Читать книгу Baba Malay Dictionary - William Gwee Thian Hock - Страница 9

a

A1 the best

■ A1 topside / tokside the best, the best of quality

abis / habis (habis) done, finished

■ abis kuat at the end of tether

■ abis manyak at the very most

■ tak abis-abis endlessly, not satisfied

■ tak abisan for no better reason

abok (abuk) dust; powdery stuff SEE tolak abok

■ abok sagu SEE kueh

abu (abu) ash

■ abu kueh chang lime-water for making Nyonya dumpling

achap-achap (acap-acap) just sufficient

achair / achar (acar) pickles

achar SEE achair

achu (acu) to aim at an object

■ achuan a mould

■ achuan kueh cake mould

ada (ada) to have; present; existence

■ ada-ada in possession [of wealth] ; wealthy

■ ada adat to have polite ways

■ ada angin baru pokok bergoyang there is no smoke without fire

■ ada ati to be thoughtful

■ ada chan there is a chance or an opportunity

■ ada gula ada semut when one has wealth, one will attract company

■ ada hal there is something going on

■ ada kah? is it?

■ ada kulit mungka to have dignity

■ ada lebeh tak kurang there will always be exaggeration

■ ada maksud with an intention; with an agenda

■ ada mata to be alive; to be in existence; to have respect

■ ada mata tengok, ada kuping dengair, ada mulot tutop to see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

■ ada naseb tua having good fortune at old age

■ ada perot sensitive to other's feelings; to act responsibly

■ ada rupa ada harga worth its value

■ ada ta'ah only that; except

■ ada tengkat having the correct etiquette

adat / hadat (adat) custom; protocol

■ adat dulukala ancient custom

■ adat dunia that's the way of the world

■ tak adat rude; ill mannered

■ tak tau adat rude; ill mannered; lacking in protocol

adek (adik) younger brother; younger sister; any young close relatives

■ adek angkat adopted younger brother or sister

■ adek beradek siblings

■ adek tiri younger stepbrother; younger stepsister

adoey / adoh (aduh) an exclamation of pain (akin to ‘ouch')

adohai see ayohai

adu (adu) to pit one against the other

■ adukan pitting one against the other

■ adu chredek a calculative attitude

■ beradu to compete

■ mengadu to seek solace

agair (agas)

■ agair-agair sandfly

agair / agar (agar)

■ agair-agair agar-agar; agar-agar jelly

agak (agak) to guess; to estimate; to conjecture

■ agak-agak to guess; to hazard a guess

■ agak jugak guessed so

agar see agair

ah (ah) cry of realisation

ah ee [阿姨] mother's sister

ah kong [阿公] children addressing their grandfathers

ahⁿ yes, there, there it is

ahⁿ [館] bun-filling (usually green bean paste)

ah niok a Hainanese lad employed in the Baba household as a general helper

ah pek [阿伯] term of address for an elderly Chinese gentleman

ah teng [阿廚] general term for a Hainanese male cook employed in the Baba household

ajair / ajar / hajair / hajar (ajar) to teach; to instruct

■ ajairan what is taught

■ belajair to study; to learn

ajar SEE ajair

ajat / ajait/ ajak (ajak) to bring along (a person)

ajok (ajuk) to ridicule by mimicry

■ merajok to take childish offence

akair /akar (akar) root

akal / akair (akal) wit; intelligence

■ akal dia tajam he is sharp-witted

■ tak akal devoid of common sense

akar SEE akair

akherat (akhirat) the next world

aksi (aksi) a put-on action

■ aksi borak to show off

akim / hakim (hakim) judge; magistrate

aku to vouch for; to guarantee

■ mengaku to admit

■ mengaku kalah to admit defeat

ala expression of shock or regret

■ ala sayang sair what a waste, what a great pity

alabangka (alabangka) crowbar

alagoju sidekick

alair / alas (alas) to lay on

■ alair perot to eat just sufficient to quell hunger pangs

alamak (alamak) exclamation of surprise; what the...!

alamat SEE ilamat

alang-alangan / alang kepalang (alang-alangan, alang kepalang) half-heartedly; lacking in completeness and thoroughness

alas SEE alair

aleh (alih) to shift position

■ alehkan to move; to shift to another position; to transfer to another container

alek SEE ulang alek

alem (alim) pious

alia (halia) ginger

alipan (halipan) centipede

aloji (arloji) a clock or any timepiece

alus (halus) fine; delicate [of a person or product]

am [飲] boiled rice-water

am suk i SEE kerosi am suk i

amah (amah)[阿嬷] female hospital attendant; female Chinese servant

amboey (amboi) exclamation of surprise; astonishment; well, I never!; well well

ambon SEE kueh

ambong (ambung) a straw-basket pack of shrimp paste

amcham / apacham (apa macam) how is it?

amek (ambil) to take possession

■ amek ati to win over someone; to please

■ amek berat to take seriously

■ amek gambair to take photographs

■ amek jahat to be suspicious; to think of the worst

■ amekkan jadi to treat lightly

■ amek pikiran to worry or bother over something

■ amek potⁿ to care; to bother

■ amek tau to care; to bother

■ tak amek peduli does not care; does not show concern

■ tak amek potⁿ showing the least concern

amis / hamis SEE hamis

amok (amuk) a furious attack; to go on like mad

■ mengamok to get fed up; to be angered; to attack furiously

ampair / ampas (hampas) residue; waste products; dregs; dross

■ ampair kelapa rasped coconut residue

■ ampair kopi coffee residue

ampas SEE ampair

ampat SEE empat

ampay (ampai)

■ am pay-ampay jelly-fish

ampon (ampun) to pardon; to forgive

■ ampon-ampon may it be pardoned

■ ampon-amponkan let it be pardoned

ampu SEE hampu

an [按] to extend the grace period of a pawn-ticket

an chng [安床] blessing of the wedding bed in the traditional Baba wedding rites

anak (anak) child; the young of any creature

■ anak amek an adopted child with full legal status

■ anak-anak toys

■ anak-anak patong puppetry dolls

■ anak angkat an adopted child [only through a verbal agreement]

■ anak aya m chicken; prostitute(s) working under a madame

■ anak beranak family members

■ anak bini one's whole family

■ anak bongsu last-born child

■ anak buah sum total of one's children

■ anak bulan early crescent or half moon

■ anak Cheena child of a Chinese; firefly

■ anak chuchi perot the last/ youngest child of the family

■ anak chuchu children and grandchildren; descendants

■ anak chuchu chichit descendants; children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren

■ anak daching weight on steelyard

■ anak dara maiden; virgin

■ anak dara kachuak a pre-pubescent virgin

■ anak dara sunti / sunting a young virgin; girl ripe for marriage

■ anak dara tua an old maid

■ anak dua belair kerosi a child of a high-class / rich family

■ anak dukun the lady assistant of a Malay midwife

■ anak gundek child born of a mistress or concubine

■ anak itek duckling

■ anak jantan male child; son

■ anak jantong ati a precious / favourite child

■ anak jari little finger; fingers in general

■ anak joget professional Malay joget girls

■ anak kamjat child born of a whore

■ anak kembair a twin

■ anak konchi key of lock

■ anak kuching tidor a single, large durian in the cavity of a durian fruit

■ anak lesorig pestle

■ anak lidah uvula

■ anak manja a favoured child

■ anak munda youth; male leading star in Malay opera

■ anak murid student; pupil; disciple

■ anak negri citizens of a country

■ anak noraka hellish child

■ anak noraka dunia cursed or hellish child

■ anak orang another person's child

■ anak panah arrow

■ anak piara foster child

■ anak prompuan female child; daughter

■ anak raja prince; child of royalty

■ anak rambot fine hair lining the forehead

■ anak seng [寵] a spoilt child

■ anak suak boey [績尾] the last-born child

■ anak sudara nephew, or niece or both

■ anak sulong the first-born child

■ anak sundal child of a harlot

■ anak sungei tributary; stream

■ anak tangga rung of a ladder

■ anak tiri step-child

■ anak tunggal only child

■ anak udang young shrimp / prawn

■ anak udang udang jugak, mana sama anak tenggiri, anak orang orang jugak, mana sama anak seniri no adopted child can replace one's one child; i.e. one's own flesh and blood

