(Singapore, Malaysia, metonym, or, attributively) A traditional scrap dealer or rag-and-bone man who visits residential zones to collect unwanted items.
(Singapore, Malaysia, metonym, or, attributively) A traditional scrap dealer or rag-and-bone man who visits residential zones to collect unwanted items.
{{zh-x|karung guni，報紙，舊 衫褲，歹 黎{lê}撩{liô}，電視機|karung guni, newspapers, old clothes, broken radios, TV sets — Shout of a karung guni announcing their arrival|MN}}
Karung guni means: A traditional scrap dealer or rag-and-bone man who visits residential zones to collect unwanted items.. It is mainly Singaporean English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Slang from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE), hip-hop, drag and ballroom culture, the Caribbean, and NYC street vocabulary. The single largest source of new mainstream English slang in living memory.
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(UK, Irish) A man who deals in scrap metal and recycled junk (originally including rags and bones, in earlier centuries).
(US, Canada) A worker who removes refuse, especially from properties.
(countable, Australia, informal) A rubbish collector; a garbage man.
(Singapore, colloquial, informal) To discard or throw something out.
Karung guni means: A traditional scrap dealer or rag-and-bone man who visits residential zones to collect unwanted items.. It is mainly Singaporean English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
karung guni means: A traditional scrap dealer or rag-and-bone man who visits residential zones to collect unwanted items.. Register: informal, Singapore English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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(Australia, humorous) A garbage collector.