# List of Chinese loanwords in Indonesian

The Chinese loanwords are usually concerned with cuisine, trade or often just exclusively things Chinese. According to the 2000 census, the relative number of people of Chinese descent in Indonesia (termed the peranakan) is almost 1% (totaling to about 3 million people.) Words of Chinese origin (presented here with accompanying Hokkien/ Mandarin pronunciation derivatives as well as traditional and simplified characters) include pisau (匕首 bǐshǒu – knife), mie (T:麵, S:面, Hokkien mī – noodles), lumpia (潤餅 (Hokkien = lūn-piáⁿ) – springroll), teko (T:茶壺, S:茶壶 = cháhú [Mandarin], teh-ko [Hokkien] = teapot), 苦力 kuli = 苦　khu (bitter) and 力　li (energy) and even the widely used slang terms gua and lu (or gue and lo) (from the Hokkien 'goa' 我 and 'lu/li' 你 – meaning 'I/ me' and 'you'). Almost all loanwords in Indonesian of Chinese origin come from Hokkien (福建) or Hakka (客家).

## Loanwords
### A

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| acik, aci | older women, such as older sister, aunt | 阿姊 | 阿姊 | Hakka | â-chí, â-chè, â-che | elder sister | |
| acik, aci | older women, such as older sister, aunt | 阿姊 | 阿姊 | Min Nan | a-chí, a-ché | elder sister | |
| akeo | son | 阿哥 | 阿哥 | Min Nan | a-ko | elder brother | |
| amah | Chinese female house-assistant | 阿嫲 | 阿嫲 | Cantonese | aa3 maa4 | paternal grandmother | |
| amoi | Chinese girl | 阿妹 | 阿妹 | Hakka | amoi | younger sister | |
| amsiong | broken, bad luck | 暗傷 | 暗伤 | Min Nan | àm-siong | 1. internal or invisible injury. 2. indiscernible damage | |
| angciu | cooking wine used for food flavour enhancer | 紅酒 | 红酒 | Min Nan | âng-chiú | red wine | |
| anghun | red tobacco | 紅薰 | 红薰 | Min Nan | âng-hun | red smoke | |
| angkak | food coloring from rice fermentation by Monascus purpureus | 紅麴 | 红曲 | Min Nan | âng-khak | grains of red sticky rice (Oryza glutinosa), see also Monascus purpureus | |
| anglo | small stove | 洪爐 | 洪炉 | Min Nan | âng-lô͘ | furnace | |
| anglung | pavilion | 紅樓 | 红楼 | Min Nan | âng-lô͘ | red building | perhaps related to "Dream of the Red Chamber" (紅樓夢, 红楼梦) |
| angpau, angpao | gift money for Chinese New Year | 紅包 | 红包 | Min Nan | âng-pau | red envelope | see also loanword from Mandarin "hongbao". |
| angsiau | angsiau | 紅燒 | 红烧 | Min Nan | âng-sio | âng-sio | type of cooking style in which fish or meat is braised in soy sauce |
| apek | addressing parent, mister | 阿伯 | 阿伯 | Hakka | â-pak | paternal uncle, old man | see also empek |
| auban | bad person | 拗蠻 | 拗蛮 | Min Nan | áu-bân | stubborn, arrogant, brutal | |

### B

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| baba, babah | addressing Chinese male | 爸爸 | 爸爸 | Mandarin | bàba | father | |
| bacang, bakcang | glutinous rice dumpling filled with meat | 肉糉 | 肉粽 | Min Nan | bak cang | sticky rice dumpling | |
| batau | mantou | 麵頭 | 面头 | Min Nan | bán-thâu | mantou | |
| bak | (Chinese black) ink | 墨 | 墨 | Min Nan | ba̍k | 1. Chinese ink or ink in general, 2. black; ink-coloured; dark | |
| bakiak | wooden clog | 木屐 | 木屐 | Min Nan | ba̍k-kia̍h | clog | |
| bakmie | (meat) noodle | 肉麵 | 肉面 | Min Nan | bah-mī | meat noodle | |
| bakpao, bakpau | bun | 肉包 | 肉包 | Min Nan | bah-pâu | meatbun | |
| bakpia | bakpia | 肉餅 | 肉餅 | Min Nan | bah-piáⁿ | bakpia | related to piáⁿ |
| bakso | meatball | 肉球? | 肉球? | Min Nan | bah-kiû | Meatball | |
| baktau, baktau | madam (of a brothel), procuress | 媌頭 | 媌头 | Min Nan | bâ-thâu | madam (of a brothel), procuress | |
| bakwan | bakwan | 肉丸 | 肉丸 | Min Nan | bah-oân | | |
| ban | ten thousand | 萬 | 万 | Min Nan | bān | ten thousand | |
| banci | (Malaysia) census, neither male nor female, men who act and dress as women | 民籍 | 民籍 | Cantonese | man4-zik6 | census | |
| banci | (Malaysia) census, neither male nor female, men who act and dress as women | 民籍 | 民籍 | Min Nan | bîn-chi̍p | census | |
| bangking | A pomegranate-shaped container from brass or lacquer | 網筐 | 网筐 | Min Nan | bǎng-kheng | round lacquer box for storing clothes | |
| bangsat | 1. bed bug, 2. (colloquial) bad person. | 木蝨 | 木虱 | Min Nan | ba̍t-sat, ba̍k-sat | bed bug | |
| banji | decorative grilles used in windows | 卍字 | 卍字 | Amoy | bān jī | swastika-like pattern in lattice work | |
| barongsai, baronsai | Chinese lion dance | 弄獅 | 弄狮 | Min Nan | lāng-sai | lion dance | |
| baru | new | 麻汝 | 麻汝 | Hokkien | bâ-lú | | |
| becak, beca | cycle rickshaw | 馬車 | 马车 | Min Nan | bé-chhia | horse-drawn carriage | |
| bengkoang, bengkuang | jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) | 夢光 | 梦光 | Min Nan | bāng-kong | dream+light | |
| bengkong | defense building, defense wall | 防城 | 防城 | Min Nan | hông sêng | | |
| bihun | rice vermicelli | 米粉 | 米粉 | Min Nan | bí-hún | 1. rice vermicelli 2. rice flour | see also bihun |
| biong | land mafia | 辟王 | 辟王 | Min Nan | phek-ōng | monarch, king | |
| bohsia | (Malaysia) pleasure-loving girl | 無聲 | 无声 | Min Nan | bô-siaⁿ | pleasure-loving girl? noiseless; voiceless; silent | |
| boksu | Chinese Christian pastor | 牧師 | 牧师 | Min Nan | bo̍k-su | pastor, minister, clergyman, priest, chaplain | |
| bokcoi | bok choy | 白菜 | 白菜 | Cantonese | baak6 coi3 | bok choy | see bok choy (Brassica rapa chinensis) |
| bokcoi | bok choy | 白菜 | 白菜 | Min Nan | be̍h-chhài | bok choy | see bok choy (Brassica rapa chinensis) |
| bokek | moneyless | 沒錢 | 没钱 | Min Nan | bu̍t-chî | moneyless | |
| boksên | (colloquial) boxing | 拍木勝 | 拍木胜 | Min Nan | phah-bo̍k-sèng | boxing | |
| bolui | moneyless | 沒鐳 | 没镭 | Min Nan | bu̍t-lûi | moneyless | see bokek |
| bong | Chinese graveyard | 墓 | 墓 | Min Nan | bōng | tomb | |
| bongmeh | to feel the pulse, to feel the feeling | 摸脈 | 摸脉 | Min Nan | bong-me̍h | to feel the pulse | |
| bongpai | gravestone | 墓碑 | 墓碑 | Min Nan | bōng-pi | grave stele | |
| bopeng | pockmarked | 麻斑 | 麻斑 | Min Nan | bâ-pan | pockmarked | |
| bopok | 1. heavily damaged, 2. too frail | 無卜 | 无卜 | Min Nan | bô-pok | not going to; will not | |
| boto | beautiful (Jakarta) | 無醜 | 无丑 | Min Nan | bô-thiú | not ugly | |
| bun | small brass box | 文 | 文 | Min Nan | bûn | to cover | |