■ anak wayang cast members of film or stage; actor or actress

■ beranak give birth

■ peranakan popular reference to members of the Baba community; local born

■ peranakan jati thoroughbred Baba Peranakan

anam / enam / nam (enam) six

■ anam belair sixteen

■ anam puloh sixty

■ anam ratus six hundred

■ anam ribu six thousand

anaya (aniaya) to betray; to betray by false accusations

anchak (ancak) square plait-work of attap leaves on which offerings to malevolent spirits are placed

anday (handai) SEE sobat anday

ang cho [紅棗] Chinese red dates

ang kak [紅麴] red yeast

ang ki [紅柿] persimmon

ang kong sai [紅公獅] the first line of a quatrain which denotes an uninvited guest ang kong sai [紅公獅] pek bak bai [白目眉] bo lang chiaⁿ [無人請] ka ki lai [自己来]

ang ku / hang ku [紅龜] turtle

■ ang ku bak [紅龜肉] turtle meat

ang lang [呆人蒙人] a simpleton; an insensitive person

ang lo [拱爐] (anglo) a charcoal or firewood-burning stove

ang pau [紅包] red packet containing money given as gift during social events

ang su [紅事] an auspicious celebration

ang su pek su [紅事白事] the auspicious and the mournful events together

angat (hangat) lukewarm

anggek SEE onggak-anggek

angget (hangit) the smell of burnt rice

anggok (angguk) to nod

anggor (anggur) grapes

angin (angin) breeze; wind; mentally unstable

■ angin beranak ailments that occur one month after having given birth; post-natal syndrome

■ angin kenchang strong breeze or wind

■ angin laot sea breeze

■ angin menderu roaring wind

■ angin pasang-pasang hernia; accumulation of serous fluid in the scrotum

■ angin ribot very strong wind; storm

■ angin skalo apoplectic stroke

■ angin taon baru a breezy, dry wind that blows before and during the Chinese New Year

■ angin yang lalu a passing relationship of no importance

angkat (angkat) to lift; to carry

■ angkat bodek to ingratiate [rude; vulgar] ; to curry favour

■ angkat kepala to achieve success

■ angkat sumpah to take an oath

angkok-angkok (angkut-angkut) mason bee

angsa (angsa) goose

angus (hangus) burnt up; scorched; singed

anjing (anjing) dog

■ anjing gila dog that has rabies

■ anjing kepala busok to be ignored and unwanted

■ anjing sama kuching incompatible [like cats and dogs]

■ anjing utan wild dog

anjong (anjung) in kite flying, the process of throwing up the kite in the air to gain flight

ano (anu)

■ si-ano si-polan so-and-so

antair / antar / hantar (hantar) to send; to deliver

■ antairan what has been sent [as gift]

■ antair sireh to personally deliver a wedding invitation in the form of a tiny folded bundle of sireh leaf

antar SEE antair

anteiro (antero) all over; throughout

anting-anting (anting) earrings

■ anting-anting kerabu stud earrings

■ anting-anting olek drop earrings

■ anting-anting panjang drop earrings

antok / hantok (antuk) to knock against; to collide

■ terantok to bump into; in collision

antu / hantu (hantu) devil; evil spirit; ghost; demon

■ antu bantair evil and scheming daughter-in-law

■ antu bulan tuju the hungry ghosts; gluttonous [like the hungry ghosts]

■ antu galah demon as tall as a long pole

■ antu tanah earth demon

■ antu tetek demon with pendulous breasts

anyam (anyam) plaiting; braiding

■ anyam tikair making mats

anyot / hanyot (hanyut) adrift

apa (apa) what

■ apa adat under what ruling

■ apa angin what fair wind

■ apabila times when

■ apa baik it is wiser; it is advisable; it is for the good

■ apa arang itu abu dia like father like son

■ apa boleh buat what can one do?; it can't be helped

■ apa boleh jadi what can possibly happen?

■ apa guna what's the use?

■ apa jerman once in a blue moon

■ apa jerman baru sekali once in a blue moon

■ apa khabair what news? how are you?

■ apa kita apa orang like everyone else; likewise

■ apa kurang what is lacking?

■ apa lagik what's more; besides; moreover

■ apa sebab why; the reason

■ apa tak all the reason more

■ apacham SEE amcham

■ apakala when

■ apasair / apasal why

■ tak apa SEE takpa

■ tak apa-apa nothing; nothing is amiss

apak (apak) musty

apek SEE opak

aphien (apiun) [鴉片] opium

■ aphien sai [鴉片屎] opium addict

api (api) fire; flame

■ api-api to instigate

■ berapi / merapi on fire; in a fiery mood

apom (apam) pancake in general; slang for female private part

■ apom balek SEE kueh

■ apom balek; apom bokwah SEE (kueh)

apom bokwah

arah / harah (arah) direction

■ arah-arah in the general direction of

arak (arak) alcoholic liquor

■ arak Cheena samsu

■ arak puteh Chinese rice wine

arang (arang) charcoal

■ arang batu coal

■ arang kayu charcoal

ari / hari (hari) day

■ ari ampat / empat Thursday

■ ari anam / enam / nam Saturday

■ ari baik bulan baik an auspicious occasion or day

■ ari besair special big day [e.g. a festival, holiday]

■ ari dua Tuesday

■ ari lima Friday

■ ari mengoyak the auspicious day when the avowal ceremony costume of the traditional Baba wedding is sewn

■ ari minggu Sunday

■ ari satu Monday

■ ari tiga Wednesday

■ ari ujan rainy day

■ hari-hari everyday; daily

■ Hari Raya celebration of end of Muslim fasting month

■ Hari Raya Haji Muslim festival marking the end of pilgrimage to Mecca

■ sari-sari everyday; daily

ari-ari (ari-ari) part of the body from navel to pudendum

arimo (harimau) tiger

■ arimo keleng itinerant family group of Indian entertainers with the male lead dancer dressed as a tiger

■ arimo kumbang leopard

■ arimo mati tinggairkan belang, orang mati tinggairkan nama all the good deeds that a man does will be remembered long after his death

■ arimo semunyek kuku a person's full potential is concealed and not revealed or shown

■ arimo sua jadi kambeng the powerful has been humbled

■ arimo tak makan anak even the most vicious will not hurt its own young

aro (arah)

■ aro jalan passageway

aroda (aruda) SEE daon aroda

Aropah (Eropah) Europe

aruan (aruan) SEE ikan aruan

arus (arus) current in the sea or river

asa (asal) provided that; the moment

■ asakan so long as

asah (asah) grinding down; whetting; sharpening

■ asah gigi to file the teeth

■ asah piso knife sharpener; to sharpen a knife

asair SEE asal

asal / asair (asal) source; origin

■ asal pulang ke-asal back to one's origin, ashes to ashes

■ asal-usol origins; beginnings

asam (asam) sour; tamarind; acids

■ asam garam acids and salts (in cooking)

