liao

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word liao. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word liao, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say liao in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word liao you have here. The definition of the word liao will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofliao, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Liao, liáo, liào, liāo, and liǎo

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Hokkien 了 (liáu) or Teochew 了 (liao2). Tone and spelling influenced by Mandarin liǎo.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Particle

liao

  1. (Singlish, Manglish) Indicates perfective aspect (action completion) or change of state.
    Synonym: (Singlish, via semantic loan) already
    I run 4 laps liao. ― I just ran 4 laps.
    It’s going to rain liao. ― It’s going to start raining soon.
    Reach liao, give me a call. ― Give me a call when you’ve reached.
    You decorate the cake liao? ― Have you decorated the cake yet?
    Damn shag liao, need to go back and sleep. ― I’m really tired now, I need to go back and sleep.

See also

Etymology 2

From Mandarin 料 (liào, “ingredients”).

Pronunciation

Noun

liao (uncountable)

  1. (Singapore, colloquial) Meats, vegetables, and other solid ingredients and garnishes added to an otherwise plain dish.
    • 2012, Tan Tarn How, Fear of Writing, Epigram Books, →ISBN, scene: 35, page 72:
      Bak Chor Mee, less mee, Auntie. No extra liao today.
    • 2019 June 18, ieatishootipost, Instagram:
      Had this hearty bowl of bak chor mee today at Blk 58 New Upper Changi Road market. […] This is the $5 bowl with extra liao. […]
    • 2019 August 24, Yeo Boon Ping, quoting Zachary Tang, “If Zi Char Dishes Were In A Battle Royale, Which Would Come Out Tops?”, in ricemedia.co‎, archived from the original on 12 July 2024:
      But for all the eggs and liao (ingredients) you have, it isn’t gao (strong).
Usage notes

Mainly used by Chinese Singaporeans and other speakers familiar with Mandarin.

Anagrams

Mandarin

Romanization

liao

  1. Nonstandard spelling of liāo.
  2. Nonstandard spelling of liáo.
  3. Nonstandard spelling of liǎo.
  4. Nonstandard spelling of liào.

Usage notes

  • Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia