Bao
Itβs a Swiss Army knife of a word. It can mean that fluffy, steamed bun you grab for breakfast, the act of packing your kopi in a plastic bag to go, or even the tragic moment you bust your hand in a game of blackjack. Essentially, if you are wrapping something up, containing it, or taking it to go, you are 'bao-ing' it.
Origin
Literal translation: "To wrap, to bundle, or a bun"
Derived from various Chinese dialects (primarily Hokkien and Mandarin) where the character 'ε ' carries the meanings of wrapping, containing, and the familiar steamed bread.
Usage Examples
"Auntie, one char siew bao and kopi C take-away can? I late for work liao."
"My mum always say donβt waste plastic box β just bao the cai png in a bag, easier to bring home."
"Wah I thought got chance to hit 21, end up draw another card and bao myself. Sian leh."
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Related Words
dabao
The essential act of telling the hawker, 'I want to eat but not here.' Whether you're rushing back to the office or just want your char kway teow in the comfort of your own bed, this is your go-to word for anything packed to-go.
bungkus
To order your food for takeaway instead of eating at the hawker centre. Itβs the standard move when the place is too crowded or when youβre just too 'lepak' to leave the house.
char siew pau
The undisputed heavyweight champion of the dim sum trolley. Itβs a pillowy-soft steamed bun hiding a sweet, savory, and sticky treasure of Cantonese-style barbecued pork inside.
kopi
Itβs how we order coffee at the kopitiam, but itβs really a lifestyle. Itβs typically strong, dark, Nanyang-style Robusta coffee roasted with butter or margarine, served with condensed milk by default; if you just say 'kopi', thatβs what youβre getting, and it hits the spot every single time.