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.
cheers (as a toast, colloquially known as yum seng)
cheers (as a toast, colloquially known as yum seng)
由来
- “饮胜”源自广东话，原为 yam sai（饮尽）。因为“尽”表示 “一切都没了”，人们在工商社会里为了图吉利与避忌，便把“饮尽”改为“饮胜”（yum seng），“胜”表达的是胜利之意，从这里可以看到民族心理对词语应用的影响。
ETYMOLOGY
- The term yum seng comes from Cantonese. The original term was in fact yam sai, but as the word sai also means “end of everything”, it was considered inauspicious, and people started using yum seng instead, as the word seng indicates victory. This evolution demonstrates how ethnopsychology influences language use.
例句
昨午在新春团拜会上，除了邀请舞龙舞狮表演，媒体工作者也齐聚一堂“饮胜”和捞鱼生。（《联合早报》， 24/2/2018）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
During yesterday’s Chinese New Year celebrations, in addition to the dragon and lion dance performances, members of the media also gathered to yum seng and toss yu sheng. (Lianhe Zaobao, 24/2/2018)
相关资料
- “饮胜”已经成为新加坡喜庆宴席上祝酒的专用词，不管是来自于哪个籍贯的华人，甚至其他种族，也一概用广东话 yum seng 来祝酒。按照仪式，“饮胜”必须连喊三次，声量越高，声音拉得越长，就表示祝福的诚意越足够。这种气氛热闹的祝酒仪式已经成为新加坡喜庆宴会的特色。
RELATED INFORMATION
- Yum seng has become an essential term used for offering toasts at celebratory and festive banquets – not only by the Chinese, but sometimes by people of other races as well. Yum seng must be offered three times, at an increasing volume. The louder and longer the shouts of yum seng, the more sincere the blessing. Such energetic toasts are now a characteristic feature of Chinese wedding banquets in Singapore.