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.
rag-and-bone man (colloquially known as karung guni)
社群、团体
Communities / Organisations
rag-and-bone man (colloquially known as karung guni)
社群、团体
Communities / Organisations
DEFINITION
Noun
A person who collects old and unwanted items.
由来
- 马来语karung guni的音译。
- 回收旧物的加龙古尼，大约在20世纪中期就已出现。马来语karung guni指的是“黄麻织成的布袋”，因为早期回收旧物的人常常将麻布袋扛在肩上，到处在组屋区走动。如今的加龙古尼一般使用手推车来回收旧物。
- 这些回收旧物的人一般会以喇叭或喊着“加龙古尼”的口号，来吸引居民的注意。他们回收的旧物各式各样，包括旧报纸、旧衣服和旧的家电器材。回收之后，他们将这些旧物售卖给回收厂或是跳蚤市场。
ETYMOLOGY
- The term is the transliteration of the Malay word karung guni.
- karung guni (or rag-and-bone men) were seen as early as in the mid-20th century. The term karung guni refers to "gunny sack" in Malay. In the past, karang guni could often be found moving around housing estates with a gunny sack over their shoulders, collecting old and unwanted items. Nowadays, they use trolleys to collect these items.
- These rag-and-bone men generally use horns or shout "karung guni" to attract residents' attention. They collect various items such as old newspapers, clothes and home appliances, which are then sold to recycling facilities or at flea markets.
例句
随着一袋又一袋旧物被缓缓推到再循环垃圾桶，加龙古尼都已气喘吁吁。他们都已上了年纪，也不完全是为了钱而收集旧物。有些是为了消磨时间；有的则是要与义工一起推广环保运动（《联合早报》，19/1/2018）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
The karung guni were panting heavily as bag after bag of recyclable items were slowly pushed into the recycling bin. They were all getting on in years, and not all of them collect recyclable items entirely for money. Some of them do it to pass the time, while others do so to promote environmental awareness with volunteers. (Lianhe Zaobao, 19/1/2018)
相关资料
- 虽然加龙古尼这一行业已逐渐式微，但根据新加坡环境及水源部（Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, MEWR）一项2013年的调查显示，大约43.2%的人仍选择将他们的旧报纸和废物售卖给加龙古尼，而仅有29.8%的人选择将这些物品放置在回收桶。
RELATED INFORMATION
- According to a survey conducted by Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) in 2013, although the karung guni trade is on a gradual decline, about 43.2% of people still choose to sell their old newspapers and unwanted items to karung guni while 29.8% prefer to place them in recycling bins.