### C

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning |
| ca | Cuisine made from a mixture of meat (shrimp) and vegetables (mushrooms, petai, broccoli, bamboo shoots, cauliflower), little broth and starch | 炒 | 炒 | Hokkien Teochew | chhá ca2 | to stir fry, to sauté |
| cabo | (Jakarta) prostitute, whore (woman) | 查某 | 查某 | Min Nan | cha-bó͘ | woman, girl |
| caima | nuns in the temple who served to help the dead | 菜媽 | 菜马 | Min Nan | chhài-má | vegetarian nun, or woman |
| caisim | Green mustard, Brassica chinensis | 菜心 | 菜心 | Min Nan | chhài-sim | Choy sum |
| cakiak | wooden clog | 柴屐 | 柴屐 | Min Nan | chhâ-kia̍h | wooden clog |
| calo | passenger recruiter, ticket scalper broker | 查佬 | 查佬 | Cantonese | caa4-lou2,lou5,liu4 | man who guides passengers to bus or train for payment, broker |
| calui | like to eat money (like to accept bribes or bribe) | 食鐳 | 食镭 | Min Nan | chia̍h-lûi, chiā-lûi | to take bribes |
| cang | snacks made from glutinous sticky rice, chopped meat, wrapped with bamboo leaves and steamed (tasty savory) | 糉 粽 | 粽 | Min Nan | chàng | zongzi |
| cah | vegetable dishes (mustard greens, mushrooms, shrimp, chicken liver, and so on) are a little juicy | 炒 | 炒 | Min Nan | chhá ca2 | to stir fry, to sauté |
| cap | ten | 十 | 十 | Min Nan | cha̍p | ten |
| cap cai | stir fried vegetable dish | 杂菜 | 杂菜 | Min Nan | cha̍p-chhài | mixed vegetables |
| capgome | lantern festival, part of Chinese new year | 十五暝 | 十五冥 | Min Nan | cha̍p-gō͘-mê cha̍p-gǒ͘-mê | lantern festival, part of Chinese new year |
| capjiki | lottery twelve numbers (letters) | 十二枝 | 十二枝 | Min Nan | cha̍p-jī-ki | |
| cat | paint | 漆 | 漆 | Min Nan | chhat | 1. varnish, lacquer, paint 2. varnish tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) |
| catut | 1. tweezers. 2. tongs, pincers. 3. black marketer, scalper, corrupter. | 查突 | 查突 | Min Nan | châ-tu̍t | man who guides passengers to bus or train for payment, broker |
| cau | leave, bye | 走 | 走 | Min Nan | cháu, chó͘, chó | to go, to leave |
| cawan | cup | 茶碗 | 茶碗 | Mandarin | cháwǎn | teacup |
| ceban | ten thousand | 一萬 | 一万 | Min Nan | chi̍t-bān | ten thousand |
| ceceng | one thousand | 一千 | 一千 | Min Nan | chi̍t-chheng | one thousand |
| cek | elder sister | 姐 姊 | 姐 姊 | Min Nan | ché | elder sister |
| ceki | gambling with small rectangular cards | 一枝 | 一枝 | Min Nan | chi̍t-ki | |
| cemeh | one eye blindness | 睛盲 | 睛盲 | Min Nan | chhéng-mêe | blind |
| cempiang | warrior, ace | 舂柄 | 舂柄 | Min Nan | cheng-pèng | gang, robber |
| cengbeng | tomb-sweeping day | 清明 | 清明 | Min Nan | chheng-bêng | qingming |
| cengkau | broker | 成交 | 成交 | Min Nan | sêng-kau | to close a deal; to conclude a transaction |
| cengkeh | banker (gambling) | 莊家 | 莊家 | Min Nan | chong-kee | 1. banker (gambling) 2. farmhouse |
| cengli | 1. should be, reasonable 2. fair, honest | 情理 | 情理 | Min Nan | chêng-lí | reasonable |
| cepek | one hundred | 一百 | 一百 | Min Nan | chi̍t-pah | one hundred |
| cepeng | half a cent | 一爿 | 一爿 | Min Nan | chi̍t-pêng | half a cent |
| ci | weight unit: 1/10 tahil (for opium) | 錢 | 钱 | Min Nan | chîⁿ | money; a measure of weight for opium |
| ciaciu | sitting party | 餐桌 | 餐桌 | Cantonese | caan1 coek3 | dining table |
| ciak, cia | to eat | 食 | 食 | Min Nan | chiā | to eat |
| cialat | misfortune | 食力 | 食力 | Min Nan | chiā-lia̍k | misfortune, bad luck; difficult |
| ciami, ciamik | extraordinarily good | 食飽未? | 食饱未? | | | |
| cici | elder sister | 姐姐 | 姐姐 | Min Nan | chiá-chiá | elder sister |
| cik | elder sister | 姐 姊 | 姐 姊 | Min Nan | ché | elder sister |
| cim, encim | married Chinese woman | 嬸 | 婶 | Min Nan | chím | aunt (wife of father's younger brother) |
| cincai, cingcai | flexible | 凊彩 | 凊彩 | Min Nan | chhìn-chhái | 1. any, 2. casual; easygoing |
| cincau, camcao, cingcau | Cyclea barbata, and its grass or leaves jelly product | 仙草 | 仙草 | Min Nan | sian-chháu | Chinese mesona (Platostoma palustre), and its grass jelly product |
| cincu | 1. ship owner representative, 2. ship captain | 船主 | 船主 | Min Nan | chûn-chú | shipowner |
| cingge | cingge, march of people | 妝藝 | 妆艺 | Min Nan | chng-gē | cingge |
| ciu | triple layer mat with gold decoration | 蓆 | 蓆 | Min Nan | chhio̍h | mat |
| ciu, cu | spirits, liquor | 酒 | 酒 | Min Nan | chiú | alcoholic drink |
| ciut | 1. narrow, 2. small-minded | 窄 | 窄 | Min Nan | chiak, chek | 1. narrow, tight 2. narrow-minded |
| cokek | Betawi folk dance | 唱曲 | 唱曲 | Min Nan | chhiòⁿ-khek | sing song |
| comblang (Jakarta) | matchmaking | 作媒人 | 作媒人 | Min Nan | chok-m̂-lâng | matchmaker |
| compoh | ship chef | 總鋪 | 总铺 | Min Nan | chóng-phò͘ | chef |
| congki | xiangqi, the Chinese chess | 象棋 | 象棋 | Min Nan | chhiōⁿ-kî | xiangqi, the Chinese chess |
| cua | afraid, tremble | 懼 | 惧 | Min Nan | kū | 1. to fear; to be afraid, 2. to scare; to frighten |
| cuki | xiangqi, game like dam | 象棋 | 象棋 | Min Nan | chhiǔⁿ-kî, chhiūⁿ-kî, chhiōⁿ-kî | xiangqi |
| cukin | small drap covering the chest during meal | 手巾 | 手巾 | Min Nan | chhiú-kin | (hand) towel, handkerchief |
| cukong | tycoon | 主公 | 主公 | Min Nan | chú-kong | Your Excellency; His Excellency |
| cukup | enough | 足够 | 足够 | Min Nan | zú-gòu | |
| culan | pacar cina (Aglaia odorata) | 珠蘭 | 珠兰 | Min Nan | chu-lân | |
| cun | length unit 1/10 feet | 寸 | 寸 | Min Nan | chhùn | |
| cunia | large boat for transporting goods | 船仔 | 船仔 | Min Nan | chûn-á | a boat |

