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.
alley (colloquially known as lorong)
alley (colloquially known as lorong)
DEFINITION
Noun
A general term for an alley, lane or road.
由来
- 马来语 lorong 的音译。
- 新加坡尚未独立之前，大部分的地名都较“马来化”，而马来语至今仍是新加坡的国语。为了凸显马来语在新加坡的地位与历史意义，现今有不少地名仍沿用马来文的音译名称，比如 lorong 一词就很少意译成“巷”，一般都保留“罗弄”的音译。
- Lorong 的两种翻译结构为：
- 音译为“罗弄”时，华文地名结构是依照原马来地名的结构，即“通名 +专名”。例如：罗弄110樟宜（Lorong 110 Changi Road，“樟宜”为专名）。
- 意译为“巷”时，华文地名结构是“专名+通名”。例如：大巴窑1巷（Lorong 1 Toa Payoh，“大巴窑”为专名）。
ETYMOLOGY
- The Mandarin term “罗弄” is the transliteration of the Malay word lorong, meaning “alley” or “lane”.
- Many place names in Singapore have Malay origins; Malay is also Singapore’s national language. To emphasise the status and historical significance of the Malay language in Singapore, some place names today retain their transliterated Malay names. For example, in Mandarin translations, lorong retains the transliteration “罗弄” in most cases, and is less commonly paraphrased as “巷”.
- The two translation styles for lorong have different structures:
- When the transliteration “罗弄” is used, the structure of the Chinese place name follows that of the original Malay name, which is “generic element + proper name”. For example, “Lorong 110 Changi” is “罗弄 110 樟宜”.
- When the paraphrase “巷” is used, the structure of the Chinese place name is “proper name + generic element”. For example, “Lorong 1 Toa Payoh” is “大巴窑1巷”.
例句
从2007年开始，罗弄哈鲁士经过“大改造”，终于在2011年摇身一变成为了本地首个人造湿地，种植了一片片的芦苇，由它们帮忙净化土壤里被污染的水源。（《联合早报》，21/10/2020）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
From 2007, Lorong Halus underwent a major transformation. It finally became Singapore’s first artificial wetland in 2011, with reeds planted to help clean the contaminated water in the soil. (Lianhe Zaobao, 21/10/2020)