passenger

DEFINITION

A term commonly used in Southeast Asia to refer to a passenger or passengers.

ETYMOLOGY

• The term “搭客” is said to have originated from tah kheh in the Hokkien (Minnan) dialect and daap haak in Cantonese.
• In Mainland China, the term is rarely used to refer to passengers. Rather, it usually refers to the action of vehicles or boats allowing people to hitch a ride. In general, the term “搭客” is thought to be used more frequently than “乘客” in Singapore.

SAMPLE SENTENCE

Mr Zeng said that with the increased popularity of the mobile app, more passengers are choosing to book a taxi instead of flagging one down by the road. He estimated that currently as many as 70% of his trips are on-call. (Shin Min Daily News, 16/11/2018)

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

乘客 (Mainland China)