### D

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note | Ref |
| dacin | balance scale | 檯秤 | 台秤 | Min Nan | tâi-chhèng | platform scales | | |
| dimsum | dim sum | 點心 | 点心 | Cantonese | dim2 sam1 | 1. snack, light refreshment, 2. dim sum | | |

### E

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| ebi | dried prawns, shrimps | 蝦米 | 虾米 | Min Nan | hê-bí hêe-bí | dried prawns, shrimps | see also ebi in Japanese |
| empek | 1. a kind of fishcake from Palembang, Indonesia (pempek), 2. father | 阿伯 | 阿伯 | Min Nan | a-peh | paternal uncle, old man | see also, apek |
| empo | to carry on the waist | 抱 | 抱 | Min Nan | phǒ͘, phō, phǒ | 1. to heft in the arms; to carry 2. to hug; to embrace | |
| encek | pure-blood Chinese man | 阿叔 | 阿叔 | Min Nan | a-chek | uncle (father's younger brother) | |
| engkah, kah | sap (to attach wood), adhesive, glue | 黃膠 | 黄胶 | Min Nan | n̂g-ka | (yellow) glue, adhesive, gum, resin | |
| engkoh | elder brother | 阿哥 | 阿哥 | Min Nan | a-ko | elder brother | |
| engkong | grandfather | 阿公 | 阿公 | Min Nan | a-kong | paternal grandfather, maternal grandfather | |
| engku | maternal uncle | 阿舅 | 阿舅 | Min Nan | a-kū, a-kǔ | maternal uncle | |
| esai | can, may | 會使 | 会使 | Min Nan | ē-sái, ē-saih, ě-sái | can, may | |

### F

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note | Ref |
| fengsui | feng shui | 風水 | 风水 | Mandarin | fēngshuǐ | feng shui | 1. see also variant hongsui, a loanword from Min Nan. | |

### G

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| gim | (Jakarta) gold thread | 金 | 金 | Min Nan | kim, gim1 | gold | |
| gincu | 1. lipstick, 2. (cake, cookie) coloring | 銀硃 銀朱 | 银朱 | Min Nan | gîn-chu | | |
| ginkang | body movement mastery through inner power | 輕功 | 轻功 | Min Nan | khin-kang | | |
| gingseng | Pandare aralia ginseng | 人參 人蔘 | 人参 | Min Nan | jîn-song | ginseng (Panax sp.) | |
| giok | jade | 玉 | 玉 | Min Nan | gio̍k | 1. jade (originally nephrite, now also including jadeite), 2. precious stone; gem, 3. pure; beautiful | |
| giwang | earring | 耳環 | 耳环 | Hakka | ngí-vàn | earring | |
| gobang, benggol | copper money with value 2.5 cent | 五半 | 五半 | Min Nan | gō͘, gǒ͘, ngó͘, gó͘- pòaⁿ, poàn | | |
| gocap | fifty | 五十 | 五十 | Min Nan | gǒ͘-cha̍p gō͘-cha̍p | | |
| gongli | girl who prostitutes herself for pleasure solely without fee | 戇女 | 戆女 | Min Nan | gōng-lí | stupid; foolish; simple; simple-minded + woman | |
| gong xi fat cai | | 恭喜發財 | 恭喜发财 | Mandarin | gōngxǐfācái | | A Chinese new year greeting, literally "congratulations and be prosperous". |
| gopek | five hundred | 五百 | 五百 | Min Nan Hakka | gō͘-pah, gǒ͘-pah ńg-pak | five hundred | |
| gotong | to carry | | 搞通 | 搞通 | Min Nan | káu-thong | |
| gotun | five | 五百 | 五百 | Min Nan | gō͘-tún, gǒ͘-tún | five shield five (money) | money in this case refers to đồng, guilder, gulden, or rupiah |
| gua | I (slang) | 我 | 我 | Min Nan | góa | I (first person, singular) | |
| guci | shiny-coated pitchers | 罐子 | 罐子 | Min Nan Cantonese | koàn-chí gun3 zi2 | small jar | |
| guo nian hao | | | | Mandarin | | | A Chinese new year greeting. |

### H

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| haisom | sea cucumber | 海參 海蔘 | 海参 | Min Nan | hái-som | sea cucumber | |
| hap | tin receptacle for prepared opium | 盒 | 盒 | Hokkien Teochew Cantonese | ha̍p,a̍h,a̍p ab8 hap6,hap6-2,haap6 | (small) box; case | |
| hia | baru cina (Artemisia vulgaris) | 艾 | 艾 | Min Nan | hiāⁿ | artemisia, mugwort | |
| hio | joss stick, Chinese incense | 香 | 香 | Min Nan | hioⁿ | 1. fragrant; fragrance, perfume 2. joss stick; incense | |
| hipio | swim bladder | 魚鰾 | 鱼鳔 | Min Nan | hî-piō | swim bladder | |
| hisit | shark fin | 魚翅 | 鱼翅 | Min Nan | hî-chhì | shark fin | |
| hengkang | 1. retreat, 2. escape | 解間? | 解间? | | -kan, -gang1 | | |
| hoana | non-Han | 番仔 | 番仔 | Min Nan | hoan-á | non-Han | |
| hoki | luck, fortune | 福氣 | 福气 | Min Nan | hok-khì | good fortune | |
| honcoe | tobacco, opium pipe | 煙吹 菸吹 | 烟吹 | Min Nan | ian-chhoe | tobacco, opium pipe | |
| honghouw | queen | 王后 | 王后 | Min Nan Hakka Cantonese | ông-hō͘ vông-heu wong5 hau6 | queen consort | |
| hongbao | gift money for Chinese New Year | 紅包 | 红包 | Mandarin | hóngbāo | red envelope | see also loanword from Min Nan "angpau". |
| hongsui | feng shui | 風水 | 风水 | Min Nan | hong-súi | feng shui | 1. see also formal fengsui, a loanword from Mandarin. |
| Hokkian, Hokkien | Fujian | 福建 | 福建 | Min Nan | hok-kiàn | Fujian | see also fuk-kian, fuk-kien (Hakka) and fújiàn (Mandarin) |
| Hongkong, Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 香港 | 香港 | Cantonese Hakka Min Nan Min Nan | hoeng1 gong2 hiông-kóng hiong-káng, hiang-káng | Hong Kong | |
| hopeng | trusted relation | 好朋友 | 好朋友 | Min Nan Hakka | hó-pêng-iú hó-phèn-yû | good friend | |
| Honji | Chinese characters, Han characters | 漢字 | 汉字 | Cantonese Min Nan Hakka Mandarin | hon-jih, hon3 zi6 hàn-jī, hàn-lī hon55 sii55, hon-sṳ hànzì | Chinese characters, Han characters | |
| huakiau, hoakiau | overseas Chinese | 華僑 | 华侨 | Min Nan | hôa-kiâu, hoa-kiâu | overseas Chinese | |
| hujin, hunjin | contribution money | 分銀 | 分银 | Min Nan | hùn-gîn | part, responsibility + money | |
| hun | weight measurement unit 1/100 taels = 0,378 g | 分 | 分 | Min Nan | hun | minute | see Chinese units of measurement |
| hunkue | mung bean (Vigna radiata) flour, and its pastry | 粉粿 | 粉粿 | Min Nan | hún-kóe, hún-ké | fun guo | |
| hwahwee | Chinese association | 華會 | 华会 | Min Nan | hôa-hōe | Chinese association | see Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan (THHK), Chung Hwa Hwee Koan, (中华会馆) |
| hwee | association | 會 | 会 | Min Nan | hōe | association | |

