you always a born loser, get condemned by the boss.
Hage by Irving Tjin
- The eighth letter of the alphabet (H)
Example : 'You want apply for hage-dee-bee (HDB - Housing Development
Board) flat or not?'
Example : 'Yesterday I go em-pee-hage' (MPH - Name of a chain book store).
Heng (proper engrish pronounciation) by Darren Ng
- Meaning : In fashion, in trend.
Example : Wah lau eh, you still wear friendship bands ah? They now buey
heng liao lah. (NB : Buey means no longer).
Huntum/Wack by Pinky of DISCS
- Means : To do something, but indicating doing it in a slipshod indifferent
manner. Commonly associated with "anyhow".
Example :
- A : Oi. This thing how to do? Dunno leh.
- B : Aiyah, anyhow huntum/wack one answer lar, so easy.
- Sometimes, it also means "Just do it!"
Example :
- A : Ei, the food smells good to me.
- B : Wack ar! Translation for B: Let's eat!
Hao lian by Ming
Jia Lat! by Thomas Lim
Jheelo by Ming
- Meaning : Zero
Example : Someone yelling into the phone to his bookie, "One hunnert,
you idiert!!! One-jheelo-jheelo!"
Joffee by ?
- Literal meaning : Geography
Example : 'Ay, tomollow the JOFFEE tess you study liao not? Sure damn
chiatlat one nah!'
Jude by Barmby
- Means : It 's a word commonly use by buayas(color wolf).No known sources
where it is from. It 's actual meaning is pretty or rather sweet in description
of a ger (female human being).
Example : 'Ooi Ah Leng!!!Look there !!!!!! you see that ger walking
across the Atrium, wah-lau damn jude man !!!!'
Kan-cheong by Ron and Angela
- Meaning : To be hurried, flustered, uptight The MRT door heaven open
yet, you so kan-cheong for whaaaat! Now ownee Apler, Novembler then exam,
why so kan-cheong?
Kan si lang pai kua by Sunny Tse Thow
Meaning : Extremely ugly
Example1 :
Wah lan your girlfriend kan si lang pai kua, if I were you I would tiao
lau. (tiao lau - jump off the building or commit suicide)
Example2 :
That shirt you bought from Y_ohan, kan si lang pai kua. Why not gi..me.
Ke Chia by Leonard Cheok
- Meaning : Up the lorry (literal) Other meaning: Die!!!
Example : Wah-piang eh! Two-mo-low got test leh, haven't pe-pair yet,
so ke Chia!!!
Kena sai by James Heng
- Meaning : Literal "to be stained by SHIT". Used to comment
that a person has done something to thoroughly embarass/disgrace himself
Example : Wah liaow! His singing so terok but still action on stage,
really kena sai, man!
Kiam Siak by Peggy
- Origin : Hokkian
Meaning : Stingy
Example : Just one chicken wing only what, why you so calculative, sooo
kiam siak, treat me lah.
Kiasu by Terrence Shan
- Origin : Hokkian
Meaning : The fear of losing out
Example : (In a bootfel Steam-boat Rest-torant)
- Ah Huat : "Why you so kiasu? Take so many. After can take again
what"
- Ah Poh : "No lah, if don't take now, after no more already"
Kim gui by Peggy
- Meaning : Direct translation from Hokkien is golden turtle. Available
rich men.
Example : Why you so stewpit, so pretty you, can hook a kim gui what,
why so sai yang, whai what yourself with this poor guy?
Lay long by Malcolm Loh
- Meaning : To display,parade (especially something of little or no value)
- Example: Aiyah, Ah Kow, why you lay-long your singlet and socks all
over the shop! Please keep them in the cupboard. (see All Over The Shop)
Lem Bek by kay Lim
- Meaning : To be laggi weak physically.. (Warning: Could be sexually
offensive so pls be lem bek just this once - use with care !)
Origin : (probably) Malay
Example : Aiyoh ! Why he everything cannot do one..so lembek !
