balichám

Macanese

Alternative forms

• balchão, balichã, balachão, balechão, balichan

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay belacan or older variants balacan, balacang. Possibly reinforced by cognate Cantonese 馬拉盞／马拉盏 (maa⁵ laai¹ zaan²). Alternatively, from Portuguese baleia (“whale”), but this is less likely, both semantically and phonologically.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.liˈt͡ʃɐŋ/, /ba.liˈt͡ʃaŋ/, (rare) /ba.liˈʃaŋ/

Noun

balichám

1. balichao (savoury condiment prepared with very small, dried shrimp or krill)

   B-A-ba, primêro letra,
   L-I-li divinhaçan;
   Quim querê sabe minha nome
   Botá ôlo na chan.
   Sã Balichan.

   B-A-ba, the first letter,
   L-I-li guessing;
   Whoever wants to know my name
   Put your eye on the floor.
   It's balicham.

Derived terms

• bicho-balicham (“restless person”, literally “balichao bug”)
• porco balichám tamarinho (“Macanese dish prepared with pork, tamarind and balichám”)

Descendants

• → English: balichao
• → Portuguese: balichão

Further reading

• https://www.macaneselibrary.org/pub/english/uipatua.htm#f_balicham