### I

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note | Ref |
| imlèk | Chinese lunar calendar | 陰曆 | 阴历 | Min Nan | im-le̍k, im-lia̍k | lunar calendar | | |
| incar | drill (for boring holes) | 引插 | 引插 | Min Nan | íⁿ-chhah | to pull, to lead + to insert | | |

### J

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| jelangkung, jailangkung | doll for spirit calling | 伽籃公 | 伽篮公 | Min Nan Hakka | ch’ai-lâm-kong kia làm kûng | | |
| Jepang | Japan | 日本 | 日本 | Hokkien | Rì-běn | Rì-běn | |
| ji | two | 二 | 二 | Min Nan | jī | two | |
| jibun | many | 十分 | 十分 | Min Nan | si̍p-hun | very, extremely, (lit. part of tenth) | |
| jicap | twenty | 二十 | 二十 | Min Nan | jī-cha̍p | twenty | |
| jicapgo | twenty five | 二十五 | 二十五 | Min Nan | jī-cha̍p-gō͘ | twenty five | |
| jicing | opium dust | 煙燼 菸燼 | 烟烬 | Cantonese | jin1 zeon2, zeon6 | smoke, tobacco, opium cinders, ashes, embers | |
| jinsom | ginseng, root preparation | 人參 人蔘 | 人参 | Min Nan | jîn-song | ginseng (Panax sp.) | see ginseng |
| jintan | Carum roxburghianum | 仁丹 | 仁丹 | Min Nan | jîn-tan | | ? |
| jitu | accurate, precise | 得著 | 得着 | Min Nan | tit-tio̍h | 1. to get, to obtain, to receive 2. something gained (usually intangible) | ? |
| jok | seat, padded seating | 褥 | 褥 | Min Nan Cantonese | jio̍k juk6 | 1. cotton-padded mattress, mattress, cushion 2. bedding | |
| juhi | dried squid | 鰇魚 | 鰇鱼 | Min Nan | jiû-hî | squid | |
| jung | boat, Chinese junk | 船 | 船 | [[Southern Min|Hokkien]n] Teochew | chûn, soân zung5 | boat, Chinese junk | |

### K

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| kailan | Gai lan | 芥蘭 | 芥兰 | Cantonese | gaai3 laan4-2 | Gai lan | Gai lan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) is the Cantonese name and jie lan is the Mandarin name for a vegetable that is also known as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale. |
| kakak | older sibling addressing someone slightly older | 哥哥 | 哥哥 | Min Nan | koko | older brother, elder brother, big brother | |
| kalau | If | 假如 | 假如 | Min Nan | ka-lū | If | |
| kalo | strainer | 過濾 | 过滤 | Min Nan | kè-lū | to filter | |
| kampuh | covering | 蓋布 蓋佈 | 盖布 | Min Nan | kah-pò͘ | to put on, to apply, cloth; textiles | |
| kamsia | to thank, to be grateful, to be appreciative | 感謝 | 感谢 | Min Nan | kám-siā | to thank, to be grateful, to be appreciative | |
| kana | 1. preserved olives 2. bunga tasbih (Canna oriantalis) | 橄欖 | 橄榄 | Min Nan | káⁿ-ná, kaⁿ-ná, kán-ná, kan-ná | Chinese olive (Canarium album), which is dried or candied, or are eaten (the nuts) | |
| kang | a large wide-mouthed bathing-jar | 缸 | 缸 | Min Nan | kong, kng | earthen jug, crock, cistern | |
| kangtau | unexpected fortune, opportunity | 空頭 | 空头 | Min Nan | khang-thâu | 1. nominal; phony 2. (stock exchange) bear, shorts | |
| kau | nine | 九 | 九 | Min Nan | káu | nine | |
| kau | dog | 狗 | 狗 | Min Nan | káu | dog | |
| kecap | soy sauce | 茄汁 | 茄汁 | Cantonese | ke4-2 zap1 | 1. tomato juice 2. ketchup | ketchup is saus tomat, not kecap |
| kēcoak, kacoak, kēcuak, kēcoa | (Jakarta) cockroach | 虼蚻 | 虼蚻 | Min Nan | ka-choa̍h, kǎ-choa̍h, ka-chōa | cockroach | |
| kelong | large sea fish trap with two or three compartments | 雞籠 鷄籠 | 鸡笼 | Min Nan | kelông, kelóng | batteries (cages for hen) | |
| kelontong | grocery, hawker | 玲瓏鼕 玲瓏冬 | 玲珑冬 | Min Nan | lêng-lông-tong | brightly clear+winter | probably onomatopoeic |
| kemoceng | feather duster | 雞毛筅 鷄毛筅 | 鸡毛筅 | Min Nan | ke-mo͘ -chhéng, ke-mô͘-chhéng | chicken+feather+brush | |
| kenceng | drill worked with a bow | 弓鑽 | 弓钻 | Min Nan | keng-chǹg | bow+drill | |
| kèpo | (colloquial) busybody | 雞婆 | 雞婆 | Min Nan | ke-pô | (slang) busybody | |
| kērangkeng | cage | 櫳間 | 栊间 | Min Nan | lông-keng | (old-fashioned) prison, jail | |
| kiaupau | population | 僑胞 | 侨胞 | Min Nan | kiâu-pau | countryman living abroad, overseas compatriots | |
| kimantu | pure-blood Chinese | 饑滿肚 飢滿肚 | 饥满肚 | Hakka Min Nan | kî mân tú ki-móa-tǒ͘ | | |
| kimlo | soup vegetable with meat | 金爐 | 金炉 | Min Nan | kîm-lù | | |
| kin | a unit of weight, catty; = 16 niún (= 600 gms) | 斤 | 斤 | Min Nan | kin | catty, a unit of weight | |
| kio | stretcher | 轎 | 轿 | Min Nan | kiō | palanquin, litter | |
| kipsiau | teapot | 急燒 | 急烧 | Min Nan | kip-siau | quick heat | |
| kiwi | supercargo, guest in ship | 客位 | 客位 | Min Nan | kheeh-ūi | guest+position | |
| klenteng | Chinese folk religion temple | 觀音亭 | 观音亭 | Min Nan | koan-im-têng | Guanyin temple | |
| koa | name of game | 卦 | 卦 | Min Nan | kòa | | |
| koki | chef | 厨师 | 厨师 | Cantonese | Chú-shī | | |
| kolesom | ginseng | 高麗參 高麗蔘 | 高丽参 | Min Nan | ko-lê-sim, ko-lê-sam, ko-lê-som | Korean ginseng | |
| Kong hu chu, kong cu | Confucius, Confucianism | 孔夫子 孔子 | 孔夫子 孔子 | Min Nan | Khóng Hu-chú Khóng-chú | Confucius | |
| kongkalikong | dishonest, secretive, knowing and knowing (in doing something that is not good), conspiring | 公共儞講 | 公共你讲 | Min Nan | kong-kā-lí-kóng | public-shares-you-discuss | |
| kongko (Jakarta) | meaningless talk | 講古 | 讲古 | Min Nan | kóng-kó͘ | to tell stories | |
| kongkoan | 1. public building, 2. Chinese council building | 公館 | 公馆 | Min Nan | kong-koán | 1. imperial guesthouse, 2. grand residence of rich or important person | |
| kongsi | 1. commercial association, partnership. 2. group, association. 3. landlord office | 公司 | 公司 | Min Nan | kong-si | 1. company, firm, corporation 2. Kongsi, clan hall | |
| konian, kweni | Chinese new year celebration | 過年 | 过年 | Hakka Min Nan | ko-ngièn,ko-ngiàn kè-nî,kèr-nî,kòe-nî | 1. to spend (celebrate) the Chinese New Year 2. (colloquial) next year | |
| koteng | alone, friendless | 孤丁 | 孤丁 | Min Nan | ko͘-teng | loneliness+person | |
| koyo | medicinal plaster | 膏藥 | 膏药 | Hakka Min Nan | kâu-yo̍k, kò-yo̍k ko-io̍h, ko͘-io̍h | herbal plaster; medicated patch; poultice | |
| ku | tortoise; cake | 龜 | 龟 | Min Nan | ku, kui | turtle; tortoise | |
| kuaci | watermelon seed, dried. | 瓜子 | 瓜子 | Min Nan | koa-chí | edible seed consumed as a snack | |
| kucai | Allium adorum | 韭菜 韮菜 | 韭菜 | Min Nan | kú-chhài | garlic chives; Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum) | In Hakka, Allium tuberosum is 快菜 (khuai-chhoi, kuai4 coi4) |
| kue | cake, pastries | 粿 | 粿 | Min Nan | kóe | rice cake | |
| kuli | slave, labourer, heaver | 苦力 | 苦力 | Min Nan | ku-lí | 1. labor; hard work 2. coolie; laborer | |
| kungfu | kung fu | 功夫 | 功夫 | Hakka Cantonese | kûng-fû gung1 fu1 | kung fu | |
| kungtau | fist | 拳頭 | 拳头 | Min Nan | kûn-thâu | fist | |
| kuntuan | satin-like silk | 裙緞 | 裙缎 | Min Nan | kûn-toān | skirt, apron, dress satin | |
| Kwan Im | Guanyin | 觀音 觀世音 | 观音 观世音 | Min Nan | Koan-im Koan-sè-im | Guanyin | Chinese interpretation of Avalokitesvara |
| kwetiau, kuetiau | kway teow (flat noodle) | 粿條 | 粿条 | Min Nan | kóe-tiâu | kway teow | |