■ asam gelugor dried tamarind fruit for cooking

■ asam Jawa wet tamarind fruit for cooking

■ asam kelat soured relationship; sour and tart in taste

■ asam manis sourish-sweet taste

■ asam poey [皮] dried tamarind fruit for cooking

■ asam singting / sinting clam soaked in brine

asap (asap) smoke; vapour

■ asap api smoke from fire

■ asap kemenyan to smoke the house with benzoin; smoke from benzoin

■ asap rumah to smoke the house with benzoin

asek (asyik) earnest; wholly-devoted

asel SEE hasel

asin (masin) salty

asok / asot (asut) inciting; prompting; egging on

asot SEE asok

asta (hasta) the length from one's elbow to the fingertips

atair / atas (atas) position over or above

■ atair angin superior attitude

■ atair loteng upstairs

atap (atap) roofing-thatch

atap chi [籽] palm fruit

atas SEE atair

ati / hati (hati) liver

■ ati babi bungkus pork liver ball

■ ati baik kind-hearted

■ ati busok bad-hearted

■ ati it go it chap [一五一十] to be nervous and afraid of; to be on tenterhooks

■ ati pekong foul-hearted; evil

■ ati perot a person's manner or character

■ tak ati no feelings

■ tak ati perot no sense of responsibility; no concern for others

ato (atau) either; whether

ator (atur) arrangement; order

■ berator to queue up; to form a line

au ban [傲慢] selfish

aus (haus) thirsty; reduction in size through wear or friction

autah (autah) bluff; humbug; to deceive

awa / hawa (hawa) temperature; to yearn

■ awa napsu lusts of the flesh; deep yearning; passion

awan (awan) clouds

ayak (ayak) sifting

■ ayak nyeru to move a wicker tray in a circular motion while votive papers burn in it

■ ayakan a sieve

ayam (ayam) fowl; chicken

■ Ayam Brand simple-minded

■ ayam Belanda turkey

■ ayam berak kapor to be sick like a fowl passing whitish (limelike) excrement

■ ayam berlagar fighting-cock

■ ayam charek pagi makan petang, charek petang makan malam to earn just enough to make ends meet

■ ayam itek poultry

■ ayam jantan cockerel

■ ayam katek bantam; pygmy fowls

■ ayam kemiri capon

■ ayam mengeram the brooding hen; description of part of the Nyonya coiffure

■ ayam prompuan hen

■ ayam selaseh fowl with white feathers and black skin

■ ayam sioⁿ chicken in spicy stew

■ ayam tak kokok ari pun siang one is able to achieve an objective even without any assistance

■ ayam utan wild fowl

ayer (air) water; liquid

■ ayer ada pasang ada surut fortune has its ups and downs

■ ayer angat warm water

■ ayer asin salt water

■ ayer batu ice water; ice

■ ayer berair Belanda barley water

■ ayer di-tetak takleh putus a relationship that can never be severed just as water cannot be severed by hacking

■ ayer kelapa coconut juice; coconut water

■ ayer kerair perfume

■ ayer laot sea water

■ ayer lior drooling saliva

■ ayer lior meleler dripping with drooling saliva

■ ayer mata tears

■ ayer mawair rose water

■ ayer menidi boiling water

■ ayer minom drinking water

■ ayer mungka facial expression; countenance

■ ayer panair hot water

■ ayer panair-sejok lukewarm water

■ ayer pasang high tide

■ ayer pasang berbani in between high and low tides; spring tide

■ ayer sarbat ginger water

■ ayer sejok cold water

■ ayer surut low tide

■ ayer tak di-mulot speechless

■ ayer tawair fresh water

■ ayer trujun waterfall

■ ayer ujan rainwater

■ ayer wangi perfume; scented water

ayohai / adohai (ayuhai) Ho there!; an interjection to bespeak attention

ayong / hayong to drag along

azimat (azimat) amulet; cabalistic charm

b

Ba abbreviated term for

Baba; term of address for young Baba males; term of address for father

Baba (Baba) a descriptive name applied specifically to male local-born Chinese of mixed Chinese-Malay-Indian descent belonging to the Baba Peranakan community

■ Baba Peranakan a Baba

babi (babi) pig; hog; pork

■ babi buta to act wildly

■ babi chin stewed pork with bean paste and coriander

■ babi pongteh stewed pork with bean paste

■ babi utan wild boar

babu (babu) maidservant; Bengali type

bacha (baca) to read

■ bacha-bacha to chant

■ bacha surat to study; to read a letter

bachang (bacang) SEE buah

bachang

bachen SEE bacheng

bacheng / bachen (bacin) fetid; vile smell; e.g. as decaying fish manure

badak (badak) rhinoceros

■ badak ayer hippopotamus

badan (badan) body

■ badan besair big body size

■ badan dua pregnancy

■ badan kain body of a sarong

badi (badi) a spiritual influence

■ badi keras strong spiritual influence; charisma

badong wide and protruding (of ears)

bagi (bagai) like; similar to

■ bagi boleh di-jilat a state of extreme cleanliness

bagi (bagi) to allot

■ bagi harta to divide the inheritance

bagsat SEE batsat

bagus (bagus) fine; good

bahang (bahang) hot breath from fire or other heat source

bahasa / basa (bahasa) breeding or manners

bahru (baru) SEE baru

bahu / bau (bahu) shoulder

Bai (bai) familiar address to a Punjabi and Bengali

■ Bai roti Indian bread vendor

■ Bai susu Indian milkman

■ Bai tonchet general term for an Indian milk vendor with a small queue

baik (baik) good; well

■ baik-baik to take good care; in good condition

■ baik balek to be reconciled (with); to recover

■ baik budi kindness well reciprocated

■ baik jugak fortunately

■ baik jahat good and bad

■ baik rupa good looking

■ baik sapa pun whosoever

■ baik tak baik for all one knows

baja (baja) fertilizer; manure

baju (baju) garment

■ baju besi suit of armour

■ baju Cheena Chinese loose-sleeve jacket and trousers

■ baju coat coat

■ baju dalam inner garment

■ baju dua belair ari the wedding costume worn by the bride on the twelfth and last day of the traditional Baba wedding

■ baju Hockchiu Chinese jacket and skirt; wedding costume of the Nyonya bride

■ baju kebaya Nyonya and Malay ladies' short blouse worn with sarong; kebaya garment

■ baju kodok bib-like garment of young male children

■ baju kurong Malay lady's long loose blouse worn with sarong

■ baju lok chuan loose Chinese jacket and trousers of silk worn by Babas on festive occasions

■ baju mati elaborate Chinese costume worn by the dead

■ baju Nyonya SEE baju panjang

■ baju panair sweater; warm clothing

■ baju panjang a three quarter length Nyonya dress worn with sarong

■ baju perap singlet with short sleeve

■ baju pendek short-sleeve blouse

■ baju Shanghai [上海] samfoo jacket and trousers

■ baju shirt shirt

■ baju siu i [壽衣] SEE baju mati

■ baju ujan raincoat

bak [猪肉] pork; meat

■ bak hu [肉脯] pork floss

■ bak kuaⁿ [肉乾] barbecued pork

■ bak kueh [肉稞] SEE kueh

■ bak kut [肉骨] pork rib

■ bak pau [肉包] pork dumpling

■ bak pok [肉渣] crispy fried lard

■ bak wan [肉具] pork meatball

■ bak wan kepiting pork and crab meatball

bak [墨] Chinese black ink; blackish fluid from squid

baka (baka) heredity; breed

■ baka baik of noble descent; of good breed

bakair / bakar (bakar) to burn; to set on fire

■ bakair kemenyan burn benzoin to smoke the house

■ bakair kim to burn gold paper as prayer offering

■ terbakair burning; become annoyed or angry

bakar SEE bakair

bakau (bakau) mangrove

bakol (bakul) basket

■ bakol-bakol a heapful of

■ bakol pasair basket used for marketing

■ bakol sampah waste-paper basket

■ bakol siaⁿ [楹] red and black lacquered bamboo basket with cover

balair / balas (balas) requital; reply; repayment

■ balair budi to repay kindness; to show gratitude

■ balair dendam to take revenge

■ berbalair panton to indulge in a pantun repartee

bala SEE ketupat tolak bala

balak (bala) calamity; misfortune

■ balak besair heavy misfortune; heavy responsibility or burden

balak (balak) log; beam

balang SEE penyaket balang

balas SEE balair

baldi (baldi) pail; galvanised iron bucket

baleh baleh a wooden or bamboo platform for resting or sleeping

balek (balik) reversal; going back; on the contrary; anew; once more

■ balek mata in a short space of time

■ balek mulot to change the form of address when people become related through marriage

