Commonly found variants; note these may range from acceptable alternatives to
non-standard forms or incorrect spellings*.
* Singlish is a largely spoken creole, and as such descriptivism (recording forms that reflect actual pronunciation in spoken language, or as appearing in the linguistic corpus) is more pertinent than strict prescriptivism. Nevertheless, the use of more standard forms (or for words originating in languages with Latin script, such as Malay, accurate to the original spelling) is recommended and encouraged.
* Singlish is a largely spoken creole, and as such descriptivism (recording forms that reflect actual pronunciation in spoken language, or as appearing in the linguistic corpus) is more pertinent than strict prescriptivism. Nevertheless, the use of more standard forms (or for words originating in languages with Latin script, such as Malay, accurate to the original spelling) is recommended and encouraged.
also can:
cha thau peng cha tao peng cha tau peng char tow peng
cha tow peng
简
繁
→
Hokkien:
柴头
柴頭
poj:
chhâ-thâu
+
兵
poj:
peng
Detailed etymology
definitions
noun
- a dull, thick, or ignorant soldier
cha thau peng. 'Deadwood soldier': Hokkien. The phrase is conferred on a soldier who neither responds nor comprehends, ie a typical end-product of the present educational system.
— 1978, Leong Choon Cheong. Youth in the Army. p.305
synonyms: