Eastern Origins

The Roots of Ethnic Chinese Dialect Groups in Singapore

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The Teochews are reputed for making fine kuay teow, the Hokkiens for their mee, the Hainanese for their coffee, and the Cantonese for their pee. This once common saying is indicative of the social stereotyping that existed among Chinese dialect groups during the 1950s. While these perceptions are no longer prevalent in modern-day Singapore, the associations between certain ethnic Chinese groups and the occupations they commonly held was very strong in the olden days. For example, the Hokkiens and Teochews, being early settlers on the island, were known to dominate the more lucrative businesses, while later immigrants and minority dialect groups like the Hainanese were frequently regarded as occupying a lower position in the economic standings.

Since its founding, Singapore has always been a diverse migrant society consisting of multiple ethnicities, including the ethnic Chinese who constitute a significant majority of Singapore’s multiethnic society. The Singapore Chinese group itself is diverse, as are its identities. This group has deep and diverse historical roots that trace back to various regions in China. We take a look at the origins of different dialect groups in the Singapore Chinese population, and see how they have shaped Singapore Chinese culture.

HISTORICAL MIGRATION FROM CHINA TO SINGAPORE