■ balek idong very close by

■ balek kampong to go back home; back to where one belongs

■ balek satu a variation of cherki

■ balekkan pantat to turn one's back on another

■ balek Tong San has gone back to China; has passed away (for adults only)

■ pi balek in every way, in touch with one another

■ terbalek overturned; reversal

Bali (Bali) island in Indonesia

baling SEE bulang

balut SEE bulut

bambu (bambu) bamboo

ban [跋] chap-ji-ki term where a number drawn on one day is drawn again the next day

ban poey [蠻皮] thick-skinned and tough

ban si be ho [萬世無好] incorrigible

banchu (bancuh) to shuffle

■ banchu daon to shuffle playing cards

bandela (bandela)

■ bandela / bandera / Belanda bosted fat and rotund

bandera SEE bandela

banding (banding) to ponder

banduan (benduan) rough and tough like a labourer

bangka (bangka) old and elderly

bangkay (bangkai) carcass

bangket (bangket) SEE kueh

bangket

bangket (bangkit) referring to past deeds; to revive (old squabbles)

bangkong (bangkong) a foursome Nyonya card game (the cherki)

bangku (bangku) stool

■ bangku Boyan Boyanese-made wooden stool

■ bangku panjang long bench

banglay (bonglai) a ginger (Zingiber cassumunaar)

bango (bangau) white egret

bangsa (bangsa) race; descent

bangsal (bangsal) an open wooden shed without walls

bangsat (bangsat) unfair; cheating

bangsawan (bangsawan) Malay opera

bangun / mangun (bangun) to rise up; to wake up

■ bangunkan to waken (someone); to help set up

bank (bank) bank; water-closet

bantair / bantal (bantal) pillow

■ bantair budak a post-delivery Chinese herbal preparation taken by the Nyonyas

■ bantair Cheena pillow and bolster with respective rectangular eight-sided or round-shaped silver or gold-plated pieces sewn at the opposite ends

■ bantair kampek rectangular-shaped pillow

■ bantair kepek two small bolsters (usually placed on each side of the baby)

■ bantair pelok Dutch-wife; bolster

■ bantair sandaran a triangular-shaped pillow

bantal SEE bantair

bantay (bantai) to inflict a hammering

banting (banting) to dash against

■ banting diri to throw oneself about in a tantrum

■ banting kepala to resort to mental effort

■ banting tulang to work hard; to strive

bantot (bantut) to abort; to postpone

■ ter bantot aborted

bantu (bantu) to assist; aid; succour

■ bantu-membantu assisting one another; cooperative effort

banyak SEE manyak

baok (bauk)

■ berbaok having hair along the line of the jawbone; having side-burns

bapak (bapa) father

■ bapak angkat adopted father

■ bapak joget one who manages joget dancers

■ bapak tiri stepfather

bapok an effeminate male

bara (bara) live coal

■ bara api live embers

barang (barang) thing; item

■ barang baik slang for male's private part

■ barang-barang stuff; wares

■ barang jahat evil entity

■ barang mainan toys; playthings

■ barang makan foodstuff

■ barang pakay items for use on the body

■ sebarang anything

■ sebarang hantam reckless actions

baring (baring) lying down; supine

baris (baris) parade; march

■ berbaris parading; marching (in rows)

barot (barut) long wrap worn by a mother after childbirth

baru / bahru (baru) new; just now

■ baru-baru at the early stage

■ baru tadik just a moment ago

■ baru tau just discovered the truth

barua (barua) pimp; procurer

basa SEE bahasa

basah (basah) wet

■ basah kuyup soaking wet

basi (basi) stale

bat-bat [密密] tightly

batang (batang) shaft; handle; stem; rod of penis (slang)

■ batang changkol wooden shaft of the changkol

■ batang idong ridge of nose

■ batang idong dia the person

■ batang kayu tree stem

■ batang kelor stem of the Moringa plant

■ batang leher column of neck; throat

■ sebatang kara all alone in the world; to have no kith or kin

batek (batik) wax-resist dyed cloth from Java, Bali and Sumatra

■ batek Lasom batek-sarong from Lasem in Java which on washing is said to bring out its peculiar perfume

batok (batuk) cough

■ batok galak incessant cough

■ batok gelekek incessant coughing

■ batok kering dry cough associated with tuberculosis; dry cough

batsat / bagsat [木虱] bedbug

batu (batu) stone; rock; boulder; pebble; gem

■ batu api instigator; flint for striking a light

■ batu api tak berabok a regular instigator

■ batu asah piso grinding stone for sharpening knives

■ batu belah silent and unresponding

■ batu besi granite stone

■ batu bo [磨] grinding stone slab

■ batu bo makan gegat SEE jat berejat

■ batu delima pale ruby

■ batu giling grinding stone slab; a set of grinding tools comprising a roller and a flat stone

■ batu karang coral rock

■ batu lubin floor tiles

■ batu nesan gravestone

bau (bau) odour; scent

■ bau apak musty smell (of old flour, grains, clothes)

■ bau asap smoky smell

■ bau busok stench

■ bau hamis fishy smell

■ bau langgor raw vegetable smell; burnt smell

■ bau pesing sharp smell

■ bau wangi sweet scented

bau SEE bahu

bawah (bawah) position under or below; beneath

■ bawah kain derogatory term to describe a man under the wife's control

■ bawah tanah underground

■ bawah tangan an assistant to a senior

bawair / bawal (bawal) SEE ikan

bawair

bawak / buat (bawa) to bring with one

■ bawak diri conduct; behaviour

■ bawak lari to run away with

■ bawak maot to result in death

■ bawak mulot tale bearer

■ bawak naseb trust to luck; to resign oneself to one's fate

■ bawak perot cadge for a meal

■ bawak untong naseb to fulfill one's destiny; to put up with what comes along

■ buat berat to cause extra weight / load

■ buat kuluair to take out

■ buat masok to bring in

■ buat naik to carry up

■ buat pi to carry away elsewhere

■ buat tang to bring

■ buat turun to take down

■ pembawak a person's destiny; fated; birth traits

bawal SEE bawair

bawang (bawang) of bulbs generally

■ bawang Benggala SEE bawang menggala

■ bawang besair imported big onion

■ bawang kechik shallot

■ bawang menggala imported big onion

■ bawang merah shallot

■ bawang puteh garlic

baya (baya) age; age group

bayair / bayar (bayar) payment; fulfilling an obligation; paying a debt

■ bayair bunga interest paid for money lent

■ bayair niat fulfillment of a vow

■ bayair pengerair to fulfill obligation of earnest gift to a deity

■ bayair pukair to pay a lump sum

■ bayair renchet-renchet payment by instalments

■ bayair upah to make payment for services rendered

■ bayair utang payment of a debt

bayak (bayak) to waddle

■ terbayak-bayak waddling

bayam (bayam) spinach (Amaranthus tricolor)

bayang (bayang) shadow

bayar SEE bayair

bebal (bebal) dull; stupid; doltish

beban (beban) obstinate; intractable (of a child)

bebas (bebas) freedom from restraint

bebek (bebek) pursing of the lips (of a child when about to cry)

