kacau

• (Singapore) kachiau, kachiao, kajiao, gajiao

From Malay kacau.

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˈkat͡ʃ(j)aʊ/, [ˈka˧.t͡ʃ(j)aʊ˦], (approximating Hokkien) [ˈk˭a˧.t͡ɕ˭jaʊ˦]

kacau (generally invariable)

1. (Manglish, Singlish) To disturb; to bother or trouble (someone).
   • 2014, Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, Singapore Noir, Akashic Books, →ISBN, page 85:

     So even when his army kaki gajiau-ed him for evening joyrides, promising to bring a nice bottle of Black Label if he agreed, he always said no.

   • 2019 June 12, Tan Tam Mei, quoting Singa Retnam, “SCDF NSF death: Corporal had a 'scared smile' after ragging ritual was mentioned, says witness”, in The Straits Times‎^[1], Singapore, archived from the original on 25 March 2024:

     Nazhan's defence lawyer Singa Retnam asked him if he had heard Nazhan telling Cpl Kok during the celebrations: "If anyone 'kacau' (bothers) you, tell me".

From Malay kacau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kacaw (“to disturb”).

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈkat͡ʃau̯/ [ˈka.t͡ʃau̯]
• Rhymes: -at͡ʃau̯
• Syllabification: ka‧cau

kacau

1. confused
2. disorderly

• “kacau” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kacaw (“to disturb”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkat͡ʃaw/ [ˈka.t͡ʃau̯]

kacau (used in the form berkacau)

1. confused; disorderly

kacau (Jawi spelling کاچاو)

1. (intransitive) to stir (to disturb the relative position of the particles of, as of a liquid, by passing something through it); to make disorderly, confused
2. (intransitive, figurative) to disturb; to agitate; to stir

• (to disturb): ganggu

• > Indonesian: kacau (inherited)
• → English: kacau

• “kacau” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.