LIAO
A Hokkien tag which depending on the context can mean either "already" or "finished".
1. "His mother early-early si liao, loh." (His mother died very early.)
2. "Like that his business sure liao, lah." (In such circumstances, his business is surely finished.)
1. Hong Kan (Liao)
What it means: It literally translates to "screw a dog," and used to express extreme disappointment, anger, and the fact that everything is going wrong.
How it's used: He didn't sent the annual report to boss? Wah, hong kan liao lor.
2. Hoot
What it means: Bet, buy or beat.
How it's used: He's raising the pot. Want to hoot not? / You do that again I hoot you! / You go where hoot this phone? Very nice!
3. Adoi!
What it means: Oh my god! It's used to express pain, grief, or disappointment at someone's stupidity.
How it's used: Adoi ah! Why you go and drink bleach?
4. Guai Lan
What it means: Some say it's a translation from Hokkien to mean "bad egg," while others think it literally translates to "strange dick." It refers to someone who is utter exasperating and annoying.
How it's used: He's very guai lan, confirm will criticize your work like mad after you hand it in.
5. Bo Jio
What it means: "Jio" used to mean "too woo," and then it evolved into "to invite someone out." And now we have the blame-filled expression "bo jio" to blame someone who didn't call you to go have fun.
How it's used: Eh, got party at Zouk. Don't say I bojio, hor. Wah, you go watch Star Wars without me! Bojio!
6. Bang Balls
What it means: A particularly vulgar phrase that's derived from Hokkien's "lam pah pah lan," which describes a man's nether regions, um, clashing together.
How it's used: Wah bang balls, i didn't know she allergic to seafood!
7. Dao
What it means: Aloof, slightly arrogant, unfriendly.
How it's used: Wah, she's so dao. I said hi to her she neh reply.
8. Anyhowly
What it means: To haphazardly do something without proper instructions.
How it's used: You read the recipe properly then cook, ok. Don't anyhowly put the ingredients, hor
9. Manja
What it means: Used to describe the whiny and needy behavior of women (hello negative gender stereotypes), but nowadays it also refers to people who whine for attention.
How it's used: My cat is very manja; I come home and already she wants attention.
10. Wayang
What it means: The literal meaning comes from Indonesian puppet theater, but it also means to pretend or to put on an act when nothing is being done.
How it's used: This meeting wayang only lah. You think they gonna promote you meh?
11. (Sibeh) Sian
What it means: Bored. Worse than ennui type of bored. Boredom beyond compare.
How it's used: Wah, sibeh sian. I resign liao but I dunno what kind of job I want to do.
12. Buay Hiao Bai
What it means: Thick-skinned, arrogant.
How it's used: Wah, he so buay hiao bai, I said I met a handsome guy and he asked if it was him. *Eyeroll*
13. Ngiao
What it means: Picky, micromanage-y, difficult to work with
How it's used: She's very ngiao; go grocery shopping with her she must see the fruit completely no spots, then she buy.
14. One Kind
What it means: It comes from the phrase, "one of a kind," using it to mean a myriad of negative traits to refer to someone who is difficult, inconsiderate, selfish and unaccommodating.
How it's used: My brother very one kind; I asked him where he buy the ramen he dowan tell me.
15. Own Time Own Target
What it means: An army term used during live-firing practice, but now it means to do something at leisure as there is no deadline.
How it's used: Ok, now you do as many push-ups as you can. Own time own target.
16. Pai Than
What it means: It refers to a task or a job that's not worth what you're getting paid for.
How it's used: Aiya, I do so much sai kang and earn so little; this job very pai than leh.
17. Suka-suka
What it means: Malay for "to like," it means to do according to one's wishes and not follow instructions.
How it's used: Don't suka-suka use the blue pot to cook, or the landlady will kill you.
18. Bo Pian
What it means: It used to mean "no change" in Hokkien, but now it means that you can't do anything about a presumably bad situation.
How it's used: I kicked up a big fuss and they still say cannot give me a refund! Bo pian.
19. Ji Siao
What it means: To annoy, make fun of, ridicule.
How it's used: He oreddy so embarrassed, don't ji siao him and his crush, la.
20. Win Liao Lor/Oreddy
What it means: Something you say to concede an argument, or to say that someone is better than you, or to grudgingly acquiesce to someone's request.
How it's used: Wah siao! You want me to buy so many branded bags ah? You win liao lor.
(출처: https://sg.asia-city.com/city-living/news/underrated-singlish-expressions-are-incredibly-nuanced)
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