Kiasu: Difference between revisions
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# Someone who makes a selfish decision out of fear that they might miss out on something important. | # Someone who makes a selfish decision out of fear that they might miss out on something important. | ||
====Derived terms==== | ====Derived terms==== | ||
* [ | * [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kiasuism kiasuism] | ||
* [ | * [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kiasuness kiasuness] | ||
====Translations==== | ====Translations==== | ||
Revision as of 01:03, 27 March 2026
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Hokkien 驚輸 (kiaⁿ-su, “afraid to lose out”).
Pronunciation
- /ˈkjɑːsuː/ (Singapore English)
- Hyphenation: kia‧su
Adjective
kiasu
- Afraid to lose out, especially due to being overly competitive.
- Someone who makes a selfish decision out of fear that they might miss out on something important.
Derived terms
Translations
- Chinese:
- Hokkien: 驚輸 (kiaⁿ-su)
- Mandarin: 怕輸 (pàshū)
- Malay: takut kalah
Noun
kiasu (plural kiasus)
- A kiasu person; someone afraid to lose out.
- 2003, Frederick Lim, Today, 28 May, p. 22:
- “Apart from the kiasis and kiasus, there are also Singaporeans at the other end of the scale...”
- 2003, Frederick Lim, Today, 28 May, p. 22: