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.
Selat (old term to refer to Singapore)
Selat (old term to refer to Singapore)
Photo courtesy of By Lambert & Co., G.R. (Wikimedia Commons)
DEFINITION
Noun
Old term to refer to Singapore.
由来
- 马来语 selat 的音译，意思是海峡。新加坡前临新加坡海峡，后倚柔佛海峡，因而得名。华人以此称呼新加坡应该是开埠之后，也写作“实力”、“实叻”、“石叻坡”、“叻埠”等。中国清朝文献中称它为“息辣”，也写作“息力”、“息竦”等。
ETYMOLOGY
- The term is a transliteration of the Malay term selat, which means “straits”. Singapore is fronted by the Singapore Straits and backed by the Johore Straits, hence it was known as “Selat”. The Chinese used the term to refer to Singapore since its beginnings as a trading port, which is represented by different Chinese phonetic characters in writing, like “实力”, “实叻”,”石叻坡” and “叻埠”. It was also referred to as “息辣” or “息力” and “息竦” in Chinese documents from the Qing Dynasty.
例句
国家文物局昨天列石叻路古瓦拉锡克庙为历史古迹，并设置历史标志，以纪念它在本地锡克教社群中所占的重要地位。（《联合早报》，15/11/1999）
SAMPLE SENTENCE
Yesterday, the National Heritage Board named the Gudwara Sikh Temple at Selat Road as a Historical Site, and gazetted it as a historical landmark. This was to commemorate the historical significance of this building to the Sikh community. (Lianhe Zaobao, 15/11/1999)
相关资料
- 在16世纪葡萄牙人的著作里，新加坡的原住民海人（Orang Laut）被称为“石叻仔”（Cellates）。1881年薛有礼在新加坡创办的《叻报》，就是取名自石叻。
RELATED INFORMATION
- In Portuguese works dated in the sixteenth century, the Singapore indigenous sea dwellers (Orang Laut) were also referred to as “Cellates”. In 1881, See Ewe Lay established the “Lat Pau” (《叻报》) newspaper in Singapore, named after “Selat”.