Hong Kong slang

Slang in Hong Kong evolves over time, and mainly comprises Cantonese, English, or a combination of the two.

Introduction

The word slanguage consists of two original English words, slang and language. 'Slang' means informal usage in vocabulary and idioms that is characteristically more metaphorical, while 'Language' means a body of words in which people who are of the same culture, community or nation share the system.

Hong Kong slanguage consists of commonly used terms or trendy expressions in Hong Kong which are in Cantonese only. This type of language is used both in written and spoken words. As Hong Kong slanguage mainly consists of trendy expressions that are commonly used in the Internet and other social medias, it broadly represents the culture or social issues which take place in a certain period of time. Therefore, Hong Kong slanguage usually changes with time and some words would be eliminated over time. Due to usage of non-standard words or phrases, Hong Kong slanguage is still relatively less accepted and understood by Cantonese speakers.

History

The rise of local slanguage is a social phenomenon in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, there are approximately 5.4 million active internet users. This immense number of Internet users apparently gives an impetus to the evolution of Hong Kong online forums and the birth of Hong Kong slanguage.

The trend started with the development of local online forums. The two dominating online forums in Hong Kong, HK Golden Forum and HK Discuss Forum, were found in 2000 and 2003 respectively. As the number of Hong Kong forum users gradually increased, members of younger generation found typing formal Chinese words and sentences on the Internet to be old-fashioned, developing distinct and innovative online buzzwords.

In the beginning, those words were exclusively used on online forums and amongst younger Internet users. Unexpectedly, some new phrases spread extensively, becoming commonplace, not only amongst Hong Kong teenagers, but also enjoying use widespread use among Hong Kong adults and in the media. Some of these new terms are now widely accepted by the public and are classified as 'Hong Kong slanguage'.

In 2008, Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, local slanguage was included in the questions by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority in Chinese paper five. In 2009, a form-three student was found using slang terms in the Territory-wide System Assessment. Hong Kong slanguage has had a broad impact in the lives of Hong Kong people, far outreaching its internet origins.

Examples

There are several examples of the usage of slanguage. Terms below use Jyutping for Cantonese romanization.

Appellation 1. Aa3 caa1 () - South Asian especially, Indian and Pakistanis. In British Hong Kong era, there were many British Indian serving for police officers (in Cantonese, 差人) in Hong Kong.

2. Ban1 zai2 (), Ban1 mui6 () - Filipino boys and Filipino girls respectively, especially refer to Filipino domestic employees. Chinese name of Philippines is 菲律賓.

3. Caai1 lou2 (), Caa1 po4 () - Policemen and Policewomen respectively.

4. Daai6 ji5 lung1 () - Literally means Big ear hole; Loanshark. 窿 means "Hole" in Cantonese, also sounds like English word Loan.

5. Faa1 saang1 jau5 () - Literally means "Peanut guy"; Bystanders / Onlookers. Sik6 faa1 saang1 () - Literally to eat Peanut; To grab the popcorn / To grab a front seat.

6. Gaa2 zai2 (), Gaa2 mui6 () - Japanese boys and Japanese girls respectively.

7. Gam1 so2 si4 () - Literally means "Golden key"; Silver spoon (People who are born in rich families).

8. Gwai2 lou2 (), Gwai2 po4 (), Gwai2 zai2 (), Gwai2 mui6 () - referred to Gweilo; Caucasian men, Caucasian women, Caucasian boys and Caucasian girls respectively.

9. Ji6 ng5 zai2 () - Literally means "Two" "Five" Son; Insurgent, rebel, traitor or snitch. This comes from Triad argot.

10. Lou5 si2 fat1 () - Literally means old buttocks (Alternatively, Old seafood - seafood sounds like Cantonese word "屎忽"); Old fart.

11. Maa1 daa2 (), Faa1 daa2 (), Baa1 daa2 () and Si1 daa2 () - Sound like the English words "Mother", "Father", "Brother" and "Sister" respectively; Mother, Father, Brother and Sister respectively.

12. Puk1 gaai1 () - Sound like the English words "Poor Guy"; Villain / Bastard or someone deserves to die.

13. Sai3 man1 zai2 () - Literally means small mosquito; Children / Kids.

14. Se4 wong4 () - Literally means Snake King; Could either describe someone who is a professional salary stealer or a professional snake catcher.