bebet SEE bembek

bebotok SEE bobotot

bechara (bicara) legal proceeding in court; court case

bechia [馬車] (becak) rickshaw

bedak (bedak) face powder

■ bedak langeh small coloured powdered balls placed in an anchak

■ bedak pong hun face powder in solid form

■ bedak sejok cooling face powder

bedal (bedal) to beat up severely; to eat heartily or greedily to the fullest

bedebah SEE bedebair

bedebair / bedebah (bedebah) palpitation

bedek (bedek) to tell a fib

bedel (bedil) SEE obat bedel

bedenting of excellent grade or quality

bedik to beat up

bedukang / belukang (bedukang) SEE ikan bedukang

begeletair SEE geletair

begini / gini (begini) in this way; thus; so

■ gini gitu this and that

■ gini lama thus far

begitu / gitu (begitu) in that way; like that; it is so

■ gitu gini that and this

bekair / bekas (bekas) trace; scar; remainder

bekas SEE bekair

beku (beku) to solidify; coagulation

belachan (belacan) shrimp-paste

belachu (belacu) unbleached cotton cloth

belah (belah) splitting; cleft; slit

■ belah dua to split into two

■ belah empat to cut crosswise into four

■ sebelah one of a pair; on one side

■ sebelah mata takleh liat intolerable

■ sebelah membelah right next to one another; neighbours

■ sebelah sana over there, on that side

■ sebelah sini over here, on this side

belair / belas (belas) teens; a component in framing numerals from 11 to 19

belakang (belakang) back; rear; hind portion; behind

■ belakang-belakang of late

■ belakang hari / ari in future; in time to come

■ belakang kali in future; the next occasion

■ belakang mata out of ken; behind the eyes

■ kebelakang towards the back; backwards

belanak (belanak) SEE ikan

belanak SEE telor belanak

Belanda (Belanda) Dutch

■ Belanda bosted SEE bandela

belang (belang) banded

■ belang-belang banded; stripes

belanga (belanga) wide-mouthed, unglazed, earthenware cooking pot

belangkair / belangkas (belangkas) king crab (Tachypleus gigas)

belangkas SEE belangkair

belanja (belanja) spending; expenditure; a treat

■ belanja besair heavy expenditure

■ belanja kasair to incur heavy expenses

belarak SEE berarak

belas SEE belair

belayair / belayar (belayar) to travel

belayar SEE belayair

belebau (belebau) to thrash (a person or animal)

beleko (beleko) molass

belengkat SEE lengkat

belengkek SEE lengkek

belengkok (melengkok) to curve or bend

belerang (belerang) sulphur

belet (belit) to coil up; to wind round

beletop SEE meletop

beli (beli) purchase; buy

■ beli ayer a funeral rite whereby water is fetched from a public standpipe to bathe the deceased

beliak (beliak) to open the eyes wide; to glare at

■ beliakan mata to show anger; to cause fear or intimidate by opening the eyes wide

belian (berlian) brilliant (diamond)

beliang cane mark

belimbing (belimbing) a greenish or yellowish sour fruit from the Averrhoa belimbi tree

■ belimbing gading yellow-coloured belimbing

beliong (beliung) SEE kapak

beliong, puting beliong

belodok (belodok) SEE ikan

belodok, mata belodok

belok (belok) to veer; to turn; to wheel

belom (belum) not yet

■ belom-belom before anything has taken place

■ belom lagik not as yet

■ belom masak still unripe; still not cooked

■ belom pernah never; never yet

■ belom satu apa nothing has taken place yet

■ belom tentu it is still uncertain

■ sebelom before; until; while

belon / belun (belon) balloon

belukang SEE bedukang

belun SEE belon

belut (belut) mud eel

bembam (bembam) to roast directly in hot ash

bembek / bebet (bembet) to drag along

bempek SEE beng pek

benak (benak) slow-witted

benang SEE menang

benair / benar (benar) rational; conforming to standard

■ benair pulang ke-benair, dosa pulang ke-dosa the righteous will triumph eventually

■ tak benair not mentally rational; not rational

benar SEE benair

benchi (benci) to hate; to despise; to dislike

■ kebenchian behaviour or conduct that leads to unpopularity or irritation

benda (benda) thing; article; indirect reference to private parts

bendir SEE mendir

beneh (benih) seed; plant seed

beng ki [冥忌] a birthday prayer conducted on the birthday of the deceased

beng pek / bempek [明白] proof; sufficient evidence

bengah / mengah (mengah) to pant

■ terbengah-bengah panting

bengair / bengal (bengal) heavy head

bengak

■ bengak-bengok very twisted; zigzagging

Benggala (benggala) SEE bawang

Benggala

bengal SEE bengair

Benggali SEE Menggali

bengis (bengis) a serious nature; lacking a sense of humour

bengka SEE kueh bengka

bengkak (bengkak) swollen; inflamed

bengkak (bengkang)

■ bengkak-bengkok tortuous (of a road)

bengkok (bengkok) crooked; bent

bengkong (bengkung) waistcloth worn by Nyonyas after childbirth

bengok (begok) mumps

bengot (bengot) out of line; awry

benguak (menguap) yawn

bentair (bentar)

■ sebentair in a moment; awhile

bentan (bentan) ailments due to poor post-natal health management; relapse; return of sickness

bentang (bentang) to spread out; to lay out

■ bentang tikair to spread a mat

bentok (bentuk) shape

benua (benua) awed by everything

beradu SEE adu

berair / beras (beras) uncooked rice

■ berair Belanda pearl barley

■ berair goreng roasted rice

■ berair hanchor broken rice

■ berair kapor uncooked rice mixed with lime as preservative

■ berair kunyet rice stained yellow with saffron

■ berair Rangoon rice from Burma

■ berair Siam rice from Thailand

■ berair sua jadi nasik, nasik sua jadi bubor an irreversible state of affairs

berak (berak) to defecate

■ berak chayer to pass watery stool

■ berak darah dysentery

■ berak kapor passing whitish (lime-like) excrement

■ terberak-berak diarrhoea

berandam (andam) in the traditional Baba wedding, the ritual of dressing the bride's hair above her forehead two days before the wedding

berang (berang) fury; rising anger

berangan (berangan) SEE mati

berangan

berani SEE brani

berapa (berapa) how much (if spoken interrogatively); to some extent

■ berapa chantek how lovely

■ berapa manyak? how much?; how many?

berapi SEE api

berarak / belarak (arak) procession

■ berarak wangkang religious procession involving a model of a Chinese ocean-going junk

beras SEE berair

berat (berat) heavy

■ berat sebelah heavy on one side; showing favouritism

beray SEE cheray-beray

berbana SEE rebana

berbani (perbani) SEE ayer

pasang berbani

berbaok SEE baok

berchang-chang long and pointed

berchaya (percaya) to believe; to trust

■ keperchayaan belief

berechik / merechik (recik) splash

berenang (berenang) to swim

berengair (lengas) to feel humid, sticky and clammy

berenget (rengek) prolonged and non-stop

berengkali / mengkali (barangkali) perhaps; maybe

berenti (berhenti) to come to a stop; stop

■ berenti penat to rest; to recover one's breath

beresing (bersin) sneeze

beriani SEE nasik beriani

bergangsi (gangsi) having the freedom of space and movement

beridong SEE kasot beridong

berkat (berkat) divine blessing; blessing

berkelai / merkelai (berkelahi) to quarrel

■ berkelaian quarrelsome

berkeliairan swarming all over

berlaga (berlaga) to fight over; to rush over; to compete

berlagau SEE lagau

berongkong to crawl on all fours

beroyan / meroyan (meroyan) nausea due to pregnancy

bersemungka SEE mungka

bersepah SEE sepah

bersibair SEE sibair

bersih (bersih) clean

bersio / bersiol (siul) to whistle

bersiol SEE bersio

bersiong SEE siong

bertapa (bertapa) to retire from the world and devote oneself to a life of austerity and asceticism and be a recluse in remote surroundings

bertau (beritahu) SEE tau

berteh (bertih) parched rice (used in spiritual rites)