Lerf by Ming
- Example : Darling ah.....I lerf you for-efer you kno w? Donch leaf
me hor?
LL by S S CHUA
- Meaning : LL Stands"lan" "lan", what can you do
about it!
- Example : So what if i don't turn up for the meeting...LL lah...!
LoOON by Ah Beng
- Meaning : Endure or hope for the best.
Example : What to do! Never study for exam,can only loOON.
Low Soh by Ah Qing
- Meaning : To repeat yourself over and over again, nagging
- Example : "Mummy, why are you so low soh, you must be getting
old already lah!"
LPPL by Damien A.J. Lim
- Means : Stands for Lam pa pak lan(hokkien language), "to back
fire". Used in the context of telling someone that his plan will not
succeed.
Example : Ah Beng,you want to chit in your exam tomolloh,har? You tink
you can lite the ansir on the table? Cher catch you,lppl man!
Loogi by Edmund
- Means : To lose out on something
Example : Mas eat more prawns at seafood bar-be-que or else loogi you
know.
Example : Waah, you kis him on your first dead, you don't scared you
loogi to him meh
Mati Truse/Truse mati by Leonard Cheok
- Means : As per Ke Chia or sure die.
- Example : Sure mati truse if you don't study for your test lah!
Nioaw or kiam siak by Peggy
- Meaning : stingy; can also mean tickle
Example : Don't niaow me hah, I very scared of this one, very ticklish.
Also refer to "Kiam siak".
Ohso can by Foreign Singaporean
- Meaning : Also can Standard positive answer when asked to do something.
Example : Can you drop me home. "Ohso can" How about go to
Yaohan? "Ohso can" Take me out for dinner? "Ohso can"
On The Ball by James Wong
- Meaning : To decribe a person for exceptionally hardworking.
- Example : Why you so on the ball, spoil the market......
"Or Piang" by Ng Shuh-Lit
- Meaning : Ugly, especially for ah-lian/ah-beng category of people
Example: Wah lau, your sister really look or piang, man.
Pai-seh by Audrey Tan
- Meaning : Apologetic with embarassment and some shyness!
Origin : Hokkien
Example : Today you pay for dinner again huh, so pai seh!
Example : "Eh, Ah Seng fart in the lift one -- not scared of pai
seh!"
Pa-jiau by Gal
- Literal translation : Beat Bird
English equivalent : Blind
Example : Look at the plane in the sky! Where? You pa-jiao one is it!
There!!!! Oh There
Pi Caw Sai by Ah Qing
PITA by Pinky of DISCS
- Short for : "Pain in the Ass".
Example : He lar! Always like that, act like a PITA.
Example : Dun be such a PITA can or not? Wait they come and blanket
you then you know.
Procidigaade by Diraj Goel
Sah-Leh by Ken Tan
- Meaning : 'SALE' in a discreet way. For tum-sim people who do not want
to be labelled as a cheapskate.
- Example : "Eh..Katong sopping sehnta got the "Sah-Leh"
you know. Some up to hap-pride ah!"
Sa Kah by Peggy
- Meaning : To flatter someone, get into someone's good side
- Example : I know you are want to get good grades, but for goodness
sake, not sa kah untill like that lah!
Sart by Ming
- Meaning : So shiok you feel almost invincible
Example : Wah! You very sart, ah! Win lottery now can spend! Can lend
me marnee or not?
See-Buay by Marbin Thiew
- Meaning : English Translation of VERY!!!!! Usually used by trueblue
singaporeans to replace the "colonial scums'" word , VERY. This
highly versatile replacement can be used in almost any sentance which requires
the word, very. Best used with other singlish words, like siong, sian,
jar lat, etc...
Example : Wah lau!! That 5bx see-buay siong ah!!! Can die!!! Kar-n*-**!!
Miss Chin's philo lecture see-buay sian! Almost hung myself!!!