15. Seoi2 jyu4 () - Literally means Water fish; 1). - Turtle or Trionychidae. 2.) - Easy mark (Someone who is easily deceived, fooled or victimised).

16. Si1 naai5 () (Alternatively, C nine) - Sound like the English words "C" "Nine"; Aunt, housewife or married woman.

17. Sik6 sak1 mai5 () - Freeloader / Sponger.

18. Sik6 ziu1 () - Literally to eat banana and sounds like the English word "Secure"; 1.)Security guard. 2.) Eat excrement, as bananas look like excrement.

19. So-di-a-sm - Sounds like the Cantonese words "掃地啊嬸" - A woman served for cleaning helper, janitor or custodian.

Business

Company

1. Cat1 zai2 () - Literally means "Seven" son; 7-Eleven.

2. Daai6 zau2 dim3 () - Literally means Big hotel; 1.) - Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels. 2.) - Funeral home.

3. Gai1 gei3 () - Etymology: 雞 (Chicken) + 記 ("meaningless suffix"); KFC restaurant.

4. Lou5 din6 () - Etymology: 老 ("old", "elder" or "ancient") + 電 (Literally means "Electricity" or "Tele-"; PCCW.

5. M gei3 () (Alternatively, Mak6 gei3 (, Etymology: 麥 (Sounds like Scottish prefix "Mc") + 記 ("meaningless suffix")) or Lou5 mak6 (, Etymology: 老 ("meaningless prefix") + 麥 (Sounds like Scottish prefix "Mc")) - McDonald's.

Business terminology

1. Caau2 jau4 jyu4 () - Literally to stir-fry a squid; Dismissal.

2. Daai6 ceot1 hyut3 () - Literally means Heavy Bleeding; To cost an arm and a leg / pay a small fortune.

3. Daat3 deng6 () - The seller forfeits buyer's deposit after the buyer failed to complete the deal.

4. Dan6 dung1 gu1 () - Literally to simmer Shiitake Mushrooms; Demotion, this slang originated from Hong Kong Police Force in British Hong Kong era.

5. Fei4 gai1 caan1 () - Literally means Fat Chicken Meal; A generous voluntary severance package or Golden handshake.

6. Haai5 fo3 () - Literally means Crab-Goods; Stocks or goods that have decreased in value, such that selling it will result in loss.

7. Paak3 wu1 jing1 () - Literally to swat flies; having a slack business.

8. Se3 bok3 () (Alternatively, Se3 bo1 ()) - Literally to unload shoulder (to unload ball); to bunk off or to deny or refuse responsibility.

9. Se4 wong4 () - Literally means Snake King; Absent Without Leave, skive off / slack off, sneak out or The act of being lazy or unwilling to do something at work.

10. Sik6 mou4 cing4 gai1 () - Literally to eat merciless chicken; To receive a Pink slip.

11. Zap1 lap1 () - To close down / To go bankrupt.

Unit of Money

1. Hou4 zi2 () - 10 Cents.

2. Man1 () - Literally means Mosquito; Dollar. Jat1 man1 () = One dollar.

3. Cou2 () - Literally means Grass; 10 Dollars. Jat1 cou2 je5 () = Ten dollars.

4. Gau6 () - Literally means Piece; 100 Dollars. Jat1 gau6 seoi2 () = One hundred dollars.

5. Pei4 (), Lap1 () or Pun4 () - Literally means Skin, Granular, Basin or sink-shaped respectively; 10,000 Dollars. Jat1 pei4 je5 () = Jat1 lap1 je5 () = Jat1 pun4 seoi2 () = Ten thousands dollars.

6. Kau4 () - Literally means Ball; 1,000,000 Dollars. Jat1 kau4 () = One million dollars.

7. Cing1 haai5 () - Literally means Green crab; Hong Kong ten-dollar note (issued in 1982-85 by HSBC).

8. Faa1 haai5 () - Literally means Flower crab; Hong Kong ten-dollar note (issued in 2002-2005 by Hong Kong government).

9. Gaau1 haai5 () - Literally means Plastic crab; Hong Kong ten-dollar note (issued in 2007-2018 by Hong Kong government, made of polymer).

10. Hung4 saam1 jyu4 () - Literally means Red clothes fish (Nemipterus virgatus); Hong Kong one hundred-dollar note (red colour).

