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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Philip Street (colloquially known as lau ya keng kao)

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Philip Street (colloquially known as lau ya keng kao)

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Places

地理相关

Places

释义

名词

菲立街（Philip Street）的俗称。也称“老爷宫”、“老爷宫头”、“孖庙街”。

DEFINITION

Noun

The colloquial name of Philip Street. Also known in Mandarin as “老爷宫”, “老爷宫头”, and “孖庙街”. 

由来
  • 潮州话 lau ya keng kau 的意译。
  • “老爷宫口” 一词中的 “老爷宫” 指坐落于菲立街的粤海清庙。
  • 粤海清庙初创于 1820 年代，除了是新加坡第一座潮州人的妈祖和玄天上帝庙，也是早期新加坡帮群社会中潮州帮的代表与核心机构。
  • 由于潮州人称玄天上帝为 “老爷” 或 “大老爷”，因此粤海清庙也俗称为老爷宫。
  • 除了用 “老爷宫” 来代指菲立街，鉴于粤海清庙正坐落在菲立街街口，所以潮州人也称菲立街为 “老爷宫口” 或 “老爷宫头”。
  • 粤海清庙实际上是由两座庙结合而成。左祠是供奉天上圣母妈祖的天后宫，右祠是供奉玄天上帝的上帝宫。由于两座祠宇相连，因此在粤语中也俗称为 “孖庙”（菲立街也因此俗称 “孖庙街”）。“孖” 含有一双或成对的意思。
  • 菲立街一名于 1837 年便已见于本地报章上。有说法认为其名称是以驻槟城总督威廉·爱德华·菲立（William Edward Philips）来命名。
ETYMOLOGY
  • The Mandarin term “老爷宫口” is a paraphrase of the Teochew term lau ya keng kao.
  • The Mandarin term “老爷宫” in “老爷宫口” refers to Yueh Hai Ching Temple located on Philip Street. 
  • Yueh Hai Ching temple was established in the 1820s. It was the first Teochew temple dedicated to Mazu and the Mysterious Heavenly Highest Deity. In addition, the temple was also the representative and core organisation of the Teochew gangs in Singapore’s underworld scene in the early days.  
  • As the Teochew community used terms such as “老爷” and “大老爷” to refer to the Mysterious Heavenly Highest Deity, Yueh Hai Ching Temple was also known as “老爷宫”, in which “宫” means “temple”.
  • Apart from using “老爷宫” to refer to Philip Street, the Teochews also referred to the same street as “老爷宫口” (entrance of “老爷宫”) and “老爷宫头” (start of “老爷宫”), as Yueh Hai Ching Temple was located at the corner of Philip Street. 
  • The Yueh Hai Ching temple is made up of two separate shrines. While the left block (known as “天后宫”) is dedicated to Mazu, the right block (known as “上帝宫”) is dedicated to the Mysterious Heavenly Highest Deity. As the shrines are interconnected, Yueh Hai Ching temple is also known in Cantonese as “孖庙”, which is made up of the words “孖” (to come in pairs) and “庙” (temple). As a result, Philip Street is also given the name “孖庙街”, in which “街” means “street”.
  • Philip Street had appeared in local newspapers as early as 1837. One belief is that it was named after William Edward Philips, who was once the Governor of Penang. 
 
例句
以前我住在大坡漆街（俗称五代天宫），漆街左转就是菲立街（俗称老爷宫口）。（《联合早报》，24/2/2020）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
I used to live at Church Street, with Philip Street located just a left turn away. (Lianhe Zaobao, 24/2/2020)
参考资料
点击查看老爷宫口的参考资料
REFERENCES

Click here to view references for Philip Street (colloquially known as lau ya keng kao)

 

 

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