sia suay

English

Alternative forms

• xia suay

Etymology

From Hokkien 瀉衰／泻衰 (sià-soe).

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˌsjɑː ˈsweɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Adjective

sia suay (comparative more sia suay, superlative most sia suay)

1. (Singapore, colloquial) Causing embarrassment or disgrace to others.
   • 1989 November 2, “From love songs to 'pai kia' tune. Karaoke is BIG business.”, in The Straits Times, Singapore:

     Most of those who sing these songs are too drunk to be stopped. Sia suay (Hokkien for bringing shame to the entire clan) only.

   • 2000 November 9, Daniel S, “Is YOUNG MING married???”, in Google Groups‎^[1], Singapore:

     Later so sia suay lah

   • 2011 February 14, peebrain, “~FUNNY ~ 阿莲Ah Lianz break up with Ah Beng 阿成. On Valentine Day cos he nebber listen up!”, in YouTube Video‎^[2], Singapore:

     GUys, cannot break up like this SO SIA SUAY!

   • 2015 March 23, S M Ong, “Xiaxue not so 'sia suay' after all?”, in The New Paper‎^[3], Singapore, archived from the original on 25 March 2015:

     Xiaxue not so 'sia suay' after all?

Verb

sia suay (invariable)

1. (Singapore, colloquial) To disgrace; to cause embarrassment for others.
   • 2007 November 21, Daniel S, “Only Queen's English.... in this forum..Singlish is banned ?!”, in Google Groups‎^[4], Singapore:

     Kenna hantam until nothing to say in the old thread then start a new one to get ppl oin your side without your old posts to sia suay you.

   • 2000 December 4, vignette, “Singapore Miss World SUCKS!!”, in Google Groups‎^[5], Singapore:

     Sending such ugly women to international pageants will "sia suay" Singaporeans.

   • 2015 March 23, S M Ong, “Xiaxue not so 'sia suay' after all?”, in The New Paper‎^[6], Singapore, archived from the original on 25 March 2015:

     In other words, I think what Mr Ha means is that Xiaxue had “sia suay” their industry.

See also

• lau kui (“embarrassing”)