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.

迷你
mí nǐ
mini
米苔目
mǐ tāi mù
bee tai bak
米暹
mǐ xiān
mee siam
面薄
miàn bó
mee pok
面煎粿
miàn jiān guǒ
peanut pancake (colloquially known as min jiang kueh)
面仔
miàn zǎi
mee kia
民防部队
mín fáng bù duì
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
民众俱乐部
mín zhòng jù lè bù
Community Club
摩摩喳喳
mó mó zhā zhā
bubur cha cha
摩托车
mó tuō chē
motorcycle
木虱
mù shī
bedbugs (colloquially known as bak sat)
to take
南部山脊
nán bù shān jǐ
The Southern Ridges
南大精神
nán dà jīng shén
Nantah Spirit
南大诗社
nán dà shī shè
Nanyang University Poetry Society
南洋咖啡
nán yang kā fēi
Nanyang coffee
脑力激荡
nǎo lì jī dàng
brainstorming
闹双包
nào shuāng bāo
two similar things appearing together unexpectedly
内阁资政
nèi gé zī zhèng
Minister Mentor
酿豆腐
niàng dòu fu
yong tau foo