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.

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菜

cài

燕

yàn

agar agar

食物、植物

Food / Plants

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agar agar

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食物、植物

Food / Plants

释义

名词

琼脂的俗称。由海藻提炼成的凝固剂，色泽白皙透明，可做成丝状、条状或粉末。也称燕菜。
以菜燕做成的一种胶冻类甜品。

DEFINITION

Noun

“菜燕” is the colloquial Mandarin term for “琼脂” (agar). Extracted from seaweed, it is a white and transparent coagulant, and can be made into strands, strips, or powder. Also known in Mandarin as “燕菜”.
A jelly dessert made of agar.

由来

源自福建话、潮州话等方言。
有一种说法认为菜燕在打成小块后很像燕窝，所以也用来代替燕窝，称为 “植物性燕窝”。在新加坡，菜燕一般多用来制作甜品，如制作果冻等。
有一种说法认为菜燕是在 1658 年由一位日本京都的旅馆老板美浓太郎左卫门（Tarozaemon Mino）无意间发现的。当时天气很冷，他发现一堆被丢弃的海藻制成品有凝固的功能，便用作食材。由于是在寒冷的冬天发现，所以称作 “寒天”。
菜燕属于一种植物明胶（gelatin），放入热水溶解再冷却后，可以在热带常温中一直保持固体状。
“菜燕” 一词早在 1925 年就在《南洋商报》出现了。

ETYMOLOGY

The term originated from Chinese dialects such as Hokkien and Teochew.
It is believed that because of agar-agar’s resemblance to bird’s nest after being broken up into smaller pieces, it is also used as a substitute for bird’s nest. Thus, it is also called “植物性燕窝” (plant-based bird’s nest). In Singapore, agar is commonly used to make desserts, such as chilled fruit jelly.
It is believed that agar was accidentally discovered in 1658 by Tarozaemon Mino, a hotel owner in Kyoto, Japan. In the frigid weather, he found a pile of discarded seaweed products that had coagulating properties and used them as food ingredients. As the discovery was made in the cold winter, it was known as “寒天” (literally cold weather).
Agar is a type of plant gelatin which, upon cooling after dissolving in hot water, can remain solid at normal tropical temperatures.
The Mandarin term “燕菜” had appeared in Nanyang Siang Pau as early as 1925.

例句

自 7 月 20 日起，烘焙用品专卖店奋发和 Redman 分行将以 10元售价售卖菜燕材料包，里头包含五种菜燕预拌粉，其中一款正是哈莉玛总统的国庆红白菜燕和食谱，其中 4 元将捐给总统挑战。（《联合早报》，16/7/2020）

SAMPLE SENTENCE

From 20 July, the baking supplies chain Phoon Huat and Redman will sell agar-agar recipe kits at $10 each. Each kit contains five agar-agar premix powder packs, one of which contains President Halimah Yacob’s National Day National Day recipe for red and white agar-agar, and $4 will be donated to the President’s Challenge with every purchase. (Lianhe Zaobao, 16/7/2020)

其他地区用语

琼脂、石花胶、冻粉、洋粉（大陆）、大菜（港）、洋菜（台）、寒天（日）

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

琼脂、石花胶、冻粉、洋粉(Mainland China)、大菜(Hong Kong)、洋菜(Taiwan)、寒天(Japan)