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huat ah. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
huat ah, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
huat ah in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
huat ah you have here. The definition of the word
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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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.