Kiasu

Kiasu (simplified Chinese: 惊输; traditional Chinese: 驚輸; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kiaⁿ-su) is a Hokkien word that denotes a "grasping, selfish attitude" that arises from fear of missing out.[1]

Not to be confused with Kiasi.
Kiasu
Hàn-jī驚輸 / 惊输
Pe̍h-ōe-jīkiaⁿ-su
Tâi-lôkiann-su

Etymology and usage

Kiasu comes from the vernacular Chinese phrase Chinese: 怕輸, meaning 'fear of losing’. It is commonly used in Singapore, where a survey in 2015 ranked being kiasu as one of the top 10 Singaporean cultural values,[2] and the word has been introduced into the English language by speakers of colloquial Singaporean English. It is often used to refer to anxious, selfish attitude arising from a fear of "missing out" or "losing out".[3]

Kiasu is similar in etymology to kiasi (literally, fear of death); both terms are used to describe similar attitudes. Kiasu or kiasuism means taking extreme measures to achieve success, whereas kiasi or kiasiism means to taking extreme, risk-avoidant measures.

See also

References
  1. "Definition of kiasu in English". Oxford Dictionaries.
  2. "The most ambitious country in the world? - BBC Travel".
  3. "Where the word kiasu came from and how it spread". South China Morning Post.

Bibliography
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