Word origins

• Eng-chhunSynonym of Yongchun.
• Eng ChoonSynonym of Yongchun.
• EngtengSynonym of Yongding.
• fried oysterSynonym of oyster omelette.
• green mongoSynonym of mongo (“mung bean”).
• guakongmaternal grandfather; maternal grandpa.
• guamamaternal grandmother; maternal grandma
• gulamibeef belly (either ox tripe, tenderloin, or offal) and noodles soup (usually tangy/savory and spicy) with beef shanks or flanks
• HailamA person who traces his/her ancestry to Hailam or the surrounding area, especially those that ancestrally speak Hainanese.
• haiyaAn exclamation of exasperation, said especially when a bad event occurs.
• Henghuaa person who traces his/her ancestry to Putian or the surrounding region
• Hokchiaof or relating to Fuqing Eastern Min
• Hokkien meeA typical Hokkien noodle dish
• ho kua bo ho jiakSuperficial; incompetent or having no substance despite appearances, skin-deep; portraying oneself as greater than one actually is; all style and no substance.
• huat ahA traditional, festive expression used to wish oneself prosperity.
• instant mamiAn instant noodle soup dish that is popular in the Philippines and abroad, consisting of pre-cooked noodles with a packet of soup, seasoning, and oil that can be prepared by adding hot water.
• I tell youSynonym of I can tell you.
• jioTo invite (someone) to an event or activity.
• Ka-giSynonym of Chiayi.
• kaishaomatchmaking; a romantic arrangement to set up a date between two people
• KaokaGaojia opera (a type of Chinese opera originating in Quanzhou, Fujian)
• kaopehTo confront.
• kao peh kao buTo make a fuss, to complain or whine excessively, to complain to high heaven.
• kaypohBeing a busybody, prying into the business of others.
• kee changAlkaline zongzi (a Chinese dessert, sometimes filled with a sweet paste)
• Kheka Hakka person
• kiamchaysalted / pickled Chinese mustard greens (Brassica juncea)
• kiam chyeSalted vegetables.
• kiamoyA snack made from salted dried plums.
• kiapTongs, clip; any claw-like tool used to grab objects or hold something in place.
• kinchayChinese celery ("varieties of Apium graveolens, sometimes called Apium graveolens var. secalinum")
• Kiong Hee Huat ChaiHappy Chinese New Year
• kongsiA benevolent organization of popular origin found among overseas Chinese communities for individuals with the same surname.
• kor korTerm of address for an elder brother within Chinese families.
• kuchaygarlic chives; Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum)
• kueh pie teeA small, bite-sized dish consisting of a thin, fried pastry tart shell that is shaped like a fluted cup and filled with shredded jicama, carrots and other ingredients, originating in Peranakan cuisine.
• ku ku birdPenis
• ku ku jiaoPenis, a dick
• la laVenus clams (as food)
• la-laOf indifferent quality; so-so.
• lanciaoa stew of cattle genitals
• lao hongTo go stale or turn soft from exposure to air.
• lao saiTo have diarrhoea.
• lau kuiEmbarrassing, shameful
• lauriatA special Chinese banquet with many courses and dishes (especially as served in the Philippines).
• lokundoctor; physician
• lor arkA Chinese dish of braised duck in soy sauce.
• lor sorLong-winded, naggy.
• machangzongzi
• mai tu liaoDo not hesitate; take action immediately.
• maki miChinese Filipino thick soup of pork tenderloin, with noodles
• mee gorengfried noodles
• mee hoonflour for making noodles (such as rice flour; uncooked rice vermicelli noodles)
• mee suaMisua; a very thin variety of salted Chinese noodles made from wheat flour.
• misuaMisua; a very thin variety of salted Chinese noodles made from wheat flour.
• ngeowStingy, miserly
• no horse runExceptionally good
• Nyonya changA variant of bak chang (zongzi) originating in Peranakan cuisine, made with minced pork, candied winter melons and sometimes roasted peanuts and blue pea flower extract for colour.
• OngpinA Chinese Filipino surname from Hokkien
• oolong teaA type of tea with a taste in between green tea and black tea.
• orh horAn interjection expressing disapproval, used to tease someone who has done something wrong, subsequently getting themselves into trouble.
• or notFinal interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement.
• pa chew chengOf a man: to masturbate.
• pai kiagangster; hooligan
• pang jioTo urinate; to pee.
• pang saiTo defecate; to shit.
• pechaythe Chinese cabbage (either napa cabbage or bok choy)
• pek chekFrustrated, exasperated, fed up.
• petsaiChinese cabbage (either napa cabbage or bok choy)
• pi saiHardened snot, booger.
• polonchayChinese spinach
• ponkanA sweet, round citrus fruit which is a hybrid of a mandarin and a pomelo (Citrus poonensis).
• pouchongA superior kind of souchong tea.
• QuiambaoA surname from Hokkien.
• red mongored bean; azuki bean
• red tortoise cakeA small, sweet, round Chinese dumpling with sticky glutinous rice flour skin wrapped around a sweet filling, moulded to resemble a tortoise shell.
• saikang warriorSomeone who is always assigned or forced to do unpleasant tasks.
• shotithe youngest brother
• si liaoSynonym of die liao.
• sinsehA traditional Chinese physician.
• siomaiA traditional steamed Chinese pork dumpling served as part of the dim sum menu.
• siopaoChinese steamed stuffed bun; baozi (usually char siu bao, especially the Philippine variant known as "siopao asado")
• steady pom pi piCalm; self-assured.
• suahegreasyback shrimp; sand shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis)
• suayunlucky, unfortunate
• tai jiOne's business or responsibility. More often than not, used in a dismissive manner.
• talk cockTo talk nonsense.
• taokeboss; owner (of a business entity such as shop, etc.); shop owner; shopkeeper; business owner; employer (especially a Chinese Filipino boss)
• taugehMung bean sprouts.
• TecsonA surname from Hokkien, common among Filipinos of Chinese ancestry.
• tio boRight?, is that right? (checking agreement or seeking confirmation)
• TOA-CAH-SOHSynonym of SOHCAHTOA.
• Toa PayohA planning area and new town in the Central Region of Singapore.
• towkayA business owner; boss (especially a Chinese Malaysian or Chinese Singaporean boss).
• TuasonA surname from Spanish [in turn from Hokkien] common among Filipinos of Chinese ancestry
• twakowA kind of single-masted traditional boat with a junk rig, formerly used on the Singapore River along with the tongkang.
• wah lauAn exclamation of annoyance or exasperation.
• want toUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see want, to.
• where gotUsed to challenge the validity of an assertion.
• win liao lorGrudging admission of defeat in an argument.