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Chinese in Malay

 by Prof. Chuah Chong-Cheng


sabun      soap detergent
saing       correspond, compete
sake        Japanese liquor
sakin, semakin, mangkin    catalyst, yeast
saku      pocket
Sakura     cherry blossom,  Prunus yedoensis  
saling       mutual,  interactive
samfu      shirt,  trousers full suit
sampan     sampan boat
samping      both sides, additional
samseng     three meat offerings
samseng     funeral send-off
samseng     hooligans
samsu        rice wine
samurai     Japanese warrior
sandar      dependent
sangga      creeper prop
sanggam     borrow temporarily
sanggul       hairbun
santung, syantung    Shandung silk
sate      3-piece kebab (satay: 2 meat + 1 fat)
sauk     scoop
seg, sek      fine tobacco
seh        temper
seh        surname
sehu      master, teacher
sek       fine tobacco
seko     secret informer
sekoteng     four fruit sweet soup
semakin, mangkin, makin      the more ... the ...
semangkin, mangkin, makin       the more ... the ...
sembang      rambling talk

sembul      protuberance
sembur     spray
sembur, sembul      protuberance
sempoa      abacus, bead calculus
sempul, sembul      protuberance
semsem, sengsem      inclined, fall in love
sengkek      newcomer to Nanyang
senat       junk
sengih     sardonic smile
sengingih, sengih       sardonic smile
sengsai, singse      Chinese medicine man
sengsam, sengsem       inclined, fall in love
sengse, singse      Chinese medicine man
sengsem      inclined, fall in love, infatuated
senteng       psychotic, neurotic
sentiong      new grave, graveyard
sentiung, sentiong     new grave, graveyard
sepet      almond eyes
sepet, sipit     almond eyes
sepoa, sempoa      abacus
serengeh, seringai      sardonic smile
serengit , seringai      sardonic smile
seringai       sardonic smile
seringih, seringai        sardonic smile
seringing, seringai      sardonic smile
sesai        bridegroom's down payment
sesak      crowded
sesat       go astry, get lost
sia-sia     wasted effort
siah        pardon
sial, sueh     bad luck
siantan        red flower plant, Ixora chinensis
siar       shoot, broadcast
siau      fever recession, cooling down
sice      table with four chairs
sigung, singgung     nudge, touch accidentally
sikak     square metal weapon
simbur, sembur      spray
singkek, sengkek    newcomer to Nanyang
sikoi      water melon, Citrullus vulgaris
silungkang     Xillonggang cloth
simbur, sembur     spray
singguh, singgung     nudge, touch accidentally

singgung       nudge, touch accidentally
singkeh, sengkek      newcomer to Nanyang
singkek, sengkek      newcomer to Nanyang
sinse, singse        Chinese medicine man
singse         Chinese medicine man
sinting, senteng      psychotic, neurotic
sintua       VIP, JP
sintung, singgung      nudge, touch accidentally
sioca, siociah      Chinese lady
siociah      Chinese lady
siongka    resin
sipit        almond eyes
sipoa, sempoa       abacus
sipuak, sempoa     abacus
siul       bird's chirping, whistle
siya      tiffin carrier
soak, suak       completed
soe, sueh         bad luck
sohun, suun     silver strand vegetarian vermicelli
soja      kow-tow for forgiveness
sojah, soja     kow-tow for forgiveness
songong      uncivilized, uncouth
sosi          keys
soun, suun      silver strand vermicelli
suah, suak      completed
suak       completed, expired
suang     whether you like it or not
sudah, suah, suak      already, completed, ended
sue, sueh      bad luck
sueh      unfortunate, bad luck
suhian      concubine's house, den of prostitutes
suipoa, sempoa      abacus
suir, sueh      bad luck
suji      embroidery
sulit     private, confidential
sumo     Japanese wrestling
sun, lisong      Luzon cigars
susul      trail, trace
susur      trail, ramble
susyi      Japanese food
suun      silver strand vegetarian vermicelli
suwir     chopsuey
swipoa, sempoa     abacus

syantung     shandong silk
syogun        shogunate general

Previous installment



  The Best Nyonya Food in Town
Itam Manis
335 Burmah Road

604 226 7326
www.penang-restaurants.com

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INDEX

Point to the article that you want to read, and CLICK

Index page     Book review    The captive mind    Chinese words in Malay   Food guide   Hen or rooster?
Letter from Pulau Tikus   A people's constitution (2)     Poh Choo's wedding (9)   The war in the jungle(2)  
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The Penang File   Issue  43