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Singaporean Mandarin ( ) is a variety of Mandarin Chinese widely spoken in Singapore. It is one of the four official languages of Singapore along with English, Malay and Tamil.
Singapore Mandarin can be classified into two distinct Mandarin dialects, Standard Singaporean Mandarin and Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin. These two dialects are easily distinguishable to a person proficient in Mandarin. Standard Singaporean Mandarin is the register of Mandarin used by Chinese elites in Singapore and can be heard on television and radio and is the form taught in all Singapore government schools while Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin (Singdarin) is the form used by the general populace, usually among those with poorer command of Mandarin and who are less exposed to Standard Mandarin. They tend to infuse the language with many words from other Chinese dialects, Malay and English.
The official standard of Mandarin of Republic of Singapore, known in Singapore as Huayu ( ), based on the phonology of the Beijing dialect and the grammar of Vernacular Chinese, is almost identical to the standard of Mandarin used in the People's Republic of China, known in there as Pǔtōnghuà ( ). Standard Singaporean Mandarin, which is usually heard on Singaporean Mandarin language TV and radio news broadcast, is generally similar to Putonghua in terms of phonology, vocabulary and grammar. Small differences appear in the form of vocabulary differences.
However, in terms of colloquial spoken Mandarin, Singaporean Mandarin is still subject to influence from the local historical, cultural and social influences of Singapore. As such, there are remarkable differences between colloquial Singaporean Mandarin and Putonghua. Colloquial Singaporean Mandarin bears the closest resemblance with Colloquial Malaysian Mandarin.
Singaporean Mandarin only became widely spoken by the Chinese community in Singapore after the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 1979. It is today considered to be the second most commonly spoken language in Singapore, after English. As of 2000, 82% of literate Chinese Singaporeans were literate in the language and were able to speak Singaporean Mandarin. Due to its widespread usage, Singaporean Mandarin has replaced Singaporean Hokkien as the lingua franca of the Chinese community in Singapore today. Following the economic rise of China in the 21st century, Mandarin proficiency has been viewed with greater importance and has risen in terms of prominence in Singapore.
Like its English counterpart Singlish, Singaporean Mandarin also has a creole when spoken colloquially, known informally as Singdarin.
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| Unique Singaporean Mandarin words : |
|---|
| Hanzi |
Pinyin |
Definition |
|---|
| |
hóngmáodān |
rambutan (a type of Southeast Asian fruit) |
| |
kuílóng |
kelong (a place for fishing) |
| |
gānbǎng |
kampung (village) |
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shādīe |
Satay (a type of Singaporean Malay food) |
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qīngtāng |
a type of dessert |
| |
gùběn |
coupon. Also used for car parking |
| |
zǔwū |
flat built by Housing Development Board |
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yōngchēzhèng |
car ownership-license |
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bǎo jiàn chǔ xǜ |
medisave (medical saving) |
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zhōu mò yòng chē |
Weekend Car (a classification of car ownership in Singapore) |
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cáilù |
"Giro" (a system of payment through direct bank account deduction in Singapore) |
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bāsā |
"bazaar" or market or pasar (Malay) |
/
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mín zhòng jù lè bù
lián luò suǒ |
community centre |
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lāsā |
laksa (a type of curry noodle) |
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lājī chóng |
"litter-bug"; someone who violated the law for littering |
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páiwū |
terrace house |
| Same meaning, different words : |
|---|
| Hanzi |
Pinyin |
Definition |
Putonghua |
Guoyu |
Notes |
|---|
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lè líng |
old people |
lǎo líng |
nián zhǎng zhě |
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sān wén zhì |
sandwich |
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sān míng zhì |
From English "sandwich" via Cantonese sāam màhn jih |
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déshì |
taxi |
chūzūchē |
jìchéngchē |
compare Cantonese dīk sih (from English "taxi"). |
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huò guì |
container |
jí zhuāng xiāng |
huò guì |
|
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huǒ huàn |
fire |
huǒ zāi |
huǒ jǐng |
is also used in Singapore and Taiwan. |
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nài |
durable/lasting |
nài yòng |
nài yòng |
From classical Chinese. 耐用 is also used in Singapore |
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jià chē |
drive a car |
kāi chē |
kāi chē |
The word 驾 originates from classical Chinese. 开车 is also used in Singapore. 驾车 has also found its way into Putonghua vocabulary. |
| |
shǒu gè |
first |
dì yī gè |
|
第一个 is also used in Singapore. 首个 has also found its way into Putonghua vocabulary. |
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gōng zhòng |
public mass |
qǘn zhòng |
qǘn zhòng |
公众 has also found its way into Putonghua vocabulary. |
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qún tǐ |
organized group |
jí tǐ |
jí tǐ |
群体 has also found its way into Putonghua and Taiwanese Mandarin vocabulary. |
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dì yī shí jīan |
immediately |
lì kè |
lì jí |
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yī tóu wù shǔi |
blurred and confused |
yūn tóu zhǔan xìang |
hú lǐ hú tú |
the idiom 一头雾水 has also found its way into Putonghua vocabulary. |
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mǎ tóu |
dock |
gǎng kǒu |
gǎng kǒu |
From Hokkien/Cantonese, Hokkien: bé-thâu, Cantonese: ma tau |