■ berteh dalam kuali noisy chatterbox

bertonya to mull over (as during a meal)

beruang (beruang) bear

berubah (ubah) to undergo a change

■ berubah pe'el to undergo a character change

berus (berus) brush; to brush

■ berus dia to give a tongue-lashing

■ berus gigi toothbrush; brushing the teeth

■ berus kasot shoe brush

■ berus rambot hair brush

besair / besar (besar) big

■ besair ati presumptuous

■ besair harapan hopeful; entertaining great hope

■ besair penipu a big fraud

■ besair periok kerak dia manyak the bigger the person, the bigger will be his problems and responsibilities

besi (besi) iron

■ besi brani magnet

■ besi burok scrap iron

besok (esok) tomorrow

■ besok belakang ari in future; in time to come

■ besok-besok in the future

■ besok kemdian ari in the future; in time to come

■ besok lusa in a few days' time; soon

besu (besu) to scowl; moody

Betawi (Betawi) Batavia (now Jakarta)

betok (betuk) SEE ikan betok

betol (betul) true; correct

■ betol-betol exactly; properly

■ betolkan to correct

■ kebetolan in actual fact

betong SEE kodok betong

biair / biar (biar)

■ biair karam di-laot jangan karam di-ati it is better to flounder at sea rather than at heart [better to suffer a small hurt rather than a big one]

■ biair berkelai dulu jangan berkelai belakang it is better to solve problems now than later

■ biairkan let it be

■ biair pechah di-perot jangan pechah di-mulot to keep strictly confidential

biang (biang) SEE langgar biang

biar SEE biair

biasa (biasa) accustomed to; acquainted with

■ biasakan getting used to

biawak (biawak) monitor lizard

bibi SEE bibik

Bibik / Bibi (bibi) form of address for Nyonya ladies

bibir (bibir) lip

■ bibir paso Siam curled out lower lip

bichak (lecak) moist and slippery; slushy; sodden

bidang (bidang) breadth

bijak (bijak) talkative

bijan (bijan) sesame

bijik (biji) seed; pip; number coefficient for small objects

■ bijik delima pomegranate seeds; a Nyonya syrupy drink containing fake sago-made pomegranate seeds

■ bijik gajus cashew nut

■ bijik kelentek clitoris

■ bijik mata eyeball; apple of my eye (as a term of endearment)

■ bijik saga red-coloured seeds from the pods of the Abrus precatorius tree

■ bijik selaseh basil seeds; a syrupy drink containing basil seeds

■ bijik tetek teat

■ sebijik one

bikin (bikin) to make; to do; to produce

biku (biku) Buddhist monk

bila (bila) when; time when

■ bila-bila whenever; times when

■ bila-bila pun whenever

■ bilakala a long time ago; whenever

■ bila lak poaⁿ a long time ago

■ bila terantok baru terngadah a mere acquaintance under forced circumstances

bilair / bilas (bilas) a second washing

bilalang (belalang) dragonfly

bilang (bilang) to tell

■ terbilang well-known; famous

bilas SEE bilair

bilek (bilik) bedroom; room

■ bilek mandi bathroom

bilis (bilis) SEE ikan bilis

bim po SEE mim po

bin po SEE mim po

binasa / menasa (binasa) grave consequences; ruined

binatang (binatang) animal; beast / as a term of abuse

binchut (bincut) swelling on forehead; lump

bingong (bingung) puzzled; perplexed, muddle-headed

bini (bini) wife

■ bini besair first wife

■ bini kechik second wife

■ bini munda younger (second) wife

binjay (binjai) SEE buah binjay

bintang (bintang) star

■ bintang dia gelap a spell of misfortune

■ bintang dia terang lucky spell

■ bintang gajah / raja truly bright star; very bright fortune

■ bintang penyapu comet

■ bintang tiga communist (from cap with 3-stars motif worn by communist guerillas in the Malayan jungle during World War II and Emergency)

■ bintang timor the morning star

bintat (bintik) weal due to insect bite or allergen

bintel (bintil) pustule; pimple

bio [廟] temple (usually Taoist)

■ bio keng [廟宮] Taoist temple

biola (biola) violin

birat (birat) purplish stain

biri (biri)

■ biri-biri beri beri

biri (biri) SEE kambeng biri-biri

biru (biru) blue

■ biru laot sea blue

■ biru lebam blue-black (of bruises)

■ biru munda light blue

■ biru tua dark blue

bisa (bisa) venomous; anything that gives a septic wound; blood-poison

bisek (bisik) speaking in a whisper

■ berbisek whispering

bising (bising) noisy

biskot (biskut) biscuit

bisol (bisul) boil; superficial abscess

■ bisol lada big-sized boil

■ bisol mengangkok nanah pus-filled boil coming to a head; a state of simmering anger or tension

bisu (bisu) dumb; mute

bo [磨] to mill; to grind

■ bo ta hu [磨豆腐] lesbian

bo [無] without; absence

■ bo chai [無采] regretful

■ bo chai kang [無采工] wasted effort

■ bo cheng [無情] ungrateful

■ bo cheng bo gi [無情無義] very ungrateful

■ bo geh [無牙] toothless

■ bo gi go [無疑誤] least expected; without warning

■ bo huat [無法] at the end of the tether; extreme frustration

■ bo iaⁿ bo chiak [無影無跡] without truth or reliability

■ bo jin cheng [無親情] ungrateful

■ bo ka si [無教不] not properly brought up; rude

■ bo nai ho [無奈何] no alternative

■ bo peng ki chiak iok [無病去吃藥] to look for trouble unnecessarily; for no reason

■ bo pian [無變] no other alternative; at wit's end

■ bo puaⁿ piat [無半撇] lacking ability; good for nothing

■ bo pun su [無本事] lacking in ability; incapable

■ bo taⁿ [無膽] lacking in courage

■ bo thau bo boey [無頭無尾] no head, no tail (disorganised); for no rhyme or reason

■ bo tiaⁿ bo tiok [無正無着] with-out any direction; in a haphazard manner

■ bo toa bo soey [無大無小] lack-ing in respect for the elders

bobotok SEE bobotot

bobotot / bobotok / botot botot / bebotok (bebotok) spicy fish wrapped in mengkudu leaf

bochor (bocor) leaking

bodek (bodek) testicles

■ tak bodek cowardly; lacking manly courage

bodoh (bodoh) stupid; unintelligent

■ bodoh jahat dull but naughty

boek [襪] sock

boey ta [沬帶] child's bib

bogel (bogel) devoid of any covering; naked

bogi (bogi) SEE kreta bogi

bohong (bohong) lying; untruth

■ pembohong liar

bok ji [木耳] an edible fungus

bokok damaged; worse for wear

bola (bola) ball

boleh (boleh) can; to be able to

■ boleh di-ampon it is possible; forgivable; a phrase that expresses agreement or sympathy

■ boleh jadi perhaps; maybe

■ boleh jadi betol tu just fancy that

■ boleh jugak acceptable

■ boleh tahan not bad; endurable

■ boleh tak boleh must; at all cost

■ bolehkan make it possible

■ seboleh-boleh to the best of one's ability

■ tak boleh / takleh cannot; unable

■ tak boleh berubah not capable of change; incorrigible

■ tak boleh jadi this won't do; will not happen

bolsa / bosa (bolsa) cloth bag

bolu (bolu) SEE kueh bolu

bomba (bomba)

