Dictionary

bo chup en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• [bo˨ t͡sʰap̚˧] (Singapore)
• /bo²⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰap̚³²/ (Singapore)

Etymology

From Hokkien 無插／无插 (bô-chhap, “indifferent; to not care about”).

Meanings

1. (Singapore, Singlish) Indifferent, not caring about something, unbothered.
   • 2000, Jessica Tan, The Straits Times (Life!), 29 December p. 8 Desperately in need of a makeover, these two not-so-gorgeous but talented damsels definitely bag the most bochap (can’t be bothered, in Hokkien) look prize.
   • 2006 Elgin Teo (quoting He Shuwei), The Sunday Times, 30 July p. 10–11 ‘Bochap’? Not us, say teens [title].. [A]re Singaporean youths really so “bochap” (indifferent in Hokkien)? .. “We are not ‘bochap’. We are aware of issues concerning Singapore’s progress; it’s just that there’s nothing we can actually do at this stage,” opines Shuwei.
   • p. 17 I guess many people will just act bo chap (don’t care). Nobody wants to confront a criminal and get into trouble. 1991 April 15, Tan Ooi Boon, The Straits Times:
   • H6 [A] recent Gallup poll.. found that many workers here have a bo chap (don’t care) attitude towards work. 2003 October 17, The Straits Times:
   • p. 130 No class Singlish here to stay, / No big shot can have his way / With how people talk, what people say. / Rules are rules: our bo chap mouth refuse / To listen, follow or to choose! 2000, Leong Liew Geok, “Forever Singlish”, in Women without Men:
   • H9 Companies that are “boh chap” about safety face stiffer penalties. 2005 March 11, Sue-Ann Chia, The Straits Times:
   • 2004 Dharmendra Yadav (quoting Goh Chok Tong), Today, 19 May p. 3 In March, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong reflected about the ‘bo-chap’ (can’t be bothered) attitude of young Singaporeans.
   • 2000, Clarissa Oon (quoting Jeffrey Tan), The Straits Times (Life!), 23 September p. 5 When you ask for feedback, there is a certain bo-chap-ness (apathy).
   • p. 127 People simply bo chap their looks in what was, after all, an all-male working domain. p. 135 bo chap. Simply don’t care. 1994, C.S. Chong, NS: An Air-Level Story:

Forms