### L

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| lampan | to mine, to mold | 淋板 | 淋板 | Min Nan | lâm-pán | to pour + tin plate | |
| lan | phosphorus | 磷 | 磷 | Cantonese | leon4, leon6 | phosphorus | |
| lancia | Two-wheeled carts, moved by people. rickshaw | 人車 | 人车 | Min Nan | lâng-chhia | rickshaw | |
| langkan | 1. balcony. 2. balustrade, railing. | 欄杆 | 栏杆 | Min Nan | lân-kan | railing, handrail, banister | |
| langsai | 1. paid, settled (debt). 2. curtain | | | | | | |
| langseng | steamer basket | 籠床 籠牀 | 笼床 | Min Nan | lâng-sn̂g | steamer basket | |
| lengkeng, longan | longan (Euphoria longana) | 龍眼 | 龙眼 | Min Nan | lêng-kéng | longan (Euphoria longana) | |
| lengking | shrill, strident | 隆輕 | 隆轻 | Min Nan | liông-khin, liông-kheng | | |
| letoi | weak because tired | 力退 | 力退 | Cantonese | lik6 teoi3 | | |
| letoi | weak because tired | 力退 | 力退 | Min Nan | la̍t-thè, le̍k-thòe | | |
| lianglong | Chinese dragons played by a number of people | 亮龍 | 亮龙 | Min Nan | liāng-liông | bright+dragon | |
| lici, leci | lychee (Litchi chinensis) | 荔枝 | 荔枝 | Min Nan | lē-chi | lychee (Litchi chinensis) | |
| lihai | skillful | 厲害 | 厉害 | Min Nan | lī-hāi | fierce, serious (informal) excellent; amazing; fantastic | |
| ling | measurement unit | 鯪 | 鲮 | | | | |
| lio | burning bricks (tiles) | 寮 | 寮 | Min Nan | liâu | shanty, hut, shack | |
| liong | Chinese dragon | 龍 | 龙 | Min Nan | liông | Chinese dragon | |
| loak | 1. second-hand, 2. trash bins | 籮 | 箩 | Min Nan | lôa | bamboo basket | |
| lobak | radish (Raphanus sativus) | 蘿蔔 | 萝卜 | Cantonese | lo4 baak6 | 1. radish, 2. turnip, 3. daikon; Chinese radish | |
| lonceng | bell | 亂鐘 | 乱钟 | Min Nan | lōan-cheng | alarm clock | |
| lokcuan | Chinese silk | 羅串 | 罗串 | Min Nan | lô-chhoàn, lô͘-chhoàn | | |
| lokek | stingy, parsimonious | 落錢 | 落钱 | Min Nan | lo̍k-chî | drop money | |
| loki | prostitutes | 老妓 | 老妓 | Min Nan | ló͘-kī, ló-ki | old, experienced, always prostitutes, female entertainer | |
| lokio | chives (Allium schoenoprasum) | 蕗蕎 | 蕗蕎 | Min Nan | lō͘-kiō, lō͘-giō | scallion | |
| loknan | hardship | 落難 | 落难 | Cantonese | lok6 naan6 | to meet with misfortune; to be in distress | |
| loksek | bankrupt | 蕗息 | 蕗息 | Cantonese | lok6 sik1 | fall down+to cease | |
| loksun | dry cough | 咯咯聲 | 咯咯聲 | Cantonese | lok1 lok1 seng1 | cackle, chuck | ? |
| loktong | prostitutes | 樂桶 | 乐桶 | Min Nan | lo̍k-thóng | enjoy, love | ? |
| loleng | paper lantern | 牢籠 | 牢笼 | Min Nan | lô-lang | | ? |
| lontong | a kind of rice cake from Indonesia | 龍通 | 龙通 | Mandarin | lóngtōng | | |
| loténg, laoteng | 2nd storey of a house, attic | 樓頂 | 楼顶 | Min Nan | lâu-téng | upstair | |
| lu | you (slang) | 汝 你 | 汝 你 | Min Nan | lú lí | you (second person, singular) | |
| lumpia | spring roll | 潤餅 | 润饼 | Min Nan | lǔn-piáⁿ | spring roll | |

