21-07-2025
Cute Malay-Chinese couple leaves netizens curious and confused
A Singaporean Chinese man has made a TikTok video in which he attempts to speak only Mandarin while on a date with his Malay girlfriend, who in turn tries to speak only in Malay.
But netizens are wondering why he looks Malay, while his girlfriend looks Chinese.
TikTokker Leonleelx posted the video in a paid partnership with the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2025 five days ago, and it has had more than 151,000 views, 6,300 reactions and about a hundred comments at press time.
It's cute, if a little twee.
'Bring an umbrella, sayang'
After a short preamble in which he explains that they will speak in their own languages, he asks her in Mandarin to get an umbrella in case it rains.
His girlfriend, referred to only as "sayang" (Malay for "honey"), looks adorably lost, before some sign language on his part helps her understand what he is trying to say.
"Ujan (rain)," she says, before turning around and returning with a "payun" (umbrella).
The video cuts to a cultural tour of Kampong Glam, apparently part of the ICCS' attempt to see how "everyday Singaporeans make harmony real".
He then asks if she likes a cultural activity, to which she gamely nods after looking lost for a moment.
Cut to another scene where she asks him to speak to her in Malay, and he tells her he likes to eat rendang and loads of kueh.
The video ends with a voiceover where he declares: "We speak different languages but understanding each other's cultures brings us closer, as a couple and as a community."
"This SG couple so sweet"
Shared on Reddit with the title "This SG couple so sweet", some netizens found the video cute.
KittyLoLa commented: "Cuteness overload!! GF so 'cantik!!!!!' (Beautiful in Malay.) The piaoliang (beautiful) Chinese look wohhhhh."
Zam agreed: "You guys make a cute couple."
But the bulk of the mostly good-natured comments seemed curious as to why the guy looks Malay while his girlfriend looks Chinese, with some asking if they had Malay/Chinese genes.
Bind@ud said: "Handsome looks Malay but pretty looks Chinese."
Nineofhearts echoed that view: "Ur gf look more Chinese than u hahahaha."
But the sweetest comment, which received almost 1,300 reactions, came from
Syah, who noted the confusing appearance but saw it as no barrier to a union: "bro u look Malay and your gf look Chinese. Can't wait to see u guys get married."
