kena sai

Singapore/ˈkənɑ ˈsaɪ˦˨/Singapore/ˈkɑ-/Singapore[ˈk˭ə˧na˦ ˈsaɪ˦˨]

verb

To get into trouble, to be in deep shit.

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Meanings

verbkena sai (invariable)

alternative kenasai · alternative kanasai

  1. derogatoryinvariableslangvulgarTo get into trouble, to be in deep shit.
interjection

alternative kenasai · alternative kanasai

  1. ManglishSinglishvulgarExpression of anger and frustration.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
in deep shit

Origin

From Malay kena (“to incur”) + Hokkien 屎 (sái, “shit”). By surface analysis, kena (“to be affected by (something negative)”) + sai (“shit”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

kena sai. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kena%20sai

MLA

“kena sai.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kena%20sai. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kena sai,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kena%20sai.

Source: kena sai on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.