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:
pek tor hi peh tor he
pek tor he
简
繁
→
Hokkien / teochew:
白肚鱼
白肚魚
poj:
pe̍h-tó͘-hîr
Detailed etymology
definitions
noun
- Siganus canaliculatus (or other Siganus spp.), also known as the white-spotted rabbitfish or spinefoot. It is a common food species, and is particularly enjoyed in Teochew culture as part of Chinese New Year celebrations.
... and the Teochews consume steamed or pan-fried white-spotted rabbit fish or pek tor he with roe, to ensure good luck for the year ahead.
— 2012, Christopher Tan and Amy Van. Chinese Heritage Cooking. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. ISBN: 9789814435062. p.20