sia suay - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Hokkien 瀉衰／泻衰 (sià-soe).

sia suay (comparative more sia suay, superlative most sia suay)

  1. (Singapore, Singlish) Causing embarrassment or disgrace to others.
    • 1989 November 2, “From love songs to 'pai kia' tune. Karaoke is BIG business.”, in The Straits Times, Singapore:
      Most of those who sing these songs are too drunk to be stopped. Sia suay (Hokkien for bringing shame to the entire clan) only.
    • 2000 November 9, Daniel S, “Is YOUNG MING married???”, in Google Groups‎[1], Singapore:
      Later so sia suay lah
    • 2011 February 14, peebrain, “~FUNNY ~ 阿莲Ah Lianz break up with Ah Beng 阿成. On Valentine Day cos he nebber listen up!”, in YouTube Video‎[2], Singapore:
      GUys, cannot break up like this SO SIA SUAY!
    • 2015 March 23, S M Ong, “Xiaxue not so 'sia suay' after all?”, in The New Paper‎[3], Singapore, archived from the original on 25 March 2015:
      Xiaxue not so 'sia suay' after all?

sia suay (invariable)

  1. (Singapore, Singlish) To disgrace; to cause embarrassment for others.
    • 2007 November 21, Daniel S, “Only Queen's English.... in this forum..Singlish is banned ?!”, in Google Groups‎[4], Singapore:
      Kenna hantam until nothing to say in the old thread then start a new one to get ppl oin your side without your old posts to sia suay you.
    • 2000 December 4, vignette, “Singapore Miss World SUCKS!!”, in Google Groups‎[5], Singapore:
      Sending such ugly women to international pageants will "sia suay" Singaporeans.
    • 2015 March 23, S M Ong, “Xiaxue not so 'sia suay' after all?”, in The New Paper‎[6], Singapore, archived from the original on 25 March 2015:
      In other words, I think what Mr Ha means is that Xiaxue had “sia suay” their industry.