kia su
Originates from Singapore, Chinese Hokkien dialect. Means 'afraid to lose out', 'competitive to the point of doing anything just to win', 'cannot bear to lose'.
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kiasu
These parents are so kiasu! School hasn't started yet for their Primary One children and they're already buying tons of assessment books.
Related Words
kiasuism
1)the noun of kiasu.
2)the competitive mindset/philosophy that it is ones major loss to miss out on good deals(e.g. Great Singapore Sale) or trends that are already happening in society(esp. Singapore)
3)The calculating obsession that inflicts people who believe that they must get their money/time/effort worth(the greater the returns the better!!)
2)the competitive mindset/philosophy that it is ones major loss to miss out on good deals(e.g. Great Singapore Sale) or trends that are already happening in society(esp. Singapore)
3)The calculating obsession that inflicts people who believe that they must get their money/time/effort worth(the greater the returns the better!!)
2a)Singaporean parents are the living definitions of Kiasuism; many sign their kids up for enrichment classes even before they turn 5!!
2b)Auntie 1: I bought only an item during the Great Singapore Sale! Sigh...i should have bought more, now the good stuff are all snapped up!
Friend: Ya you should have! You were an idiot for letting your rival singaporeans save money on discounted items!
Auntie 1: Come to think of it, I saved more than them by not spending as much as them!
3)Girl 1: You are so hardworking! Staying in school after lessons and coming back during the weekends!
Girl 2: Of course!! Why did you think I pay more than $1K for my polytechnic school fees for? Must exploit their electricity and read all their books before i graduate!!
Girl 1: (feels guilty)...typical singaporean...
2b)Auntie 1: I bought only an item during the Great Singapore Sale! Sigh...i should have bought more, now the good stuff are all snapped up!
Friend: Ya you should have! You were an idiot for letting your rival singaporeans save money on discounted items!
Auntie 1: Come to think of it, I saved more than them by not spending as much as them!
3)Girl 1: You are so hardworking! Staying in school after lessons and coming back during the weekends!
Girl 2: Of course!! Why did you think I pay more than $1K for my polytechnic school fees for? Must exploit their electricity and read all their books before i graduate!!
Girl 1: (feels guilty)...typical singaporean...
kiasuism by ocdsufferer September 6, 2008
Singaporeans Are Kiasu, Malaysians Are Kiasi
The sociological equivalent of “Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid”—the unspoken observation about two neighboring frenemies, who are afraid of losing out and who are afraid of dying.
The foreign publisher is consulting its lawyers on whether the Singapore government might ban the sale of “Singaporeans Are Kiasu, Malaysians Are Kiasi,” which pokes fun at the idiocies and idiosyncrasies of Singaporeans and Malaysians.
Singaporeans Are Kiasu, Malaysians Are Kiasi by MathPlus June 22, 2018
kiasu
kiasu by Tristan Legolas September 10, 2004