Nyonya chang

Singapore[ˈnjo˧.njɑ˦ ˌt͡s˭ɑŋ˨˩]Singapore[ˈnjo˨˩.njɑ˨ -]

noun

A 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.

OriginHokkien 娘惹粽 ← Malay nyonya →
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Meanings

nounNyonya chang (uncountable)

alternative Nyonya zhang

  1. MalaysiaSingaporeuncountableA 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.

Origin

  1. Hokkien粽“rice dumpling wrapped in leaves”
  2. Malaynyonya
  3. Hokkien娘惹粽
  4. EnglishNyonya chang

Borrowed from Hokkien 娘惹粽 (niô͘-nia-chàng). Analysable as Nyonya (from Malay nyonya) + Hokkien 粽 (“rice dumpling wrapped in leaves”).

More words from Hokkien, Malay

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Nyonya chang. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Nyonya%20chang

MLA

“Nyonya chang.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Nyonya%20chang. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Nyonya chang,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Nyonya%20chang.

Source: Nyonya chang on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.