|
Word |
Meaning |
Usage |
| Aiyah
|
Term used to signify
exasperation. |
Aiyah, I'm fed up with
waiting. |
| Angmo
|
Hokkien for "red-haired".
Used to refer to Caucasians. |
The angmo ordered beer at the
coffeeshop. |
| Bo cheng hu
|
Hokkien for "no government".
Used to describe a state of lawlessness where anything goes. |
That place, really bo cheng hu,
how to do business there? |
| Cheem
|
Too difficult to understand. |
This French movie is too cheem
for me. |
| Cheena
|
Term used to refer to
off-beat taste. |
That suit he's wearing is so
cheena. |
| Chiak chua |
Hokkien for "eat snake".
Loafing on the job. |
That fellow, whole day only
know how to chiak chua. |
| Chope
|
To reserve something. |
Quick, go chope those seats
before it is too late. |
| Choy
|
Cantonese phrase to ward off
bad luck. |
Choy! Touch wood, don't curse
me. |
| Hah
|
Used as short form for "I beg
your pardon". |
Hah? What did you say? Can
repeat or not? |
| Hao lian
|
Hokkien for "show-off" |
Singaporeans are so hao lian. |
| Jia lat
|
Hokkien for "very
troublesome". |
Moving house--so jia lat. |
| Kapcai
|
Cantonese phrase for
Honda-Cub. |
2 men riding kapcai toward USJ
24. |
| Kiasu
|
Hokkien for "afraid to lose". |
Kiasu USJ 23 residents live in
a fort-like neighbourhood. |
| Kiasee
|
Hokkien for "afraid to die". |
All of you Kiasu, kaisee -
famous saying in USJ 23. |
| Kowsai
|
Hokkien for "shit" -spoken in
frustration. |
Kowsai, where did I put my
wallet? |
| Koyak
|
Bahasa Melayu for "spoilt",
"broken down". |
That machine koyak already,
don't use. |
| Koyok
|
Used to describe lousy goods. |
Don't listen to that
salesman--he only sell koyok. |
| Lah, lor,
meh |
For punctuating sentences. |
Don't be like that lah. I'm
like that lor. Cannot meh? |
| Makan
|
Bahasa Melayu for "meal". |
Let's go makan. -- Have you
had your makan? |
| Mm chai si
|
Hokkien for "not scared of
death". |
You drive so fast, mm chai si
hah? |
| Ong |
Hokkien for "Lucky" |
How your trip to genting? Ong? |
| Sabo
|
Short for sabotage. |
He likes to sabo me in front
of my boss. |
| Sala
|
Bahasa Melayu for "wrong". |
You sala, you should take the
other road. |
| Shiok
|
Something that is very
enjoyable. |
Inside steam room very shiok. |
| Sotong
|
Bahasa Melayu for "cuttlefish,
squid". |
This word is unique to USJ 23
Residents - ask around |
| Swakoo
|
Hokkien for "Hillbilly". |
Don't be swakoo be kiasu. |
| Tau tia
|
Hokkien for "headache" Used
to describe great difficulty. |
Aiyah, this project damn tau
tia. |