Example : Eh! Ah Gao! You got buy the flower for Ah Huay or not?? Don't
have, ah!!See-buay jarlat!!!
CAUTION!! : Even though this wonderful word is fairly versatile, new
users should be warned that there are some inst ances where a replacement
may be inappropiate. For example, see-buay euphonious just doesn't kick!Or
like Ah Gao would say.. see-buay buay kam!!
See gin nah by Mylene Tong
- Meaning : "See" meaning die in hokkien "gin nah"
meaning children or kids in hokkien Used to scold someone who got you in
trouble, sabo you ,did you injustice or just simply irritates you!
Example : "See gin nah, you. Try to be funny right? Wait till I
get my hands on you."
See Pai Ho by Terry Siow
Seik bai by Youknowwho
Sia Kah by Yap Hwee Kheng
- Means : To describe a people playing mahjong in the same table :
- Who doesn't give you any tiles to MAKAN or/and
- Who keep throwing tiles to let other in the table win except you.
Use on anyone you don't like particularly who he/she does something
that annoys you. Hokkien: Sia (Shit!!!) Kah (leg)
Siao Liao by Johnny 1st
- Meaning 1: Crazy, out of his mind
Example : I think he siao liao, so on for what? Never ask you to do
you still go and do!!
- Meaning 2: expression used before or after `disaster'. A.k.a. die lah!
Example : This time siao liao! Got assignment to hand in tomorrow still
haven't do!
'skius by Omar K. Aliudin
- Meaning : Short for excuse me.
- Example : When Mamat or Ah Beng rush to the pocket comb sale and many
people are on their path: "'skius!! 'skius me!!"
Solly no park keh! by Ming
- Meaning : You can apologise til Hell freezes over and I STILL won't
"yuan-niang nee" (forgive you) nor forget!!!!
Example :
- A: Ay, Ah-ngiah, solly I take your sweet lah, I buy you back one can?
- B: Solly no park keh! You think I what, so issy to buy one meh?
Solid siah! by Steven Sim
- Meaning : Simply great, superb!
Example :
- Ah Mao: Did you watch the football match last night?
- Ah Kow: Got lar! That Abbas Saad dem _solid siah! That beautiful goal
he kicked in saved the Lions man!
Spoil The Market by Chan Seck Yuen
- Meaning : Raise the standard (of something) to an unacceptably high
level.
- Example : His project do until so solid ... spoil the market only!
Standard By Ah Huay's Tua Chee
- Means : Up to expectations; class of its own - unique Used sometimes
to describe a person who will defy all odds to be unique:
- Example : Wah, so hot yet you wear leather jacket, got standard man!
Also used for situations where sarcasm is required.
Example : You very standard one, supposed to meet at 1 o'clock you come
at 2 o'clock.. Used often while playing mahjong : Eh, one double you also
game, where got
Stewpit by Peggy
- Example : Alamak, why you so like that, soooo stewpit, this way cannot
then do the other way lah.
Swah-ku by Damien Lim
- Origin : Hokkien word translation for "mountain tortise".
Meaning : To tell someone that he/she is not well inform or not knowledgeable.
Example : What!Aiyah,sooo simple you also dunno. So vely swah-ku one!
You vely obiang in your dressing also.
Swaih by Peggy
- Meaning : Never mind, forget about it.
Example : You don't like to fiend me, swaih, many kim guis are waiting
to date me. Ai ya, one more mak (mark) only, still get distinction what,
swaih lah.
Tak Boleh Pakai by Vivian Rodrigues
- Meaning : cannot be trusted or of no use Ah Siong : Aiyah , die die
you cannot trust him one... he tak boleh pakai by now you don't know meh...
"Thumb" by Joe Chia
TKLSS by Khiang Seow
T.C.S.S. by Jeff Low
- Means : This stands for "Talk Cock Sing Song" a phrase used
by army boys and Ah bengs when they refer to someone who is talking nonesense
or saying something which is not to be believed.
