Dictionary

kongsi en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkɔŋ.si/

Etymology

Borrowed from Hokkien 公司 (kong-si, “company”). See also Hokkien 公班衙 (kong-pan-gêe / kong-pan-gê), English British East India Company, Dutch Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (“Dutch East India Company”, literally “United East India Company”).

Meanings

1. (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore) A benevolent organization of popular origin found among overseas Chinese communities for individuals with the same surname.
   • A kongsi is a clan house, a building that’s partly a temple and partly a meeting hall for Chinese of the same clan or surname. 2004, Simon Richmond, Marie Cambon, Damian Harper, Richard Watkins, Lonely Planet: Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei:
   • By 1970, for instance, the state authorities considered these kongsi to be unfit and unhygienic for living, and they were ordered to be dismantled. 1998, Zawawi Ibrahim, The Malay Labourer:
   • The term kongsi loosely referred to any association of the Chinese, ranging from a business partnership to governments in West Borneo, secret societies and clan associations. 2003, Wu Xiao An, Chinese Business in the Making of a Malay State, 1882-1941:

Forms

Synonyms

association

Translations (2)

cmn 會館 /会馆 (benevolent organization) · cmn 公司 (benevolent organization)

wikipedia: Dutch East India Company