### M

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning |
| makao | woven yarn of cotton yarn, whitish color | 馬狗 | | | má-káu | Macau |
| makaopo | prostitute | 馬狗婆 | | | má-káu-pô͘ | Macau |
| mama | mother | 妈妈 | 妈妈 | Min Nan | mā-ma | mother |
| mesiu | gunpowder | 芒硝 | 芒硝 | Min Nan | mêe-siau | 1. mirabilite, 2. sodium sulfate |
| mi, mie | noodle | 麵 | 面 | Min Nan Hakka | mī mien | flour, dough, noodle |
| mihun | rice vermicelli | 麵粉, 麪粉 | 面粉 | Min Nan | mī-hún | flour |
| misoa | misua | 麵線, 麪線 | 面线 | Min Nan | mī-soàⁿ | flour |
| mopit | Chinese writing brush | 毛筆 | 毛笔 | Min Nan | mô͘-pit | calligraphy brush, inkbrush |
| mua | eel | 鰻 | 鳗 | Min Nan | môa | eel |

### N

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning |
| nanyang | Southeast Asia (nanyang) | 南洋 | 南洋 | Mandarin | nányáng | southern ocean |
| nopek | two hundred | 兩百 | 两百 | Min Nan | nō͘ -pah | two hundred |
| nyolo | censer | 香爐 | 香炉 | Min Nan | hiuⁿ-lô͘ | incense burner |
| nyonya | madame, lady | 娘惹 | 娘惹 | Cantonese | noeng3 ja1 | beloved perfect woman |

### O

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| o | black | 烏 | 乌 | Min Nan | o͘ | black, dark | such as in Kopi O |
| obeng | screwdriver | 窩鋒 | 窝锋 | Min Nan | o-hong | | |
| ong | emperor, king | 王 | 王 | Min Nan | ông | king, monarch, champion | |
| ongji | license, permit | 王字 | 王字 | Min Nan | ông jī | king, monarch, champion +word, letter, contract | |
| ongji | license, permit | 允許 | 允许 | Min Nan | ún-hí | to permit, to allow | |
| oto | bib | 圍兜 | 围兜 | Min Nan | û-to͘ | bib | |

### P

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| pai | to pay respect with hands clasped before the chest | 拜 | 拜 | Min Nan | pài | to do obeisance; bow; kowtow | |
| pakau | a Chinese card game | 拍九 | 拍九 | Min Nan | phah-káu | | ? |
| pakpui | divination | 卜杯 | 卜杯 | Min Nan | pok-poe | | |
| pangkin, pangkeng | sleeping room, bed | 房間 | 房间 | Min Nan | pâng-kuiⁿ, pâng-keng | room | |
| panglong | lumber mill | 枋廊 | 枋廊 | Min Nan | pang-lông | timber gallery | |
| pangsi | black silk | 紡絲 | 纺丝 | Min Nan | pháng-si | spin, weave silk | ? |
| pangsi | black silk | 墨絲 | 墨丝 | Min Nan | ba̍k-si | dark, black silk | ? |
| pangsit | wonton | 扁食 | 扁食 | Min Nan | pián-si̍t | wonton | A wonton is a type of Chinese dumpling commonly found across regional styles of Chinese cuisine. |
| papa | father, sir | 爸爸 | 爸爸 | Min Nan | pa-pa, pa-pah | father, sir | |
| patka | a talisman in the form of a sheet of paper written with Chinese characters | 八卦 | 八卦 | Min Nan | pat-kòa | eight divinatory trigrams of the I Ching | |
| pauhi | abalone | 鮑魚 | 鲍鱼 | Min Nan | pau-hî | abalone | |
| pao-pao, opau | small pocket | 荷包 | 荷包 | Min Nan | hô-pau | small pocket | |
| pecai, pakcoi | napa cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis) | 白菜 | 白菜 | Min Nan | pe̍h-chhài | napa cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis) | |
| pecun, pehcun | Dragon Boat Festival | 扒船 | 扒船 | Min Nan | pê-chûn | rowing | |
| pehong | venereal disease, syphilis | 病瘋 瘡痕 病毒 | 病疯 瘡痕 病毒 | Min Nan | pēng-hong chhng-hûn pīⁿ-to̍k, pēⁿ-to̍k | fast+ill sore virus | ? |
| pengki | dustpan | 畚箕 | 畚箕 | Min Nan | pun-kî | bamboo or wicker scoop; dustpan | |
| pia | bet, stake | 拚 | 拚 | Min Nan | piàⁿ | risk | |
| picis | ten cent | 貝子 | 贝子 | Min Nan Hakka | pòe-chí pi chṳ́ | small shellfish, currency | |
| pit | Chinese brush | 筆 | 笔 | Min Nan | pit | Chinese brush | |
| pisau | knife | 匕首 | 匕首 | Cantonese Min Nan | bei6 sau2 pí-siú | dagger | |
| po | a gambling game | 寶 | 宝 | Min Nan | pó, pó͘ | a kind of gambling device | |
| poko | bijanggut Mentha (Mentha arvensis) | 薄荷 | 薄荷 | Min Nan | po̍h-hô, po̍k-hô | mint (Mentha) plants, including peppermint | |
| poo | oil extract from merdinah (Mentha merdinah) and poko (Mentha orvensib) | 薄荷 | 薄荷 | Min Nan | po̍h-hô, po̍k-hô | mint (Mentha) plants, including peppermint | |
| popi | doll | 保庇 | | Min Nan | pó-pì | to protect | |
| potehi | Chinese glove puppetry | 布袋戲 | 布袋戏 | Min Nan | pò͘-tē-hì | glove puppetry | |
| potia | overseer | 部長 | 部長 | Min Nan | pō͘-tiúⁿ | head of department, section chief | |
| puatang | fail, unlucky | 破桶 | 破桶 | Min Nan | phòa-tháng | broken drum | |
| punci | alright, fortunately | 本錢 | 本钱 | Min Nan | pún-chîⁿ | capital, position, skill, experience | |
| puyonghai, fuyonghai | egg foo yung | 芙蓉蛋 | 芙蓉蛋 | Cantonese | fu4 jung4 daan6-2 | egg foo yung | |
| puyonghai, fuyonghai | egg foo yung | 芙蓉蟹 | 芙蓉蟹 | Cantonese | fu4 jung4 haai5 | egg foo yung with crab | |

