Amusing Rude Words in English, Chinese, Dutch, Thai and other languages

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Words which sound rude or slang in English are handy words to know in other countries. You might hear Fuk and Kok in China and Hong Kong and Singapore. Crap elsewhere in Asia.

Singapore, Mandarin, Family Names

When I was in Singapore, on and off for thirty years, I kept hearing people saying fuck. At least, that was what I thought I heard. As an English teacher I wanted to tell them it was impolite in English, but I did not feel comfortable stopping strangers in the street to correct their English.  

You hear family names all the time because Chinese speakers have triple names, with the family name first, followed by the personal or given name. Think of Lee Kuan Yew, the Singaporean VIP. 

Lee is a very common name, also spelled Li, meaning plum tree, tree. Many words have different meanings, like English homophones, with different symbols, just as English words such as two and too.

Chinese, Mandarin, Hokkien Names

Years later, I learned that two of the commonest names in Chinese, in the top ten of popular names, are Fuk and Kok. Fuk, fook or Fu, depending on where you are, and the language or dialect. You might hear or speak Mandarin, in China and Singapore and taught universally, Fuk, 

In Cantonese in Hong Kong and southern China, you might hear Fook.

You might hear Fu, in another dialect. It means good fortune! 

Kok means country, city or defensive wall, or defender of the country. So that is another very popular patriotic name.

Europe - The Netherlands and Belgium

If you are not travelling to Asia, but to Europe, you will also hear the name which sounds like cock. It is Cok, which is dutch for cook. Mr or Mrs Cook.  Dutch is spoken and the name is used in Holland in The Netherlands, also in parts of Belgium, two adjacent countries.

Back in Asia, Singapore was once part of Malaysia. Malaysia's northern neighbour is the country of Thailand, where they speak the Thai language. The word which sounds like crap, sometimes written as Krub, is not rude but a respectful word used by men to address others, a bit like sir, and is used at the end of sentences, whether agreeing or making a statement, or asking a question.

Remembering Names

So, now you know what you are hearing regularly in other countries. It is easy to remember some common names, and to compliment the owner of the name by showing you know and admire its meaning in their language.

Don't tell them that their names mean something rude in English. They have already been told that many times. 

Tell them how lucky they are to be bestowed with such wonderful names, and live in places with such positive names. They will admire you for your knowledge, and be flattered by the fact that you always remember their name.

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