Phrase guide

kena sai

intj · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Singapore: /ˈkənɑ ˈsaɪ˦˨/
  • Singapore: /ˈkɑ-/
  • Singapore: [ˈk˭ə˧na˦ ˈsaɪ˦˨]

1

intj

Meaning 1

Expression of anger and frustration.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Manglish, Singlish, vulgar

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To get into trouble, to be in deep shit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, invariable, slang, vulgar

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Malay kena (“to incur”) + Hokkien 屎 (sái, “shit”). By surface analysis, kena (“to be affected by (something negative)”) + sai (“shit”).