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.

碧山
bì shān
Bishan
便利贴
biàn lì tiē
post-it notes
鞭刑
biān xíng
caning
滨海堤坝
bīn hǎi dī bà
Marina Barrage
滨海湾花园
bīn hǎi wān huā yuán
Gardens by the Bay
波霸
bō bà
bosomy woman
驳船码头
bó chuán mǎ tou
Boat Quay
波道
bō dào
television channel
帛金
bó jīn
condolence gift (colloquially known as peh kim)
卜基
bǔ jī
bookmaker (bookie)
蔡厝港
cài cuò gǎng
Choa Chu Kang
财副
cái fù
clerk (colloquially known as zai hu)
财路
cái lù
General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO)
菜燕
cài yàn
agar-agar
残障
cán zhàng
physically disabled
草场
cǎo chǎng
field
草根
cǎo gēn
grassroots
插车
chā chē
forklift
茶乌
chá wū
teh-o
唱片骑师
chàng piàn qí shī
disc jockey (DJ)