SinGweesh on Wednesday: Lai liao!

by Gwee Li Sui

I GOT explain the exclamation “Siow liao!” before. “Lai liao!” and “Siow liao!” share the same end-particle “liao”, which bears the rough meaning of already. “Liao” says that something has already happened and shows impatience in having to say it – because who is calm when stating the obvious? So “Siow liao!” signals how things have gone bonkers, luan, out of control and, in this sense, become strangely more shiok. But, while “Lai liao!” may look like “Siow liao!”, it’s also more like its opposite lah.

The “lai” in “Lai liao!” means come, but, to want someone to come, you should really say “Lai ah! Lai ah!” – must repeat twice – is heard a lot at pasar malams and where there are freebies to take or tofus to eat. But “Lai liao!” is agak-agak “Arrived already!” and used specifically to signal how something expected has come to pass. It marks the end of sianness and speculation. “Lai liao!” probably came from hawker centre culture, where you need to wait like forever for your plate of char kway teow or rojak. When it finally comes, the waiter will shout “Lai liao! Lai liao!”, sometimes with “Siam ah!”, or “Make way!” I dun think these ever use “Excuse me!”, but nemmind lah. Mai hiam.

“Lai liao!”, like “Lai ah!”, is almost always announced twice, like this: “Lai liao! Lai liao!” Dun ask me why hor. Maybe it sounds more musical or it ensures that the waiting hearer gets the message and can start lao nua-ing? The doubling certainly heightens a sense of shiokness in showing that, while one has to tan ku ku, eventually the outcome is worth it. To be sure, its prize can be something desired or something undesirable. The real shiokness lies in the predictability, in being assured that time or energy hasn’t been wasted. The fweeling is of vindication, of having learnt a pattern.

Indeed, “Lai liao!” has long-long become part of Singapore’s political language precisely because we’ve found patterns in the way our political processes work. For example, when the transport minister announces that public transport has – wah! – improved, there’s maybe some cynical snort who goes “Zhun bo?” But generally people are tame because we’re all waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is how our Gahmen always chut pattern, that is, strategises, one. When news breaks a few days later that bus fares will increase, everyone hampalang screams “Lai liao! Lai liao!”, basically to point out “Told you so!”

I’ve said that “Siow liao!” and “Lai liao!” are opposites, and here’s why hor. While both exclamations are shiok, the fweeling behind “Siow liao!” comes from a failure to predict or manage; it relates to chaos. But “Lai liao!” is about what’s entirely predictable; its outcome may take a suspenseful amount of time to happen, but, ai zai, it will sure happen one. “Lai liao!” relates to pattern. So, when the Gahmen starts clamping down on news sites and blogs, we all shout “Lai liao! Lai liao!” – why? Because it’s expected. But, in this instance, we also shout “Siow liao!” since we also dunno what will happen or who will kena next…

Anyway, both “Siow liao!” and “Lai liao!” are for the drama-mama in you. One shows expectation exceeded while the other shows prolonged expectation gratified. So, the next time you check the news, why read in a sian-jit-pua way when you can go seek patterns, which is more fun? When an MP resigns out of the blue for no reason, sure got juicy mangoes one. Make predictions – is it an affair… or is it an affair? – so that, when the truth is out at last, you can join fellow Singaporeans in the roar of “Lai liao! Lai liao!” Such beautiful moments bring us closer as a people even as they let us feel a bit clever also lah.

 

Featured Image by Sean Chong.

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