Are Singaporeans still kiasu?

Kiasu comes from the vernacular Chinese phrase Chinese: 怕輸, meaning ‘fear of losing’. It is commonly used in Singapore, where a survey in 2015 ranked being kiasu as one of the top 10 Singaporean cultural values, and the word has been introduced into the English language by speakers of colloquial Singaporean English.

How do I use kiasu?

For example, the italicized; Kiasu means ” always wanting the best for oneself and willing to try hard to get it “. In a kiasu ( afraid to fail ) society, people will not explore their capabilities because they are afraid to lose what they have.

How did Kiasuism originate?

Just four decades ago, the Hokkien term kian su was confined to Singapore army slang. As the dominant lingua franca of Chinese Singaporeans, Hokkien terms first spread among males performing compulsory national service. But before long, this one had entered everyday, albeit colloquial, Singapore English.

Is kiasu good or bad?

Having a “kiasu” (afraid to lose out) spirit may not be a negative trait. “Kiasuism” can help one to be paranoid and being paranoid is not necessarily a bad thing. A healthy “kiasu” person can empathise with those who have fallen and help them on their feet.

Is kiasu in the Oxford dictionary?

That is according to the hallowed Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which featured “kiasu” as its word of the day yesterday. The word is used to refer to a person “governed by self-interest, typically manifesting as a selfish, grasping attitude arising from a fear of missing out on something”, OED stated.

What does kiasu mean?

adjective. self-serving, competitive, or greedy: parents who are kiasu about their children’s education. noun. Also ki·a·su·ism . a kiasu mindset.

Are Singaporeans insecure?

Hunger in Singapore has only worsened since the pandemic. The Food Bank’s 2020 Hunger Report showed that one in 10 Singaporeans experienced food insecurity at least once over 12 months.

What is Kiasi Singapore?

Kiasi (simplified Chinese: 惊死; traditional Chinese: 驚死; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kiaⁿ-sí) is a Hokkien phrase, literally means afraid of death, to describe the attitude of being overly afraid or timid. Kiasi is not as popular as kiasu, but is widely used by Hokkien-speaking people in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.