Solution - So Smart

by Lee-kai Wang

Answer: Click here to reveal

Malay, English, (Mandarin) Chinese, and Tamil are the four official languages of Singapore. Each of the phrases shown is the literal translation of one of the names of a Singapore Mass Rapid Transit station into one of these languages.

Once the stations (whose names themselves are derived from a hodgepodge of languages, dialects, and romanizations) are identified, the smallest number of stops in a trip between the two stations in each row gives the answer BANDEROL.

The title is also a reference to SMRT, one of the companies that operates public transport in Singapore.

First ColumnEnglish MeaningMRT StationSecond ColumnEnglish MeaningMRT Station# Stops (Transfers)Answer
empat wanita cantikfour beautiesSimeiprayer drumprayer drumBedok2 (0)B
湿米wet riceBras Basahtempat basuhwashing placeDhoby Ghaut1 (0)A
all nationsall nationsBuangkok锅海湾pot bayTelok Blangah14 (1)N
ஸ்டேடியம்stadiumStadiumpusat bandardowntownDowntown4 (1)D
一北one northone-northபுதிய கல்லறைnew cemeteryTiong Bahru5 (1)E
pandangan yang baikgood viewBuona VistaironwoodironwoodTampines18 (2)R
white sandwhite sandPasir Risபழத்தோட்டம்orchardOrchard15 (1)O
குன்று பார்வைhill viewHillview长沙long sandPasir Panjang12 (1)L