### S

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| sai | lion | 獅 | 狮 | Min Nan | sai | lion | |
| sam | three | 三 | 三 | Min Nan | saⁿ, sam | three | |
| samcan | pork belly | 三層 | 三层 | Min Nan | sam-chàn | pork belly | |
| sampan | sampan, a kind of boat | 舢板 三板 | 舢板 三板 | Min Nan | san-pán | sampan | |
| samseng | to go to someone mourning | 三牲 | 三牲 | Min Nan | sam-sng, sam-seng | three domestic animals | three domestic animals (cattle, sheep, and pigs) used as sacrificed offerings during mourning. |
| samsu | sugarcane liquor | 三燒 | 三烧 | Cantonese | saam1 siu1 | lit. thrice burnt | |
| sancan | beef flank | 三層 | 三层 | Min Nan | saⁿ-chàn | pork belly | see samcan |
| sate | satay | 三疊 | 三叠 | Min Nan | saⁿ-tha̍h | lit. three layer | ? |
| sekoteng | a ginger-flavoured hot drink | 四果湯 | 四果汤 | Min Nan | sì-kó͘,kó-thng,thong | | |
| seh | surname | 姓 | 姓 | Min Nan Cantonese | sèng, sìⁿ, sèⁿ sing3, seng3 | surname | |
| sempoa | abacus | 算盤 | 算盘 | Min Nan | sǹg-pôaⁿ | abacus | |
| sentiong | Chinese graveyard | 新塚 | 新塚 | Min Nan | sin-thióng | new graveyard | |
| si | four | 四 | 四 | Min Nan | sì, sù, sìr | four | |
| sian | such | 相 | 相 | Min Nan | siang | towards each other, one another | |
| siantan | Ixora concinna | 仙丹花 | 仙丹花 | Min Nan | sian-tan | Ixora chinensis | lit. elixir of life |
| siau | cooled | 消 | 消 | Min Nan | siau | dissolve, remove, lost weight, cost | |
| sie-sie | thanks | 謝謝 | 谢谢 | Mandarin | xièxie | thanks | |
| sikak | piece of iron starfruit (weapon) | 四角 | 四角 | Min Nan | sì-kak | four angle, four corner | perhaps like caltrop or shuriken |
| sincia | Chinese new year | 新正 | 新正 | Min Nan | sin-chiaⁿ | first month of the lunar new year, first day of the lunar new year, Chinese new year | |
| sinci | spirit tablet | 神位 | 神位 | Min Nan | sîn-ūi | spirit tablet | |
| singkék | Chinese newcomer (derogative), pure blooded Chinese, i.e. not of mixed ancestry | 新客 | 新客 | Min Nan | sin-khek | new guest, new outsider, new Hakka | |
| singkong | cassava (Manihot esculenta) | 新光 | 新光 | | sin-kong | new, fresh; bright | ? |
| sinsé | Chinese medicine practitioner | 先生 | 先生 | Min Nan | sin-seⁿ | doctor, teacher | see also sensei, Japanese loanword. |
| sio, shio | Chinese zodiac | 生肖 | 生肖 | Min Nan | sng-siàu, seng-siàu | Chinese zodiac | |
| sioca | miss (term of address) | 小姐 | 小姐 | Min Nan | sió-chiá, sia̋u-chê | miss (term of address), young lady, prostitute | |
| siong | cigarette with rhubarb and incense | 松 鬆 相 | 松 松 相 | Min Nan | siông sang, song siong, siòng | pear, fir loose, relax minister (Chinese chess) | |
| siongka | dammar gum, rosin | 松膠 | 松膠 | Min Nan | siông-ka | pine + resin, gum | (松香, 松脂) |
| siuh | "be off" | 收 | 收 | Min Nan | siu | to put something away | |
| siomay, siomai | shumai (wrapped and steamed with fillings) | 燒賣 | 烧卖 | Min Nan | sio-māi | shumai | |
| soe | bad luck | 衰 | 衰 | Min Nan | soe | 1. to grow weak, to decrease in strength 2. to have poor luck | |
| sohun | cellophane noodles, Chinese vermicelli | 索粉 | 索粉 | Min Nan | soh-hún | cellophane noodles, Chinese vermicelli | synonym of 冬粉 |
| soja | to bow | 作揖 | 作揖 | Cantonese | zok3 jap1 | make a bow with hands clasped | |
| som | folds on the fabric edge | 純 | 纯 | Min Nan | sûn | border of a piece of clothing | |
| sosi | key | 鎖匙 | 锁匙 | Hokkien Teochew Hakka Cantonese | só-sî so2 si5 só-sṳ́, só-sṳ̀ so2 si4 | key | |
| soto | soto | 燒肚 | 烧肚 | Min Nan | sio-to | cook + animal stomach (as food) | ? |
| shou sui | to stay up late or all night on New Year's Eve | 守歲 | 守岁 | Mandarin | shǒusuì | to stay up late or all night on New Year's Eve | |
| suah | already, finished | 煞 | 煞 | Min Nan | soah | finish, complete | |
| suceng | square, honest | 四正 | 四正 | Min Nan Cantonese | sì-chiàⁿ si3 zeng3 | neat and proper | |
| suhian | brothel | 私軒 | 私轩 | Min Nan | su-hian | personal, private + pavilion | |
| suhu | teacher of the art of (Chinese) self-defence | 師父 | 师父 | Min Nan | su-hū | master, master worker | |
| sun | tobacco | 純 | 纯 | Min Nan | sûn | pure, clean | |
| swike | swikee | 水雞 水鷄 | 水鸡 | Min Nan | súi-ke | frog | |
| swipoa, sempoa | abacus, suanpan | 算盤 | 算盘 | Min Nan | sǹg-pôaⁿ | suanpan | see soroban, Japanese loanword. |
| Sun Go Kong | Sun Wukong | 孫悟空 | 孙悟空 | Min Nan | Sun Ngō͘-khong | Sun Wukong, Goku | see also Son Goku from Japanese loan word. |

