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. Instead, it may be an aphetic form of earlier atê, from Portuguese até (“to”).