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.

乌桥头
wū qiáo tóu
vicinity of Havelock Road (colloquially known as orh kio tau)
五十对五十
wǔ shí duì wǔ shí
fifty-fifty
五香虾饼
wǔ xiāng xiā bǐng
ngoh hiang and prawn cracker (colloquially known as ngoh heong hei piah)
午夜场
wǔ yè chǎng
midnight show
无障碍建设基金
wú zhàng ài jiàn shè jī jīn
Accessibility Fund
西果
xī guǒ
confectionery
洗肾
xǐ shèn
dialysis
戏院街
xì yuan jiē
Smith Street
下坡
xià pō
to go downtown (colloquially known as lo po
仙草
xiān cǎo
grass jelly (colloquially known as chin chow)
现金卡
xiàn jīn kǎ
CashCard
香兰叶
xiāng lán yè
pandan leaf
小阿拉伯
xiǎo ā lā bó
vicinity of Arab Street
消费税
xiāo fèi shuì
Good and Services Tax (GST)
小桂林
xiǎo guì lín
Little Guilin
小坡
xiǎo pō
vicinity of North Bridge Road (colloquially known as sio po)
校群
xiào qún
school cluster
小泰国
xiǎo tài guó
Golden Mile Complex
小型公寓
xiǎo xíng gōng yù
studio apartment
小印度
xiǎo yìn dù
Little India