"Kiasu" in Hokkien dialect means afraid to lose. In the Singaporean context, it is usually used to describe the locals who are determined to be on top whatever they do, sometimes in a derogative manner. The word can be used on the droves of Singaporeans who can even queue overnight for a cheap sale. It can also be used on those who unabashedly pile their plates up with plenty of food during a buffet meal.
In a way Singaporeans are known to be very calculative and would not do anything for free, yet they'll be the first ones to jump onto anything that is cheap or better still given free. More than this, Singaporeans are highly competitive, striving hard to be ahead of others, be it in work or in school and often like to compare their material status and educational qualifications. Somehow the kiasu spirit brings about unhealthy levels of competition. In competition, winning and losing are part of the game and being afraid to lose is immature.
Yet some Singaporeans seem to be proud of this stereotype and have even made it a national identity of sorts. There is a local comic book with a character called Mr. Kiasu who behaves in an exaggerated kiasu manner. Many write it off as a typical Singaporean behaviour and don't seem to see that the comic might be deliberately demeaning such people in a hope that perhaps things would change.
Striving for excellence is a virtue but being kiasu is negative. Sure we can laugh at the jokes pertaining to kiasu but we must also work hard to change this behaviour and negative perception about our people or we may just end up in a sorry state.
Singapore has come a long way from being a fishing village to a bustling first-rate city. We should develop a gracious society of happy people and not a grouchy, nit-picking nation.
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