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líng xiú |
leader |
líng dǎo |
líng xiú |
领导 is sometimes used in Singapore |
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shǒu tí diàn huà |
mobile phone |
shǒu jī |
/
xíng dòng diàn huà/shǒu jī |
is also used in Singaporean Mandarin, although less frequently. |
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kè gōng |
foreign worker |
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wài láo |
also appears in some Singaporean Chinese writing (e.g. Lianhe Zaobao) |
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nóng fū |
farmer |
nóng mín |
xiāng mín |
农夫 was an older Chinese term used in China before 1949, but continues to be used in Singapore. |
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bā shì |
bus |
gōng jiāo chē |
/
gōng chē/bā shì |
From Cantonese |
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diàn dān chē |
motorcycle |
mó tuō chē |
jī chē |
From Cantonese |
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luó lǐ |
lorry |
kǎ chē |
huò chē |
From English word "lorry" |
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jiǎo tóu |
corner |
jiǎo luò |
jiǎo luò |
From Hokkien "kak-thâu". Note thaut in Putonghua, "角头" actually means "chieftain of mafia/secret society" instead of "corner". |
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sàn qián |
small change |
líng qián |
líng qián |
Originates from classical Chinese. "散钱" is also used in Putonghua |
| Same word, different meanings : |
|---|
| Hanzi |
Pinyin |
Meaning in Huayu |
Meaning in Putonghua |
Notes |
|---|
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xiǎo jiě |
Miss |
Prostitute or lady involved in sex trade |
小姐 is used to refer to a lady or waitress in restaurant in Singaporean Mandarin. However, in Putonghua, 小姐 has negative connotation in the northern provinces, used mainly to refer to prostitutes. 女士 or 服务员 tends to be more commonly used in Putonghua, instead of 小姐. In Taiwan it is used the same way as in Singapore. |
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duì fù |
fight against/counteract |
take action to deal with a person or problem |
对付 is used to refer in negative connotation in Singaporean Mandarin to mean fight or counteract for e.g. against a criminal or terrorist. But in Putonghua, it can have positive connotation to mean take action dealing with a person or problem. |
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dǒng |
know |
understand |
懂 is commonly used in Singaporean Mandarin to mean "know" instead of 知道 (Putonghua). 懂 means 'understand' in Putonghua. |
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jì suàn jī |
calculator |
computer |
计算机 is commonly used in Singaporean Mandarin to mean 'calculator'. In PRC, the word 计算器 is used instead to refer to 'calculator'. 计算机 means computer in PRC, although in the recent years, the word 电脑 for computer has also become more popular in PRC. |
| Loanwords and influence from other Chinese dialects : |
|---|
| Hanzi |
Pinyin |
Definition |
Notes |
|---|
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ā bìng gē |
soldiers |
originates from Hokkien "a-peng-ko" |
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pà shū |
afraid to lose |
originates from Hokkien "Kiasu" |
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jǐ shí |
when? |
originates from Hokkien "kuí-sî" or Classical Chinese
(Putonghua: 什么时候) |
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ā gōng |
grandpa |
originates from Hokkien "a-kong" |
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ā mā |
grandma |
originates from Hokkien "a-má" |
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ā pó |
old lady |
originates from Hokkien "a-pô" |
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hěn xiǎn |
very boring |
spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of / (in Standard Mandarin). The word "xian 显" originates from Hokkien 'hián-sèng' (顯聖). |
| |
gǎn gǎn |
be brave/daring |
spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of 勇敢 (in Standard Mandarin). For instance, 敢敢做个开心人！(dared to be a happy person). The word "敢敢" originates from Hokkien "káⁿ-káⁿ" (daring) |
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gǔ zǎo |
ancient |
originates from Hokkien "kó͘-chá". Appear in some Singaporean Chinese writing (e.g. Hawker Center) instead of (in Standard Mandarin). |
| |
zuò gōng |
work |
originates from Hokkien "cho-kang", which means 'work'. 做工 is often spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of 工作/上班 (in Standard Mandarin) . In Standard Mandarin, 做工 usually means doing work that involves manual hard labour . |
| |
shāo |
hot |
originates from Hokkien "sio", which means 'hot'. 烧 is often spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of 热/烫 (in Standard Mandarin) . |
| |
shěn mè lái dè |
What is this? |
originates from Hokkien "siáⁿ-mi̍h lâi ê" (啥物來的). 什么来的 is often spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of the more formal 这是什么 (in Standard Mandarin) |
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qǐ jià |
price increase |
originates from Hokkien "khí-kè". 起价 is often spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of the more formal 涨价 (in Standard Mandarin) |
| |
zuò mò |
Why？/ Doing what? |
originates from Cantonese "zou me 做咩". 做莫 is often spoken colloquially in Singaporean Mandarin instead of the more formal 爲什麽/做什麽 (in Standard Mandarin) |
| |
ā lǎo |
man |
originates from Cantonese |
| |
shì mēh |
is it? |
The word originates from Cantonese and is used in colloquial Singaporean Mandarin. Compare Standard Mandarin " shì ma". |
| |
dà ěr lóng |
loan shark |
originates from Cantonese. (compare Guoyu: ) |
| |
dā kè |
passenger |
originates from Cantonese (compare Putonghua: ) |
| |
bǎi wū lóng |
misunderstanding/make mistakes/confusion |
originates from Cantonese |
| |
hào liàn |
boastful, likes to show off |
originates from Teochew (ho lien). Other than 'likes to show off', the term can also describes someone who has a strong pride, i.e. cares about not losing face. (compare Putonghua: 爱出风头， Guoyu: 愛現）) |
| |
lǔ miàn |
a type of noodle |
originates from Teochew "lou mee". |
| |
guǒ tiáo |
a type of flat noodle |
originates from Teochew "kuey tiao". （compare Cantonese "hor fan 河粉"） |
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