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tuan

1 British  
/ ˈtuːɑːn /

noun

  1. (in Malay-speaking countries) sir; lord: a form of address used as a mark of respect

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tuan 2 British  
/ ˈtuːən, ˈtjuː- /

noun

  1. Also called: wambenger.   brush-tailed phascogale.   phascogale.  a flying phalanger, Phascogale tapoatafa , of Australia. It is about the size of a rat, bluish grey in colour, brush-tailed, arboreal, and nocturnal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tuan1

Malay

Origin of tuan2

C19: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

We also love T&T supermarket in Yaohan Centre, which has a made-to-order fan tuan bar and superb hot deli selection.

From Seattle Times Jun. 9, 2023

Reunification, that Chinese ideal, she could not eat an orange without reciting to herself, as she did at New Year’s, quan jia tuan yuan — the whole family together.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

And this is what he related to me: 'When you first came to us, tuan, we were very angry at you.

From Stories Worth Rereading by Various

Go to your master— Pergi sama tuan kamu.

From A Manual of the Malay language With an Introductory Sketch of the Sanskrit Element in Malay by Maxwell, William Edward, Sir

Sahaya apa, kita apa, and hamba tuan apa are used in Kedah, and sahaya-ma in Perak, for kita orang.

From A Manual of the Malay language With an Introductory Sketch of the Sanskrit Element in Malay by Maxwell, William Edward, Sir

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