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:
siao chabor siao charbor siao char bor siao char bo siao charbo siao zha bo siao zha bor xiao zha bor siao zhabo siao char boh
siao cha bor
→
Hokkien:
痟
poj:
siáu
+
Min nan:
查某
poj:
cha-bó͘
Detailed etymology
definitions
noun
- a crazy woman; a girl who acts unreasonably and irrationally
"Takeshi could not resist calling her siao cha bor, or crazy girl ..." Terri is Taiwanese, but there are many like her in Singapore.
— 2005, David Leo. Life's so like dat. Pagesetters Services Pte Limited. ISBN: 9789810548131. p.58
Irene Ang says people might think she's a "siao char boh" (mad woman). Because she has been talking to herself lately. But relax, she has not gone bonkers. She's just getting into character ...
— 1999 August 26, Seto Nu-wen. The New Paper, "Irene Ang's behaving strangely". p.25
synonyms: