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:
kuachi kwa chee kwachee kwachi koa chi koachi
kua chi
→
Hokkien:
瓜子
poj:
koa/koe-chí
Detailed etymology
definitions
noun
- any edible dried seed (usually from a melon such as a watermelon, but also pumpkin, sunflower, etc.) consumed as a snack
My mother would buy red kuachi for Chinese New Year because of the auspicious colour ... I was not fond of kuachi. Besides, nibbling kuachi is a girl's thing like embroidering patterns on pillowcases.
— 2015, David Leo. Cherry Days. Ethos Books. ISBN: 9789811432552
... the best part is you could also bring your own food and drinks into the cinema, with the favourite being kuachi (sunflower seeds). After each screening, there was literally a carpet of discarded kuachi shells on the aisles.
— 2015, David Leo. Cherry Days. Ethos Books. ISBN: 9789811432552