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kenasai

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.

also can:

kenasai

kena sai

→

Malay:

kena

+

Hokkien:

屎

poj:

sái

expand for details Detailed etymology

definitions

verb

  1. (vulgar) to be afflicted or affected by something unpleasant

    2. But the ring, hor, acherly can make people very powderful. But then, hor, if you wear too long will also kena sai. Si beh hiong one, so better faster go and destroy it, lor.

    — TalkingCock, "Tolkien for bengs". Original source lost

  2. (vulgar) to get into trouble

    3. Ed hung up thinking, Kena sai, lah. Kena sai.

    — 2014, S. J. Rozan. "Kena Sai", in Singapore Noir. Akashic Books. ISBN: 9781617752353. p.119

  3. (vulgar, literal) to be hit by faeces; to be on the receiving end of defaecation

interjection

  1. (vulgar) 'shit!'; 'damn!'; expression of frustration, anger, outrage, exasperation, etc.

adjective

  1. (vulgar, proscribed) awful; terrible; shitty

    2. "Bloody hell, right? Have you seen his wife? Kana sai! ... Fat like pig." Angeline punched the table.

    — 2014, Kay Hwa Low. Today or Tomorrow. Goody Books. ISBN: 9789810795764


usage notes

Often mistakenly used by non-Hokkien speaking Singlish speakers to mean ka na sai, due to kena being a very common Singlish and Malay word. However, the two terms are distinct and non-interchangeable, except when used as an interjection for cursing.


related:

KNS2 sai chee bai kan ni na kena sai nabei you die, I die, everybody die ka na sai KNS1 kena kenz pundeh

categories:

vulgar insults