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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牛

niú

车

chē

水

shuĭ

Chinatown

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Chinatown

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Places

地理相关

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释义

名词

位于新加坡市中心俗称“大坡”的地区，早年新加坡华人的聚居地。牛车水的范围指的是北起克罗士街（Cross Street），南达恭锡路（Keong Saik Road），东临桥南路（South Bridge Road），西至新桥路（New Bridge Road）的一整片地段。

DEFINITION

Noun

Situated in the “Da-po” area in Singapore’s city centre, Chinatown is the place where early Chinese immigrants lived. It is demarcated by Cross Street on the north, Keong Saik Road on the south, South Bridge Road on the east and New Bridge Road on the west. The Mandarin name literally translates as “牛车水” (bullock cart water).

由来
  • 有一种说法是早年新加坡的交通工具是牛车和马车，马路多数是红泥路，行走在路上经常引起尘土飞扬，主管街道管理的市议会就从英国引进洒水水箱，用水牛拖拉，每天在主要街道沿途喷洒街道，以镇住飞扬的尘土。这些水车（watering cart）集中停靠在桥南路（South Bridge Road）地段，马来语称“水车”为kereta air，因此华人称之为“牛车水”。
ETYMOLOGY
  • One of the beliefs was that in the olden days, the main modes of transport in Singapore were bullock carts and horse-drawn carts. As most roads were paved with red clay and passing traffic would often kick up dust. The City Council in charge of managing the roads imported water spraying tanks from England. These tanks were mounted on bullock carts and would spray water along the streets everyday, to stop the flying dust on the roads from being kicked up. These watering carts were parked around South Bridge Road and were known as kereta air in the Malay language, thus the Chinese called this area “牛车水”.
例句
相隔10年，牛车水今年再办农历新年花市，方便附近居民采购年花，为家中增添春节气息。(《联合早报》，24/1/2019)
SAMPLE SENTENCE
After a hiatus of 10 years, Chinatown hosted the lunar new year flower market once again, making it convenient for nearby residents to purchase flowers and add a touch of spring to their households. (Lianhe Zaobao, 24/1/2019)
相关资料

  • 早年牛车水有许多酒楼、戏园、妓寮、商铺、茶楼、流动小贩等，是劳工阶层的生活起居的场所，可说是早年南洋华人社会的缩影。近年随着市区重建计划，这里被规划为华族文化体验区，是新加坡著名的旅游景点。
  • “牛车水”一词受马来语词语kereta air的影响，形成“牛车”和“水”的组合词语。因为这个历史典故，新加坡的“Chinatown”普遍称为“牛车水”而不是“唐人街”。

RELATED INFORMATION

  • In the olden days, there were many restaurants, opera houses, brothels, shops, teashops and hawkers in Chinatown. It was a major hub for the working class community, and also a microcosm of the Chinese society in Southeast Asia (Nanyang). The urban redevelopment initiatives in recent years have designated Chinatown as an area to experience Chinese culture, and is one of Singapore’s famous tourist spots.
  • “牛车水” is an amalgamation of the terms “bullock carts” (“牛车”) and “water”(“水”), and its formation was influenced by the Malay phrase kereta air. Due to this historical significance, the Mandarin name for Singapore’s Chinatown is “牛车水” instead of “唐人街”, which is commonly used in other regions to refer to Chinatown.

参考资料
点击查看牛车水的参考资料
REFERENCES

Click here to view references for Chinatown

 

 

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