Kuchai and lama
Kuchai is the Malay word for Chinese chives, borrowed from Hokkien kú-chhài (韭菜); lama means 'old'. The Chinese name 旧古仔 is half translation, half sound: 旧 translates lama, and 古仔 is the Cantonese rendering of kuchai. Older records also write it 古斋.
The Chinese name
The Chinese name is 旧古仔, and some people also call it 古仔路.
Kuchai and Kuchai Lama
The MRT station is called Kuchai (PY27) and its address is on Jalan Kuchai Lama; the area is Kuchai Lama.
Writing it in three languages
In Chinese it is 旧古仔; in English and Malay, Kuchai Lama.