Culture

“Kiasu”

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“Kiasu” is a word in local Singapore dialect that refers to someone being afraid to losing out. The term is similar to ‘FOMO’, a popular American term that means ‘fear of missing out’. It is a typical attitude that many Singaporeans will readily admit to and joke about. In the culture, many Singaporeans want to be the first or better than someone else in everything. Ridiculously long lines for new restaurants, free gifts, products, or experiences is an example of this Singaporean attitude.

"키아수"는 싱가포르 현지의 지방방언으로 누군가가 지는 것을 두려워하는 것을 가리킨다. 그 용어는 '실종 공포'를 의미하는 인기 있는 미국 용어인 'FOMO'와 유사하다. 많은 싱가포르 사람들이 기꺼이 받아들이고 농담 할 수 있는 전형적인 태도이다. 그 문화에서, 많은 싱가포르 사람들은 모든 면에서 다른 사람들보다 먼저 혹은 더 나은 사람이 되기를 원한다. 새 식당, 사은품, 상품, 경험을 위한 긴 줄이 이러한 싱가포르 태도의 한 예이다.

Vocabulary Corner

dialect refer to term similar to typical attitude readily admit ridiculously

단어를 선택해주세요.

지방언어

나타내다

용어

유사한

전형적인

태도

기꺼이

인정하다

터무니없이

Q & A

Vocabulary

Q. Does your country have what is similar to “kiasu?”

A. Yes, I believe so. In South Korea, you can also find very long lines at new product releases or when a new restaurant opens. Like Singaporeans, Koreans can be very kiasu sometimes. They want to be the first to have the new product or try the new restaurant, or at least have tried it when everyone talks about it. If everyone talks about something new and someone doesn’t have it or hasn’t tried it, the person will “lose face.” In Korean culture, it is bad for someone to lose face, so that’s why many people are so kiasu to make sure that they don’t lose face.

release at least lose face make sure

단어를 선택해주세요.

출시되다

최소한

체면을 잃다

확실히 하다

dialect	지방언어
refer to	나타내다
term	용어
similar to	유사한
typical	전형적인
attitude	태도
readily	기꺼이
admit	인정하다
ridiculously	터무니없이
release	출시되다
at least	최소한
lose face	체면을 잃다
make sure	확실히 하다

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