The presence of Hokkien language in Indonesia did not only signify the importance of the language in its time. Besides of its prominence as the Lingua Franca for Straits Chinese in Dutch East Indies, British Malaya (including Singapore), it showed of how important Straits Chinese are in the daily trade and livelihood of common Indonesians, and how willingly locals embraced Straits Chinese culture. Being mostly food-related, it might also suggest the importance of the introduction of Hokkien culinary processing in the evolution of Indonesian cuisine.

It is also important to acknowledge that Hokkien is not a dialect of Mandarin, but a branch of Min language that is a rightful language of its own with its own dialects. It was also the prestige language of the Peranakans. Babah Malay is still spoken by some Peranakan communities and Babah Hokkien, its opposite contrast, is preserved by Medan and Penang Chinese communities.

Gua / Gue

Gue (I/me/first person singular slang). It is a term that is predominantly used by City people especially of Betawi culture. Gue is Gua in Betawi dialect.

Cepek/Nopek/Gopek/Ceceng

Ce: single. No: two. Go:lima. pek: ratus. ceng: ribu.

Capgomeh

Capgo: fifteen Meh: Night

Elo/Lu

Derives from Lu (you).

Enci/Engko/Ci/Ko

Ahci/Cici: elder sister Ahko/Koko: elder brother.

Bakiak

Bak: wood. Kiak: Clogs

Encim/Apek/Cek

En-/N- prefix is quite characteristic of Javanese language. It came from Ah-Cim. (Ah- is a common Hokkien prefix when you refer to a family title/name). Ah-cim is usually a title given to your father’s younger brother’s wife. Outside familial connection, it is commonly used to refer to people two generations above you.

Apek: Father’s elder brother. Ahcek: Father’s younger brother.

Engkong

Ah-Kong: Grandfather.

Beca/Becak

Becak is commonly known as trishaw, pulled by men instead of horses. However they were also known as ‘Angkong’.

Comes from Be-Chia. Be: horse, Chia: Cart.

Kongsi

Kong-Si: To share/ to work together.

Kongko/Kongkow

Kong-koh: Talk-story

Loteng

Lau: level. Teng: chamber

Kue

Indonesian would separate it two syllables: Ku-E, but its original Hokkien is pronounced as single syllabled ‘kwe’. Hokkien term for Kue refers to any forms of cake, which could be sweet or savoury. Its usage could be more commonly related to Vietnamese Bánh and Thai’s Khanom.

Teh

Te: Tea in Hokkien language. In fact, Fujian region was famous for its teas, and Xiamen became a major port for British Tea Trade. Hence, British adopted ‘Te’ instead of ‘Cha’.

Kemoceng

Ke: Chicken. Mo: Feather. Cheng: Brush.

Cat/Cet

Chat: to paint

Cokek

This might either be a babah’s mispronouncing ‘Joget’,

or possibly Chua: bring Khek: Guest.

Hoki

Hok: prosperity Khi: Aura/Air.

Angpau

Ang: red. Pau: pocket.

Hopeng

Ho; good. Peng Iu: friend.

Hunkwe

Hun: flour. Kwe: cake.

Juhi

Jiu hi/hu: Squid (fish).

Kana

Kan-ah: Chinese Olive

Kietna

Kiet-ah: Cumquat

Lecet

Lak: to shed off, cet: paint

Kangkung (?)

Kang: river, kong: tubes

Kongkalikong

Kong kali kong : talk, to you talk.

Sikoteng

Si: four Ko: Fruit/Staple Th’ng: Soup

Sincia

Sin: New. Cia: Festival

Sumpit

sng: holding pin, pit: stick

Samseng

Sam: ill-behaved, Seng: Folk

Tokeh

Thau: Head, keh: kind of person

Topeng

To: invert. Peng: Turn.

Koyok

Ko: Paste. Yok: Medicine.

Kecoak

Ka: Flea Choah: Small Cicada/ Grass Hopper

Kepoh

Ke: Chicken Po: Female/Lady (Someone who sticks their head into other people’s problem)

Kuaci

Kua: Melon Ci: Seeds.

Kuali

A Straits Chinese wedding picture

Kawin

Kau: arrive, In: pregnant

Kecap

Keh/Kwi: Fermented meat/fish Cap: Essence. (originally a fish sauce).

Teko

Teh: Tea, Koh: Container

Toko

To-Ko. Either (Tua: Big, Ko:warehouse).

Nyonya

Niu: lady Nia:Mother

Tukang

Tho: Earth Kang: Work. (construction)

Bingka/ Bika

Usually known most popularly in the form of Bingka Ambon (honeycomb rice-cake), Bingka Ubi (cassava cake) and Bingka Beras (rice cake). ‘P’ng’ is hokkien term for cooked rice, and ‘Bi’ is hokkien term for uncooked rice. Bingka might refer to ‘Png-Ko'(rice paste)or ‘Png-Kak'(rice blocks). Teochew rice mooncake is called P’ng Koe.

Chinese Kedai/Toko in Bindjei, Soematra

Bakso/Bakmi/Bakpia/Bakpau/Bakwan

Bak-Cho, Bak means meat (mostly referred to pork) and Bak-Cho simply means minced meat.

Bak-Mi: Noodle with meat.

Bak-Pia: Pastry with meat.

Bak-Pau: Meat in a (dough) wrap

Bak-Wan: Meatball

Pangsit

Pian-Sit, which means wonton dumplings. Popular etymology translates it to ‘ready-made food’/fast food.

Lumpia

Lun: to roll, Pia: pastry.

Also similar to Popiah. Pok: thin, Pia: pastry.

Tahu

Tau: Bean, Hu: curd

Tauge

Tau: Bean, Ge: Sprout

Tauco

Tau: Bean, Cio: Sauce

Bihun

Bi: Rice. Hun: Flour.

Misua

Mi: flour (wheat) Sua: Threads

Sampan

Sam: Three. Pan: board.

Sempa

Sng: Count. Poah: Plate

Cincai

Chin: Shallow Chai: Care

Bokek

Bo: Tidak ada Khek: Tamu/Langganan

Ronde

Not a directly borrowed. Ronde: round in Dutch, but it comes from ‘Ie’: round, which is a traditional riceball soup eaten in the last night of New Year Festival (Capgohmeh).

Kwetiau

Kwe: Cake. Teow: Strands.

Capcai

Chap: Mix. Chai: Vegetables. Some people believe that it must have ten varieties of vegetables, so that it sounds like Cap (Ten).

Notes:

This blog post will be actively updated with more increasing database of Straits Chinese origins term.

There is a certain realization within me, that some pribumi/bumiputra might feel offended by someone pointing out the importance of Straits Chinese community in the development of what we know as Indonesian culture today. However, I believe, information and knowledge is the bridge that could one day undo the racial prejudice that is happening, both from Straits Chinese Communities and Indigenous communities.

With the current anti-chinese sentiment slowly simmering under the surface of propriety and ‘tolerance’, perhaps it is good to think about how important the symbiotic existence between the chinese immigrants, local indigenous, including migrants from other islands.