Identity Issues

Z: “So. Yes. I have a lifetime Tupperware membership.”

Me: “How come you never told me that? Are you also a Phoon Huat member?”

Z: “Yes..”

Me: “Did you just say you felt cheated that, contrary to expectations, I turned out to be this _cheena korpet_, _munjen_ ah-pek instead of the sophisticated young lady I was pretending to be? You’re this j_w_ korpet makcik! I feel cheated! Tupperware. Phoon Huat. I want my money back!”

Z: “Don’t be so _niaobiao_.”

*Glossary*
_cheena korpet_: (smell of a) chinese person that doesn’t bathe enough
_munjen_: yellow person, i.e. chinese
ah-pek: old man
makcik: old lady
Phoon Huat: the place my mother goes to buy supplies whenever she makes mooncakes

_niaobiao_: origins in “ni yao bu yao”, which seems to be the favourite phrase of munjens in singapore. the shortened form, _niaobiao_, may be used to describe a chinese person (i.e. “he’s a niaobiao”), or qualities of said person (i.e. stingy is niaobiao, smelly is niaobiao, talk too loud on the phone in the train is niaobiao, my girlfriend thinks I’m a complete niaobiao, and I agree). don’t shoot me for it, it didn’t come from me.

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