jiak
To eat, from Hokkien 食 (chiā̍h).
Definitions
To eat, from Hokkien 食 (chiā̍h). One of the most-used Singlish verbs after "makan", with the same basic meaning but a slightly more casual, Hokkien-flavoured register. Forms many compounds: "jiak chuah" (lazy at school, literally "eat snake"), "jiak liao bee" (a freeloader, literally "one who has eaten the rice"), "jiak buay liao" (cannot finish eating). Used both literally ("jiak already?" — have you eaten?) and figuratively in the compound forms above.
Jiak already or not? Want to go for supper?
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Other words near "jiak" (J)
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Related terms
Semantically related
- jiakan81%
Emphatic Penang-Malaysian variant of "jiak" (to eat), with a tacked-on suffix that adds urgency or emphasis. Used in northern Malaysian Hokkien-influenced English the way "eat up!" or "tuck in!" might be used in British English. More forceful than plain "jiak"; often heard from aunties pressing food on guests, or from friends rallying a tableful of people to actually start the meal before the food gets cold.
- makan72%
(Singlish, Manglish) To eat.
- ho kua bo ho jiak69%
(Singlish, of food, literally) despite having great presentation.
- jelak69%
(colloquial, Singapore, Malaysia, Singlish, Manglish) Food which makes one feel satiated, disgusted, because the taste is too overwhelming.
- lah68%
The Singaporean and Malaysian English particle par excellence, derived from Hokkien and Malay. Tacked onto the end of a sentence to soften a statement, signal casual rapport, mark mild emphasis, or confirm what has just been said. Tone of voice changes its meaning: a falling "lah" is reassuring ("don't worry lah"), a flat "lah" is matter-of-fact ("cannot lah"), a rising "lah" can be impatient ("just do it lah"). Examples: "Eat already lah, don't wait for me." "Come lah, the show is starting." "I told you lah, it's in the kitchen." Considered the single most recognisable feature of Singlish.