### T

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| taci | elder sister | 大姊 | 大姊 | Min Nan | tōa-chí, tōa-ché | elder sister | |
| tahang | barrel | 桶 | 桶 | Min Nan | thóng | pail, bucket | |
| tahu | tofu | 豆腐 | 豆腐 | Min Nan | tāu-hū | tofu, bean curd | see also tofu, from Japanese |
| taifun | tropical cyclone | 颱風 | 台风 | Hakka | thòi-fûng | tropical cyclone | |
| taiko | wealthy businessman | | | | | | |
| taiko | leprosy | 癩哥 | 癞哥 | Min Nan | thái-ko | leprosy | (癩⿸疒哥) |
| taiko | leprosy | 癩哥 | 癞哥 | Hakka | thái-kô | leprosy | (癩⿸疒哥) |
| taipan | conglomerate | 大班 | 大班 | Cantonese | daai6 baan1 | tai-pan | |
| takwa | Chinese long gown | 大褂 | 大褂 | Min Nan | tā-kòa | Chinese long gown | see Changshan (長衫, 长衫) or changpao (長袍, 长袍) |
| tangki, teng | container | 桶仔 | 桶仔 | Min Nan | tháng-chír | small pail, bucket | |
| tangkue | sweetened dried melon slices | 冬瓜 | 冬瓜 | Min Nan | tang-koe, tang-koa | winter melon (Benincasa hispida) | |
| tanglung | lantern | 燈籠 | 灯笼 | Min Nan | teng-lang | lantern | |
| tangsi | barrack | 團舍 | 团舍 | Min Nan | thn̂g-sià | barrack | |
| taocang | pigtail, braid | 頭鬃 | 头鬃 | Min Nan | thâu-chang | hair | |
| taoci | fish paste | 豆豉 | 豆豉 | Min Nan | tāu-sīⁿ, tāu-sī | douchi | douchi, a food product made from salted, fermented black soybeans |
| taoco, tauco | preserved food from bean, salted | 豆醬 | 豆酱 | Min Nan | tāu-chiòⁿ | tauco | |
| taoge, tauge, toge | bean sprout | 豆芽 | 豆芽 | Min Nan | tāu-gê tāu-gêe | bean sprout | |
| taosi | douchi | 豆豉 | 豆豉 | Min Nan | tāu-sīⁿ, tāu-sī | douchi | douchi, a food product made from salted, fermented black soybeans |
| tauke, taoke, toke | business owner, boss | 頭家 | 头家 | Min Nan | thâu-ke | business owner, boss | |
| teh | tea | 茶 | 茶 | Min Nan | tê | tea | |
| teko | tea pot | 茶壺 | 茶壶 | Min Nan | tê-ô͘, têe-ô͘, tē-ô͘ | teapot | |
| tekoh | person in charge in store | 大哥 | 大哥 | Min Nan | tōa-ko | 1. eldest brother, 2. a term of address | |
| tekoan | tea pot | 茶罐 | 茶罐 | Min Nan | tê-kuàn | earthenware tea pot | |
| tekong | helmsman | 舵舟 | 舵舟 | Min Nan | tō-chiu | helmsman | |
| tekpi, tikpi | tekpi, short-handled trident | 雙短鞭 鐵鞭 | 双短鞭 铁鞭 | Min Nan | pian-té-piⁿ thih-piⁿ | double short whip/weapon iron whip, chain whip | |
| tekwan | a kind of fish soup from Palembang, Indonesia | 台丸 | 台丸 | Min Nan | tâi-oân | tower, stage, platform + round | homophonically similar to Taiwan (Chinese: 台灣; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-oân) |
| teng | Chinese lantern | 燈 | 灯 | Min Nan | teng | lamp, light, lantern | |
| tengkoh | prepared opium | 燈膏 | 燈膏 | Min Nan | teng-ko, ko͘, kō | lamp, light, lantern + to apply | |
| teyan | fundrising | 題捐 | 题捐 | Min Nan | tê-iân, tôe-iân | to collect donations | |
| tiam | blow, hit, stroke | 點 | 点 | Min Nan | tiám | to point, dot, place | |
| tiap | key money | 帖 | 帖 | Min Nan | thiap | note, dose, submission | |
| tim | to stew by cooking in a covered pot | 燖 | 𬊈 | Min Nan | tīm | to re-heay food | |
| ting | lantern | 燈 | | Min Nan | teng | lantern | |
| Tionghoa | Chinese | 中華 | 中华 | Min Nan | tiong-hôa | Chinese | |
| Tiongkok | China | 中國 | 中国 | Min Nan | tiong-kok | China | |
| to | Taoist | 道 | 道 | Min Nan | tō | way, path, road | |
| to | to go bankrupt | 倒 | 倒 | Min Nan | tó, tó͘, táu, tho̍h | to go bankrupt, to close down | |
| Toapekong, tohkong | 1. Chinese god who worshiped in the temple, 2. Chinese temple | 大道公 | 大道公 | Min Nan | Tāi-tō-kong | Baosheng Dadi, a Chinese god. | |
| tobang | cook | 廚房 | 厨房 | Min Nan | tû-pâng | kitchen | |
| toh | birthmark | | | | | | |
| toko | shop | 土庫 | 土库 | Min Nan | thó͘-khò͘ | local storehouse | |
| tokwi | altar covering | 桌幃 | 桌帏 | Min Nan | | | |
| tong | barrel | 桶 | 桶 | Min Nan | thóng | pail, bucket | |
| tongcai | salted vegetable | 通菜 | 通菜 | Min Nan | thong-chhài | water spinach | |
| tongcai | salted vegetable | 通菜 | 通菜 | Mandarin | tōngcài | water spinach | |
| tongkang | barge | 艟舡 | | Min Nan | tông-kang | | |
| tongsan | to go home | 唐山 | 唐山 | Min Nan | tn̂g-soaⁿ | (mainland) China, Tang mountain, Tangshan | |
| tongsit | hair bun | 唐式 | 唐式 | Min Nan | tn̂g-sit | Tang (China) + model, fashion | |
| topeng | mask | 倒反 | 倒反 | Min Nan | tò-péng | another side | |
| topo | rag, cloth used for cleaning | 桌布 | 桌布 | Min Nan | toh-pò͘ | tablecloth | |
| toya | long stick (weapon) | 槌仔 | 槌仔 | Min Nan | thûi-á | | |
| tui | to gamble | 賭 | 赌 | Min Nan | tó͘ | to gamble | |
| tui | to do again, false start | 轉 | 转 | Min Nan | tó͘ | to return | |
| tukang | 1. craftsmaster, expert person, 2. a rough person | 土工 | 土工 | Min Nan | thó͘-kang | construction worker | |
| tun | rupiah as 1 rupiah, 100 rupiah | 盾 | 盾 | Min Nan | tún, tún | 1. shield, 2. money | money in this case refer to đồng, guilder; gulden, or rupiah |

### U

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning |
| uang | money | 環 | 环 | Hakka | vàn | circle, ring, round |
| uang | money | 環 | 环 | Min Nan | hoân | circle, ring, round |
| ubin | floortile | 油面 | 油面 | Min Nan | iû-bin | to paint + surface |
| ungti | giant puppet (ondel-ondel) | 像體 | 像体 | Min Nan | siōng-thé | statue + body |

### V

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning |
| vetsin, micin, pécin | glutamate flavoring | 味精 | 味精 | Mandarin | wèijīng | 1. glutamate flavoring, 2. Ve-tsin, glutamate flavoring product from Tien Chun |
| vetsin, micin, pécin | glutamate flavoring | 味精 | 味精 | Cantonese | mei6 zing1 | 1. glutamate flavoring, 2. Ve-tsin, glutamate flavoring product from Tien Chun |
| vetsin, micin, pécin | glutamate flavoring | 味精 | 味精 | Hakka | mi-chîn | 1. glutamate flavoring, 2. Ve-tsin, glutamate flavoring product from Tien Chun |

### W

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note |
| waitangkung | a gymnastics | 外丹功 | 外丹功 | Mandarin | wàidāngōng | | |
| wangkang | canoe | 艋舺 | 艋舺 | Min Nan | báng-kah | outrigger canoe | disputed, considered a loanword to Chinese from Austronesian (which included Indonesian). |
| woi | hey, hello | 喂 | 喂 | Cantonese | wai2 | | disputed, derived from various languages |
| woi | hey, hello | 喂 | 喂 | Min Nan | oeh | | disputed, derived from various languages |
| wotie, kuotie | fried jiaozi | 鍋貼 | 锅贴 | Min Nan | oe-thiap, ko-thiap | fried jiaozi | |
| wushu | wushu | 武術 | 武术 | Mandarin | wǔshù | martial art, wushu | |

### Y

| Indonesian Word | Indonesian Meaning | Chinese Character (Traditional) | Chinese Character (Simplified) | Chinese Variant | Chinese Transliteration | Chinese Meaning | Note | Ref |
| yang | yang, words to state that the following word or sentence is prioritized or distinguished from the others, words to state that the following part of the sentence explains the word in front | 陽 | 阳 | Mandarin | yáng | yang | | |
| yin | yin | 陰 | 阴 | Mandarin | yīn | yin | | |