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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过

guò

番

fān

客

kè

old term referring to early immigrants from China

Communities/Organisations

社群、团体

Communities / Organisations

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old term referring to early immigrants from China

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Communities/Organisations

社群、团体

Communities / Organisations

释义

名词

历史上从中国移居到东南亚、加拿大、欧美、澳大利亚等地谋生的中国移民。也称番客。

DEFINITION

Noun

Immigrants from China to Southeast Asia, Canada, Europe, the United States, Australia, and other countries in pursuit of livelihood. Also known in Mandarin as “番客”.

由来
  • “番” 指外地或外国的意思。
  • 19 世纪初，由于中国面对局势动荡、人口增长及粮食短缺的问题，不少居住在中国南方的人为了谋求更好的生活，选择远渡重洋，成为了过番客。
  • 与此同时，英国殖民地政府在新加坡推行自由贸易政策，因此吸引了大批移民前来从事各种工作。这些工作包括种植业、人力车夫、红头巾及小贩等。
  • 最后一批获准登陆的过番客于 1959 年抵达新加坡。
  • 当时离开中国的移民主要可以选择前往 “南洋” 或 “西洋”，前者指东南亚各国，后者指欧美等地。
ETYMOLOGY
  • The Chinese character “番” refers to foreign land or country.
  • In the early 19th century, amidst turmoil, population growth, and food shortage within China, many people living in southern China chose to move overseas in search of a better life, becoming the early immigrants from China.
  • The British colonial government promoted its free trade policy in Singapore at that the same time. This attracted a large number of immigrants who came to work as plantation workers, rickshaw pullers, samsui women, and hawkers, among other jobs.
  • The last batch of early immigrants from China approved to arrive in Singapore came in 1959.
  • At that time, immigrants from China could mainly choose to head to Nanyang (literally South Seas) or “Xiyang” (literally West Seas). The former refers to the various Southeast Asian countries and the latter refers to Western countries including Europe and the United States.
例句
东北季风从海上航道送来的过番客，必须等西南季风起时才能返家，一来一往至少一年，万一有差错，只得再等一年，数年，甚至终老异域。（《联合早报》，21/2/2015）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
The early immigrants from China, who came with the northeast monsoon on maritime routes, must wait for the southwest monsoon season to return home. This two-way journey took at least one year. If something went awry, they had to wait another year or several years, while some eventually died on foreign land. (Lianhe Zaobao, 21/2/2015)
参考资料
点击查看过番客的参考资料
REFERENCES

Click here to view references for old term referring to early immigrants from China

 

 

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