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.
coffee shop (colloquially known as kopitiam)
coffee shop (colloquially known as kopitiam)
释义
名词
售卖具南洋特色的咖啡等冷热饮料及餐点的邻里店铺，是普通市民用餐之处。现称“咖啡店”，也称“茶室”、“饮水室”。
DEFINITION
Noun
A neighbourhood eatery serving drinks and meals. Also known as “茶室” or “饮水室”.
由来
- “㗝呸店”源自于福建话，其中的“㗝呸”是福建话对马来语 kopi 的音译，指咖啡。早期新加坡㗝呸店的经营者主要是海南人及福州人。
- 㗝呸店里售卖的主要是南洋风味的咖啡、茶与咖椰面包，也兼卖价廉物美的本地餐点，为普通市民提供三餐之需。
ETYMOLOGY
- The term “㗝呸店” originated from the Hokkien term kopi tiam, meaning “coffee shop”. Kopi comes from the Malay word for coffee, kopi, while tiam means “shop” in Hokkien. In the early days, most kopitiam owners were Hainanese or Foochow.
- Frequented by locals, these eateries mainly serve traditional Nanyang coffee, tea, kaya toast, as well as affordable local dishes.
例句
黑白照年代的咖啡店也叫“㗝呸店”、“茶室”和“饮水室”，骑楼柱子上刻着“升堦宜入座，雅室可谈心”之类的对联。（《联合早报》，12/4/2019）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
In the days of black-and-white photography, coffee shops were also known as “kopitiams”, “tea rooms” or “drinking rooms”. To attract customers, couplets like “More seats upstairs, cosy rooms for tête-à-têtes” were engraved on the pillars in front of the building. (Lianhe Zaobao, 12/4/2019)
相关资料
- 新加坡英语也用“coffee shop”或“eating house”。
- 近年来随着时代发展，一些集团经营的巨型㗝呸店也纷纷出现，有取代传统小型㗝呸店的趋势，除了提供咖啡、茶与各种饮料之外，由于营业面积扩大，也出租摊位分售各种本土美食。
RELATED INFORMATION
- In Singapore English, these establishments are also known as “coffeeshops” or “eating houses”.
- Kopitiams were originally modest in size, but recent years have seen the mushrooming of large-scale kopitiams operated by corporations, in which stalls are rented out to individual stallholders to provide a wider range of local dishes.