The abbreviated version "T.C." or to "talk cock"
has the same connotation or may also refer to idle talk or chatter among
the guys e.g. what army boys do while waiting for the 3-tonner to arrive.
Tok Kong by Steven Ling
- Meaning : Very Good or Very Solid.
Example :
- Ah Beng1 " you see her legs..Tok Gong man !"
- Ah Beng2 " No..her body more Tok Gong !"
- Ah Beng3 " No Lah...what u talking, that one is my MATher Lah
..!"
Tombalik by Ming
- Meaning: Same as Go stun.....(more fondly pronounced as gostarn). Literally
[if spelt the correct way in Malay (I think?!? :)] to turn around about
180 degrees.
Example : Eh, this road so narrow, how you going to tombalik your big
fat Mare-see-deese? You going to do 100-point turn or what? Sekali tombalik
into the lang-kau (<- this refers to the roadside-drain for those who
don't know) your father kill you then you know!
Tum-Sim by Ken Tan
Vain Pork by JPonsi
Wah piang eh by Mylene Tong
Wait by Pinky of DISCS
- Means : Later. Normally indicating events that may or likely to occur
at a later date. Commonly used in warnings to stop people from doing something.
Can be substitutable for the Malay word "Sekali".
Example : Mother: Ah boy, you cannot throw the sweet-wrapper here one.
Wait the police see har, they come and catch you.
Example : Student: You dun like that har. Wait I take away your book
and hide it.
WENLA by Soh Ee Shaun
- Means : Expresion which implies that something will not happen.
Example :
- A : Hey, do you think it will rain?
- B: Aiyah, WENLA!
Whai what by Peggy
- Origin : Cantonese
Meaning : Deprive youself of, make suffering upon yourself, suffering
in silent.
Why You So Like Dat? by Terrence Shan
- Meaning : Why did you behave in that way?
Example : "Aiya, why you so like dat? Tell you many times don't
throw rubbish everywhere you also don't listen. So incolligible one"
Woof! by S . Baldrick
Xiam by Charles & Joanne Tan
- Meaning : Get out of the way or having avoided something unpleasant
Example : Xiam! Xiam! Shio ah! (use by the hawker)
Example :. Neng tiao (officer) call seow eh wash toylet. Wa boh kenna,
xiam tiok see pei heng ah!
Ya Ya by Antonio
- Meaning : Flirt
Example : Eh, wan tu "Ya-Ya" wif thad ger or not??
Re: the Ya-ya explanation. by Cheryl Tan I believe the word is used
more often to mean show off. It's more akin to "action-terror,"
"dem blardee action" or "axi bolah" than flirt. Of
course, because of its a ll-encompassing nature, it does cover "flirt"
as well.
You weesh, I drim. by Ming
- Translation: You wish, I dream. Asking for something so impossible
that it's ludicrous.
Example :
- B: Aiyah, flat, car, chil-ren, wife/husband so expenseeve. I where
can afford?
- A: Eh, why donch you eckjample (example) ask the bang len you mar-nee
first?
- B: your kepala kenah what kelapa? I no job, no co-lare-ter-re r they
where got give? you weesh, I drim! Alternatively, if B's got his Malay
mixed up: Your kelapa kenah what kepala!!!!!
You Thought (another version) by Daniel TSA
- Example :
- Sargeant : Ooi.. You *(^(#*&^. What the *&(*& are you doing
here! You're suppose to be prowling not sleeping.
- Private : I thought Ah Kao was on the prowl now.
- Sargeant : Yes, You thought, I think, Who confirm?.
Z - Monster by Leonard Cheok
- Meaning: An army term used with relation to being sleepy.
Example :
- SGT: Recruit, cannot fight the Z-monster,right?
- Recruit: No!! SGT!!!!!!!
- SGT: Ne'ber mind,go and support the wall.
If you come across more good ones, drop me a mail,
I will append it to the list.
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GEOCITIES FocusAsia
Last Updated : 31/March/1997
