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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西

xī

果

guǒ

confectionery

Food/Plants

食物、植物

Food / Plants

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confectionery

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Food/Plants

食物、植物

Food / Plants

释义

名词

西式的面包和糕点。也写作 “西菓”。

DEFINITION

Noun

Western breads and cakes. Also written in Mandarin as “西菓”.

由来
  • 有说法认为 “西果” 一词源自海南话。
  • 新加坡的海南人是较早接触到西式面包烘培和蛋糕制作技术的族群。海南人也因此以制作西式糕点闻名。
  • 在海南话里，“果” 和 “糕” 属于同音字，所以或因为误写或方便书写，早期人们就以 “西果” 一词来指西式糕点，并沿用至今。
  • 新加坡早期的面包坊一般都称之为 “西果店” 或 “西菓店”。
  • 新加坡早期传统的西果店都设在组屋区，规模较小，多是家庭生意。
  • 1990 年代后，越来越多西果店开始在繁忙的购物大街和金融商业区营业。
ETYMOLOGY
  • It is believed that the term “西果” originated from the Hainanese dialect.
  • The Hainanese in Singapore picked up Western bread-baking and cake-making techniques at an earlier date. Hence, the Hainanese became famous for making Western cakes.
  • “果” (fruit) and “糕” (cake) are homophones in the Hainanese dialect. Perhaps as a result of miswriting or convenience, the term “西果” was used to refer to Western cakes in the early days and has been used till today.
  • In the early days, bakeries in Singapore were generally referred to as “西果店” or “西菓店”, which both mean “shop selling Western breads and cakes”.
  • The early traditional confectioneries in Singapore were located in Housing and Development Board estates, smaller in scale, and mostly family-run businesses.
  • After the 1990s, more confectioneries started to operate on busy shopping streets, and business and financial districts.
例句
西果是新马华人对西式甜点和面包的俗称，因此过去的面包坊都称之为西果店。（《联合早报》，25/2/2019）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
As “西果” is a colloquial term used by the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia for Western desserts and breads, bakeries in the past were known as “西果店”. (Lianhe Zaobao, 25/2/2019)
其他地区用语

西饼、西点（港）

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

西饼、西点 (Hong Kong)

参考资料
点击查看西果的参考资料
REFERENCES

Click here to view references for confectionery

 

 

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