huat ah
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English
Etymology
From Hokkien 發啊／发啊 (hoat--a), from 發／发 (hoat, “to produce, to grow, to develop, to prosper, to pay out”) + 啊 (--a, “particle of exhortation”).
Pronunciation
Interjection
huat ah
- (Singapore, Malaysia, informal) A traditional, festive expression used to wish oneself prosperity.
- 2012 December 24, Albert Tay, “Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore”, in wordpress.com[1], retrieved 2016-04-01:
- For some strange reasons, some people are shouting "Huat ah" as they toss paper money in the air.
- 2014, Jane Lai, “Yusheng designs”, in pinterest.com[2], retrieved 2016-04-01:
- Huat ah! The pronunciation of "eight" in Hokkien (Chinese dialect) sounds similar to "Prosperity". Good luck and may you win the lottery!
- 2015, Yongnian Zheng, Liang Fook Lye, Singapore-China Relations, page 224:
- The lo hei dish eaten by Singaporeans to herald the Chinese New Year with shouts of "Huat ah!” festive greetings exemplifies a Chinese cuisine with local Singaporean identity.
Verb
huat ah
- (Singapore, Malaysia, informal, intransitive) To prosper.
- 2008 December 31, babychloe, “TTCing2009/2010 babies grads”, in singaporemotherhood.com[3], retrieved 2016-04-01:
- This new year, all of us will huat ah!
- 2010 December 27, Jaymeetan, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all”, in wordpress.com[4], retrieved 2016-04-02:
- And, I wish everyone a Happy New Year for the upcoming new year. Let's Huat ah!!
- 2016 January 11, Joyce Yang, “12 New Stunning Looks Based On Your Zodiac to HUAT AH This Chinese New Year”, in thesmartlocal.com[5], retrieved 2016-04-02:
- 12 New Stunning Looks Based On Your Zodiac to HUAT AH This Chinese New Year
Usage notes
A customary expression used when tossing yusheng during Chinese New Year.