11. Daai6 ngau4 () - Literally means Big Buffalo; Hong Kong five hundred-dollar note.

12. Gam1 ngau4 () - Literally means Golden Cow; Hong Kong one thousand-dollar note.

Criminal

Department

1. Caai1 gun2 () - Police station.

2. Lou5 lim4 () - Etymology: 老 ("meaningless prefix") + 廉 (廉潔 means incorruptible); ICAC.

3. Lau5 gei3 () - Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD).

4. O gei3 () - Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) of Hong Kong Police Force.

Criminal terminology

1. Baak6 fan2 () - Literally means White Powder; Heroin.

2. Baau3 gaak3 () - Sound like English word, "burglar"; Burglary.

3. Ceot1 caak3 () - Etymology: 出 ("means Exit") + 冊 (Chinese character looks like jail frame);To be released from prison.

4. Ceot1 maau1 () - Literally means Exiting cat; Cheating in examination.

5. Daa2 ho4 baau1 () - Pickpocketing.

6. Deoi2 cou2 () - Literally to take grass / weed; Cannabis smoking.

7. Gaam1 dan2 () - Prisoner or ex-Prisoner.

8. Hoi1 pin3 () - Literally to start filming; Gang fight with weapons.

9. Jap6 caak3 () - Etymology: 入 ("means Enter") + 冊 (Chinese character looks like jail frame); To be imprisoned.

10. Leon4 daai6 mai5 () - Literally to queue for rice; Gang rape.

11. Lou5 lap1 () - Etymology: 老 ("meaningless prefix") + 笠 (Sound like English word "rob"); Robbery.

12. Maa1 jip6 () - Literally means Double leaves; Handcuffs.

13. Ngau4 juk6 gon1 () - Literally means Dehydrated beef; Fixed penalty parking ticket.

14. Sai2 tau4 teng5 () - Literally means Shampoo boat; Illegal high-speed ferry, a sea transportation tool crossing border without official immigration procedure. Many Hong Kong people go to Mainland China and Mainlanders go to Hong Kong by Shampoo boats for illegal purposes like Absconding, false alibi, kidnapping, murder, prostitution / sex solicitation and robbery.

15. Sai2 taai3 ping4 dei6 () - Literally means hose washing of public places; To disrupt a business of Triad Society or illegal gangs by regular patrolling or spot checking.

16. San1 jau5 si2 () - Literally means Feces on the body; Skeleton in the closet.

17. Si1 piu3 () - To Kill the kidnappee.

18. Sik6 sei2 maau1 () - Literally to eat a dead cat; To be a Scapegoat.

19. Tiu3 fui1 () (Alternatively, Zau2 fan2 (走粉)) - Literally means Jumping ash (Running powder); Drug trafficking, especially for Heroin.

20. Tong1 sei2 ngau4 () - Literally to butcher a dead cow; To rob somebody in quiet place, especially in night time.

21. Zap1 si1 () - Literally means collect or take a corpse; To rape drunk or unconscious female.

22. Zek3 zau1 () - One-against-one fight.

23. Zoek3 cou2 () - Literally to wear grass; To flee.

24. Zuk1 wong4 goek3 gai1 () - Literally to catch yellow-foot chicken; Badger game.

Gun

1. Kuk1 cek3 () - Literally means Crooker-ruler; Semi-automatic pistol. This gun looks like Try square (in Chinese, 曲尺).

2. Zo2 leon2 () - Literally means left-wheel-gun; Revolver.

Foods and Drinks

1. Baak6 tong1 () - Literally means White soup; Chowder or Cream of mushroom soup.

2. Daan2 daat3 () - Egg tart.

3. Gai1 daan2 zai2 () - Literally means Chicken egg-son; Egg waffle.

4. Ho4 laan4 seoi2 () - Literally means Dutch water; Carbonated water or Soft drink.

5. Hung4 tong1 () - Literally means Red soup; Borscht.

6. Min5 zi6 () - Sound like the English word "Mince"; Mincing.

7. Ngai2 gwaa1 () - Literally means Short melon; Aubergine (Eggplant).

8. Waan5 jyu4 () - Grass carp.

Steak cooking levels

1. Jat1 sing4 suk6 () - Literally means 10% cooked; Rare.

2. Saam1 sing4 suk6 () - Literally means 30% cooked; Medium rare.

3. Ng5 sing4 suk6 () - Literally means 50% cooked; Medium.

4. Cat1 sing4 suk6 () - Literally means 70% cooked; Medium well.

5. Cyun4 suk6 () - Literally means fully cooked; Well done.

Foul language