lap-sap

Hokkien

For pronunciation and definitions of lap-sap – see 垃圾 (“garbage; dirty; unhygienic”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 垃圾).

Macanese

Etymology

Borrowed from Cantonese 垃圾 (laap⁶ saap³).

Noun

lap-sap

1. trash, rubbish, garbage

   Amochâi, vôs atirâ sapeca tê lap-sap!

   Dear, you are throwing away your money!

   (literally, “Dear, you are throwing money to the trash!”)

   Sorte quê APIM já oferecê bilête pa iou; si nunca, sâm atirâ sapeca tê lap-sap.

   Luckily, APIM offered me tickets; otherwise, it would be like throwing my money away.

   (literally, “...it is throwing money to the trash”)

Usage notes

• Often used metaphorically to refer to the wastage of a resource.
• The etymology of tê is uncertain; it is possible that tê lap-sap as a phrase was derived from Cantonese 掉垃圾 (deu⁶ laap⁶ saap³, literally “throw trash”); although according to native speakers, lap-sap is sometimes also used standalone. An origin of Portuguese ter is unlikely, as that already resulted in têm.