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- main tai chiPassing responsibility around like tai chi moves, so nothing ever gets solved.
- makan anginLiterally 'eat wind'. Means going on a holiday or a relaxing trip.
- makan dalamTo suffer quietly, keeping your frustration or pain to yourself.
- makan gajiTo work as a salaried employee rather than running your own business.
- makan hatiLiterally 'eat heart'. To feel hurt or upset inside, often silently.
- Malaysia bolehNational catchphrase meaning 'Malaysia can do it!', said proudly, or sarcastically when something absurd happens.
- mana adaMalay for 'no way' or 'not true', literally 'where got?'.
- mou man taiCantonese for no problem.
- next timeManglish for 'in the future', not just the next occasion.
- on the lightManglish for 'switch on the light'. Its sibling is 'off the light'.
- one kindManglish for weird, unique or eccentric, as in 'he's one kind'.
- open the lightAnother Manglish way to switch on the light or fan, from Chinese. 'Close the light' means switch it off.
- otak kat lututLiterally 'brain at your knee', meaning not thinking at all.
- pisangPisang literally means "banana," but colloquially it is used to describe feeling extremely bored, mentally exhausted, or having nothing to …
- potong stimA mood killer or killjoy; to ruin the fun.
- sleep earlyManglish for 'dream on', telling someone their wish is never going to happen.
- so how?Manglish for 'so what now?' or 'what's the plan?'.
- so like that lorResigned Manglish for 'well, that's how it is'.
- standard lahManglish for 'that's normal, what do you expect?'.
- sure or not?Manglish for 'are you sure?', with a whiff of suspicion.
- syok sendiriBeing full of yourself, or enjoying something alone while nobody else cares.
- tak bolehMalay for cannot. 'Tak boleh tahan' means can't stand it.
- tak kisahMalay for 'I don't mind' or 'whatever'.
- tak payahMalay for 'no need' or 'don't bother'. Also tak yah.
- takde halMalay for 'no problem' or 'no big deal'.
- takkanMalay for 'no way' or 'surely not', expressing disbelief. Also tak kan, takkanlah.
- takpeMalay for 'it's okay' or 'never mind'. Also takpa, tak apa.
- this one cannot lahManglish for 'this is unacceptable' or 'this won't do'.
- tumpang lalu'Excuse me, passing through.' Said when walking past people, or politely to unseen spirits in the jungle.
- tunggu kejapMalay for 'wait a moment'. Often shortened to kejap or jap.