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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鱼

yú

尾

wěi

狮

shī

Merlion

Culture

文化

Culture

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Merlion

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Photo courtesy of Jay Ang on Unsplash
Culture

文化

Culture

释义

名词

狮头鱼尾的传奇动物。

DEFINITION

Noun

A mythical creature with a lion’s head and fish’s body.

由来
  • 鱼尾狮是虚构的传奇动物，狮头象征了13世纪山尼拉乌他玛王子（Sang Nila Utama）在淡马锡（Temasek，新加坡的旧称）发现狮子的传说，鱼尾则象征新加坡从一个小渔村发展为繁华都市。尽管山尼拉乌他玛王子发现狮子的传说可能是虚构的，但鱼尾狮象征着海洋文明与大陆文明融合的新加坡。
  • 鱼尾狮的造型由新加坡范克里夫水族馆（Van Kleef Aquarium）的馆长布仑（Fraser Brunner）于1963年为当时的新加坡旅游促进局（Singapore Tourist Promotion Board）设计。另一说法则提出鱼尾狮是由一位郭姓美术顾问所设计。
  • 新加坡著名的鱼尾狮塑像高约八米，蓝图由郑世强所绘，塑像则是由林浪新雕塑而成。鱼尾狮塑像在1972年完成，同年9月15日由时任总理李光耀揭幕。这尊鱼尾狮雕像如今矗立于滨海湾，是新加坡的重要地标。

ETYMOLOGY
  • The Merlion’s lion head symbolises the legend of Prince Sang Nila Utama founding the “Lion City” after sighting a lion in Temasek (the old name for Singapore) in the 13th century, while its fish tail symbolises Singapore’s development from a small fishing village to a metropolitan city. Although the lion-sighting legend may be fictional, the Merlion epitomises the seamless fusion of maritime and continental civilisations in Singapore.
  • The Merlion’s design was created in 1963 by Fraser Brunner, curator of Van Kleef Aquarium, under the commission of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. Another source suggests that an artistic consultant, a Mr Kwok, designed the Merlion.
  • Singapore’s famous Merlion statue is about 8 metres tall. The blueprint was drawn by Kwan Sai Kheong, and the statue sculpted by Lim Nang Seng. It was completed in 1972 and unveiled by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 15 September that year. The statue now stands at Marina Bay and is an important landmark of Singapore.

例句
旅客到访新加坡，总不会错过到滨海湾的鱼尾狮公园一游，拍下一张以鱼尾狮为背景，因借景而貌似自己口吐水柱的照片。（《联合早报》， 20/9/2017）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
Tourists who visit Singapore will not miss the chance to visit the Merlion Park and have their photo taken with the Merlion, at such an angle that they seem to be spouting water from their mouths. (Lianhe Zaobao, 20/9/2017)
参考资料
点击查看鱼尾狮的参考资料
REFERENCES

Click here to view references for Merlion

 

 

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