sing1 gaa2 bo1星架坡
Jyutpingsing1 gaa2 bo1
Yalesīng gá bō
Definition
Singapore
colloquialplacestravel
How it's used
While the spelling 星架坡 is commonly seen in older signs or traditional writing, the modern standard spelling is 新加坡. Both are pronounced the same way in Cantonese, but using the latter is safer in formal contexts or when writing to younger generations. It is a common example of how geographical names can have variant characters that persist in local usage.
Examples
I really like eating Singaporean Hainanese chicken rice.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the pronunciation with Mandarin, but in Cantonese, the first character is pronounced with a high-level tone, similar to the word for star.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