■ bomba ayer fire fighting; fire brigade

bomoh (bomoh) spiritualist; witch doctor

bonchet (buncit) distended (of a stomach)

bong pai [墓牌] central tombstone of a grave

bongkair / bongkar (bongkar) to rummage thoroughly; to turn over or out (contents of boxes)

bongkak SEE jongkak

bongkal (bongkal) a measure of weight 832 grains or 16 maya m

bongkar SEE bongkair

bongkok (bongkok) hunched

■ bongkok udang hunchback

bongkong (bongkong) SEE kueh

bongkong

bongsu (bongsu) youngest born; familiar name for youngest in the family

boosiong (busung) bloated-stomach affliction

bopeng (bopeng) pock-marked

borak (borak) fib; lies

boria (boria) minstrels or singers; bands of serenaders who visit houses of prominent citizens to sing and entertain

borong (borong) to buy up the whole of a lot; in the lump

boros (boros) extravagant

■ memboros tendency to extravagance

bosa SEE bolsa

bota SEE sumbu bota

botak (botak) bald

■ botak lichin bald and smooth

botan [牡丹] peony

boto SEE botol

boto pau [袍] the long costume of the groom in the traditional Baba wedding

botol / boto (botol) bottle

botor (botor) SEE kachang

botor

botot botot SEE bobotot

Boyan (Boyan) general term for people from the Bawean island, Indonesia

brani / berani (berani) bravery; to dare; bold

■ brani mati foolhardy; fearless of death

breng-breng (bereng-bereng) the small brass gong held by the pair of young pages at the traditional Baba wedding procession

brenia / brenya (remenia) SEE buah brenia

brenya SEE brenia

brinio (merinyu) police inspector

bu [武] to exert physically

bu ge [武 藝] skill in martial arts

buah (buah) fruit

■ buah ang ki [紅柿] persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

■ buah anggor grape

■ buah bachang horse mango (fruit of Mangifera foetida)

■ buah belimbing belimbing (fruit of Averrhoa blimbi)

■ buah binjay fruit of the Mangifera caesia

■ buah brenia a small round acid fruit from the Bouea macrophylla tree

■ buah chermela a small acid fruit (Cicca acida)

■ buah cherry a small round fruit containing tiny seeds of Mexican origin introduced only in the 20th century

■ buah chiku sapodilla fruit (Achras zapota)

■ buah delima pomegranate (Punica granatum)

■ buah duku / luku a local fruit belonging to the Lansium domesticum species

■ buah duku-langsat a fruit that is a cross between the duku and the langsat fruits

■ buah juat-juat a langsat-like fruit which is red when unripe and purplish when ripe

■ buah kechapi fruit of the sentol variety (Sandoricum koetjape)

■ buah kelondong great hog plum (Spondias cythera)

■ buah kelondong makan nasik a variety of hog plum normally eaten with rice as an appetiser

■ buah kelondong padi a variety of hog plum normally eaten with rice as an appetiser

■ buah kelor the Moringa pod

■ buah keluak nut of Pangium edule

■ buah kelueh breadfruit (Artocarpus communis)

■ buah kembang semangkok seeds of the Sterculia scaphigera that expand in water

■ buah kemola starfruit (Averroa carambola)

■ buah kerair candlenut

■ buah kranji a small olive-shaped ash-coloured fruit of the Dialium species

■ buah kueni a fruit (Mangifera odorata) which resembles the horse mango

■ buah kundang / kundangan a variety of buah brenia (Bouea oppositiflora)

■ buah lai [梨] Chinese pear

■ buah laichi [蒜枝] Chinese lychee

■ buah langsat fruit of the Lansium domesticum species

■ buah lokam wild local cherry-like fruit

■ buah luku SEE buah duku

■ buah mangga mango (Mangifera indica)

■ buah mangga dodol Riau Islands variety of mango

■ buah mangga keleng Indian mango

■ buah mangga Siam Thai mango

■ buah manggis mangosteen (Garcinia mongostana)

■ buah mengkudu / sabun fruit of the Morinda species

■ buah mentega butter-fruit (Diospyros discolor)

■ buah nam-nam a sourish-bitter, kidney-shaped fruit (Cynometra cauliflora)

■ buah nangka jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

■ buah nona custard apple (Annona squamosa)

■ buah nona jantong bullock's-heart fruit (Annona reticulata)

■ buah nona kapri bullock's-heart fruit (Annona reticulata)

■ buah pala nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

■ buah paya papaya (Carica papaya)

■ buah pelaga cardamom

■ buah pulasan a fruit which resembles the rambutan but has shorter and stumpy excrescenes (Nephelium mutabile)

■ buah rambay a local fruit of the Baccaurea species

■ buah rambutan a fruit which is reddish or yellowish in colour with hairy integument (Nephelium lappaceum)

■ buah rambutan gading yellow-skinned rambutan

■ buah renjo the edible fruit of the Gnetum gnemon tree

■ buah sabun SEE buah

megkudu

■ buah salak a fruit with snake-like skin (Zalacca edulis)

■ buah samak persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

■ buah sentol an edible, sourish fruit with thick skin (Sandoricum indicum)

■ buah sukun breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)

■ buah susu Passiflora edulis)

■ buah tampoey fruit of Baccaurea malayana

■ buah thor [桃] Chinese peach

buah ati most loved one

buah chongkak cowrie-shells used as counters in the chongkak game

buah dadu dice

buah jambu atair meja refers to someone who does not know his standing in society

buah pelir testes

■ buah pelir kelapa hernia

■ tak buah pelir lacking manly courage; cowardly

buah pinggang kidney

buah pus testes (crude)

buah sentol, buah kechapi

kepala gondol, makan api a comic rhyme poking fun at a bald-headed person

buah tangan a small gift

buair / bual (bual)

■ berbuair to yarn; to talk

buair / buas (buas) SEE puchok

buair-buair

bual SEE buair

buang (buang) to throw away; to discard

■ buang ayer to urinate or pass motion

■ buang ayer besair to relieve one's bowels

■ buang ayer kechik to pass urine

■ buang bisa to relieve the throbbing pain of a festering wound; to neutralise venomous toxin

■ buang-buang exorcism rite

■ buang buang mata to keep an eye

■ buang di-laot ikan timbol refers to something totally worthless

■ buang diri to throw oneself; to throw oneself from a height or into water in a suicide bid

■ buang jiwa to sacrifice one's life

■ buang keroh punggot jernih let bygones be bygones

■ buang kreja dismissal from a job

■ buang mata to keep an eye

■ buang mulot to convey verbally

■ buang negri banishment

■ buang nyawa die in a sacrifice

■ buang pangkat stripped in rank

■ buang pelawair a casual verbal invite

■ buang sebelah aside from; besides

■ buang segan to stretch oneself when one wakes up

■ buang tebiat to throw a tantrum; change of temperament due to senility

■ buangkan mata to keep an eye

buat (buat) to do; making

■ buat-buat pretence

■ buat ati baik kena pukol petir a good deed is reciprocated with ingratitude

■ buat baik to do good; to be friendly to

■ buat bodoh to feign ignorance / stupidity / innocence

■ buat hiboh to create a fuss

■ buat kreja jahat to become immoral

■ buat mahal to play hard to get

■ buat main siak for fun only

■ buat mainan used as a plaything

■ buat malu to cause loss of face / embarrassment

■ buat modair to use as working capital; to use as tool for sarcasm

■ buat mungka to show a sour look on the face

■ buat papan terenan to use someone to insinuate against another

■ buat pelisay a pretence at being nice; to ingratiate

■ buat penat to tire oneself (needlessly)

■ buat suay to cause bad luck and ill-fortune

■ buat susah to cause problems or difficulties; to impose upon

■ buat tak dengair to pretend not to hear; to turn a deaf ear

■ buat tengkah to show a temper or tantrum

■ buat pa whatever for

■ buatkan to cause

buat SEE bawak

buaya (buaya) crocodile; avaricious (person); a skirt chaser

■ buaya tak tolak bangkay a person who will not turn down anything

bubor (bubur) porridge; broth; gruel

■ bubor ayam chicken porridge

■ bubor babi pork porridge

■ bubor cha-cha sweet potato with coconut milk gruel

■ bubor ikan fish porridge

■ bubor itek duck porridge

■ bubor kachang green or red bean porridge

■ bubor sagu pearl sago porridge

■ bubor terigu wheat porridge

■ bubor udang prawn porridge

budak (budak) child

■ budak-budak children

■ budak pakay kasot to celebrate a child's first birthday

■ budak setengah naik an adolescent; a teenager

■ budak taik the very young and immature

budi (budi) qualities of mind and heart; act of not forgetting a favour; act of wanting to reciprocate a favour; gratitude

