Citations:kiasu

English citations of kiasu

1. (Singapore, colloquial, mildly derogatory) Afraid to lose out, particularly because one is overly competitive.
   • 1983 July 14, Leong Chan Teik, “It's good to hear about creativity in education [letter]”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, page 19:

     "Kiah-su" in our context is used mildly contemptuously to describe a student whose nose is forever buried in his books. As for "too chim" (meaning too profound), it is often used to ward off conversations that are deep and intellectual.

   • 1985 May 4, Caroline Ngui, “Now who's obiang and who's suaku?”, in The Straits Times, Singapore, page 1:

     Being typical kia-soo Singaporeans, they will not stand by what they say. […] Kia-soo – literally, "afraid to lose"

   • 1985 July 28, Paul Ong, “Campus species of the male”, in The Straits Times, page 1:

     They zap (photocopy) everything in sight. "Very kia-su," sniffed one student. But it is this zapping habit which personifies the group's most dominant trait: Teamwork and group study.

   • 1987 March 10, “Shopping in Chiangmai: How to get good bargains”, in The Business Times, Singapore, page 35:

     The Bo Sang-San Kamphaeng area is an adult candy store guaranteed to drive anyone to yield to our silly "kia-su" attitude that we could get it much cheaper here than at home.