* 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:
see no touch touch no see see and touch pay money see no touch, touch no see, see and touch, must pay money see no touch touch no see see and touch must pay money
see no touch, touch no see, see and touch, pay money
→
English:
see
+
no
+
touch
+
pay
+
money
definitions
expression
- used in stores, shops, markets, etc. to caution overly curious or handsy shoppers against handling the items on display, as they are prone to breakage or spoiling
Growing up, you would have heard this a lot: "See no touch, touch no see. See and touch must pay money". A recent dispute between a pair of Chinatown grocery stall owners and their customer might be the perfect epitome to the iconic rhyme ... The cause of the dispute? A customer refused the stall owner's demands to pay for peaches that he had touched, according to the 55-year-old eyewitness.
— 2023 January 12, Ching Shi Jie. AsiaOne, "'Don't have money?' Chinatown stall owners taunt man who touched peaches without paying". https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/dont-have-money-chinatown-stall-owners-taunt-man-who-touched-peaches-without-paying
usage notes
Used in the same way as similar English sayings, such as "nice to touch, good to hold, once broken considered sold", or other variants on the same theme.