■ budi bahasa / basa gracious acts and ways

■ budi di-bawak mati kindness takes a lifetime to repay

■ berbudi to show gratitude

bujang (bujang) widow; widower

bukak (buka) to open; removal of a veil or covering

■ bukak daon to show one's cards (in a card game)

■ bukak jalan opening of a road; to reveal a way or solution

■ bukak kasot to take off one's shoes

■ bukak kun [裙] lady assistant to the mistress of ceremony in the traditional Baba wedding whose primary duties include laying the folds of the bride's skirt when the bride kneels

■ bukak kitab to expound religious text

■ bukak kuping to prick the ears in order to gather information

■ bukak lima belair a variation of the Nyonya card game

■ bukak mata to observe closely; to open one's eyes

■ bukak mulot to open up verbally; to open the mouth

■ bukak napsu appetiser

■ bukak rumah to start a home

■ bukak rusia to reveal a secret

■ bukak sekopong card fortune telling

■ bukak tilek fortune telling

bukan (bukan) no; not

■ bukan baik orang not the desirable type of person; not a person to tangle with

■ bukan kah...? is it not?; in no small measure

■ bukan kechik anak a sharp person; not naive

■ bukan main very

■ bukan main lagik a comment on something extraordinary

■ bukan maknusia inhuman; not a human being

■ bukan sebarang orang somebody of importance; not just any person

■ bukan senang not that simple or easy

buket (bukit) hill

■ buket kalu changkol pun rata incessant expenditure will cause even the rich to become poor

■ buket sua jadi paya the wealthy is reduced to poverty

buku (buku) book; knuckle

■ buku chrita dulukala book of ancient Chinese tales translated into Baba language

■ berbuku in lumps; clots

bulan (bulan) moon; month

■ bulan-bulan every month

■ bulan di-pagar bintang someone surrounded by suitors / admirers; to be brightened (as the presence of a pretty girl)

■ bulan jatoh di-pangku exceptional good fortune

■ bulan makan rao eclipse of the moon

■ bulan pernama full moon which falls on a Friday eve

■ bulan satu first lunar month; January

■ bulan dua second lunar month; February

■ bulan tiga third lunar month; March

■ bulan empat fourth lunar month; April

■ bulan lima fifth lunar month; May

■ bulan nam sixth lunar month; June

■ bulan tuju seventh lunar month; July

■ bulan lapan eighth lunar month; August

■ bulan semilan ninth lunar month; September

■ bulan sepuloh tenth lunar month; October

■ bulan sebelair eleventh lunar month; November

■ bulan dua belair twelfth lunar month; December

bulang (bulang)

■ bulang-baling a stone or other missile to which a string is attached so that it may be whirled round the head and cast to a great distance (catapult)

bulat (bulat) round; spherical

■ bulatkan ati determined; with single-mindedness

bulu (bulu) hair on human body but not on head; plummage; bristles; woolly or feathery covering on animals

■ bulu abu grey

■ bulu anjing dog's hairs

■ bulu ayam fowl feathers; feather duster

■ bulu babi pig's bristles

■ bulu idong nasal hairs

■ bulu itek duck feathers

■ bulu kening eyebrows

■ bulu ketiak armpit hairs

■ bulu kotek male's pubic hairs

■ bulu kuching cat's hairs

■ bulu mata eyelash

■ bulu nonok female's pubic hairs

■ bulu pantat anal hairs

■ bulu roman fine hairs on the human body especially on the arms

■ bulu roman berdiri goose bumps

■ bulu selay derogatory description of an effeminate male

■ berbulu hairy

bulut / balut (bulut) to wrap in; to bundle up

bumbong (bumbung) main beam of a house

bun (to be pronounced as in English) SEE roti bun, sanggol bun

bunga (bunga) flower; interest from monetary investment or loan

■ bunga ambong ambong tiny paper flowers decorated in a semi-circle usually worn round a chignon or a hairbun

■ bunga api fireworks; sparks

■ bunga bukan sekuntum, kumbang bukan sekor nobody is irreplaceable in love

■ bunga butang globe amaranth flower

■ bunga chempaka frangipani

■ bunga Cheena Chinese rose; cape jasmine

■ bunga chingkeh clove

■ bunga chot band of artificial flowers worn on the hair

■ bunga jinggeh ayam coxcomb flower

■ bunga Jepun oleander

■ bunga kacha piring SEE bunga Cheena

■ bunga kantan wild ginger flower (Etlingera elatior)

■ bunga kek wa [菊花] chrysanthemum

■ bunga kemboja SEE bunga

chempaka

■ bunga kretair paper flower

■ bunga kubor SEE bunga

chempaka

■ bunga mawair rose

■ bunga melor jasmine flower

■ bunga melor Jawa a variety of jasmine flower

■ bunga rampay potpurri of shredded leaves and flower petals artificially scented

■ bunga raya hibiscus; shoeflower

■ bunga sendudok Singapore rhododendron

■ bunga siantan ixora flower

■ bunga suku dangan small white scented flower from a creeper

■ bunga sundal malam a name for the tuberose

■ bunga taik ayam prickly lantana marigold

■ bunga tajok aigrette of flowers

■ bunga telang a dark blue flower (Clitorea ternatea) for colouring Nyonya kuehs

■ bunga teratay lotus flower

■ bunga tongking small yellowish scented flower (Telosma cordata)

■ bunga Turki carnation

bungkus (bungkus) wrap; bundle

■ bungkusan parcel; bundle

bunoh (bunuh) to kill

■ bunoh diri to commit suicide

■ bunoh membunoh killing and slaughtering

buntal (buntal) SEE ikan buntal

buntat (buntat) precious calcareous stone

bunting (bunting) pregnant

■ bunting anak SEE pontianak

■ bunting pelamin pregnancy resulting from wedding night consummation

buntot (buntut) tail; hinderpart

■ buntot belangkair the gathering of hair at the back of the neck in a special Nyonya hair-style

■ buntot keronchong cat's tail with a curled end

■ buntot taon at the year's end

bunyi (bunyi) sound

■ bunyi batu bunyilah dia a very silent type (of person)

■ bunyi meletop explosion sound; explosion

bura (bura) gushing out as during a bad bout of diarrhoea

burok (buruk) ugly; decayed

■ burok perangi ugly temperament

burong (burung) bird; euphemism for the penis

■ burong antu owl

■ burong chenderawaseh bird of paradise

■ burong hong [鳳] phoenix

■ burong kakaktua parrot; cockatoo

■ burong kedidi sandpipers and small plovers

■ burong komba pigeon

■ burong lolang eagle; hawk

■ burong merak peacock

■ burong merbok ground dove bird

■ burong pipit Java sparrow

■ burong ponggok owl

■ burong serindet love birds

■ burong tiong mynah

buru (buru) hurry; hunt

■ memburu hunting

■ terburu-buru hurrying

busa (busa) foam; froth

■ berbusa frothing

busok (busuk) smelly; putrid; stinking

■ busok-busok be that as it may; at least; even at its worst

buta (buta) blind

■ buta baru menchelek, kudong baru mendapat a new-found state of wealth that has adversely affected a person's behaviour

■ buta kayu absolute illiteracy

■ buta meraba groping in the dark

■ buta surat illiterate

■ buta tuli to act recklessly and wildly

■ buta tulis illiterate

■ butakan to ignore

■ butakan mata to turn a blind eye

butang (butang) button