particle
liao
lyow
Liao (particle) means (Chinese, and in Singlish/Manglish) A word placed at the end of a sentence to show that an action is finished or a situation has changed. Example: “Wah, so late liao, we better go home.”
particle
1
(Chinese, and in Singlish/Manglish) A word placed at the end of a sentence to show that an action is finished or a situation has changed.
"Wah, so late liao, we better go home."
How to use liao
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short word added to the end of a sentence meaning roughly "already" or "now," common in Singaporean and Malaysian English.
When to use it
Colloquial; used mainly in Singlish and Manglish rather than standard English.
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Wah, so late _____, we better go home.
Etymology
From Hokkien and Teochew pronunciations of the Chinese character meaning "finished," influenced by the Mandarin reading.
Rhymes for liao
See all rhymes for liao →Frequently asked questions
What does “liao” mean?
The word “liao” means (Chinese, and in Singlish/Manglish) A word placed at the end of a sentence to show that an action is finished or a situation has changed. In plain terms, a short word added to the end of a sentence meaning roughly "already" or "now," common in Singaporean and Malaysian English.
How do you pronounce “liao”?
“Liao” is pronounced lyow ([ljaʊ˨˩] in IPA).
How do you use “liao” in a sentence?
Here is “liao” used in a sentence: “Wah, so late liao, we better go home.”
What part of speech is “liao”?
“Liao” is a particle.
Where does the word “liao” come from?
The word “liao” comes from Chinese. From Hokkien and Teochew pronunciations of the Chinese character meaning "finished," influenced by the Mandarin reading.
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