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 5400000 active Internet users.[1] 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 Hongkongese people, far outreaching its Internet origins.[2]
Examples
There are several examples of the usage of slanguage. (Note: English romanization for terms below uses the Jyutping system).
1. He3 (𠺪) - Literally means slovenly; to describe someone who stroll around without any purpose and heedless of everything.
2. Fong3 fei1 gei1 (放飛機) - Literally to fly an aeroplane; to fail to turn up on a date.
3. Sap6 buk1 (十卜) - Sounds like the English word, “support”; to cheer someone up.
4. Fu6 luk1 (負碌) - Sounds like the English word, “fluke”; meaning something that is unlikely or surprising and only happens because of luck.
5. O jeui2 (O嘴) - Literally to have an O shaped mouth; to feel astonishing and stunning, meaning 'oh my gosh'. The jaw drops and the shape of the mouth resembles the English letter, O.
6. Chyun3 jeui2 (串嘴) - To behave arrogantly and rudely.
7. Wat1 gei1 (屈機) - Literally to break a machine into two pieces; an adjective describing someone who is tremendous and excellent.
8. Sing1 ne1 (升呢，升Lev) - To gain a higher level in video game or Promotion.
9. Baan6 haai5 (扮蟹) - To behave pretentiously
10. Pan3 faan6 (噴飯) - Literal meaning is "spitting rice"; something makes you burst into laughter.
11. Maai6 fei1 fat6 (賣飛佛) - My favorite. This slang originated from Ron Ng.
12. Dik6 hon6 (滴汗) - Literally to sweat; to feel speechless and reticent.
13. Taat3 zoek3 (撻著) - Literally to ignite a fire; two people fall in love and become a couple.
14. Gwai1 cuk1 (龜速) - Literally means turtle speed; extremely slow speed.
15. San1 jau5 si2 (身有屎) - Literally means feces on the body; Skeleton in the closet.
16. Deoi2 cou2 (隊草) - Literally to take grass/weed; Cannabis smoking.
17. Jaa1 ziu1 (吔蕉) - Literally to eat banana; a vulgar way of expressing hostility and strong irritation, "Piss off!"
18. Sik6 ziu1 (食蕉) - 1.) Literally to eat banana, same as 吔蕉. 2.) Sound like the English word, “secure”; Security guard.
19. Daa2 fei1 gei1 (打飛機) - Literally to shutdown an aeroplane; Male Masturbation.
20. Cim4 seoi2 (潛水) - Literally means underwater diving; to disappear or Lurker.
21. Caau2 jau4 jyu4 (炒魷魚) - Literally to fry a squid; Dismissal.
22. Zoek3 cou2 (著草) - Literally to wear grass; to flee.
23. Tung1 bo1 zai2 (通波仔) - Literally to make something smooth by a small ball; Angioplasty.
24. Daap3 kiu4 (搭橋) - Literally to build a bridge; Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
25. Ce2 kei4 (扯旗) - Literally to raise a flag; Penile erection.
26 Tau1 sik6 (偷食) - Literally to sneak food; Adultery, Infidelity or Two-time.
27. Lou5 lap1 (老笠) - Etymology : 老 (“meaningless prefix”) + 笠 (Sound like English word “rob”); Robbery.
28. Daa2 ho4 baau1 (打荷包) - Pickpocketing.
29. Se3 bok3 (卸膊) - Literally to unload shoulder; to bunk off or to deny or refuse responsibility.
30. Laang5 hei3 gwan1 si1 (冷氣軍師) - Literally means a adviser inside an air-conditioning room; Armchair expert or Keyboard warrior.
31. Bo1 (波) - Literally means wave, but sound like the English word, “ball”; Ball and Football.
32. Zau2 sou3 (走數) - Literally means to run away from one's debts; to chicken out or failing to keep promise.
33. Gai1 (雞) - Literally means chicken; Female sex worker.
34. Ngaap3 (鴨) - Literally means duck; Male prostitution or Gigolo.
35. Sik6 yun5 faan6 (食軟飯) (Alternatively, Sik6 to1 haai2 faan6 (食拖鞋飯)) - Literally to eat soft rice (to eat slippers' rice); to sponge off women.
36. Paak3 wu1 jing1 (拍烏蠅) - Literally to swat flies; having slack business.
Relationship with Cantonese and Culture
From the aspect of linguistics, the lexicon of Hong Kong slanguage can be classified into three types, including compounds, simple words and accessional words. Over 80% of 237 Hong Kong slang words consist of compound, a word with more than one radical element, which indicates that Cantonese slangs are usually composed by the existing words. Aforementioned examples such as Fong Fei Gei (放飛機), Cyun Zoei(串嘴) and Wat Gei(屈機) are all compounds, while Hea, Sap buk (十卜), Fu Luk (負碌) are simple words, which cannot be broken down into different words and O jui (O嘴) is accessional word.[3]
Cantonese has an array of unique features and the classification in usage of Cantonese is particular. The components of a Chinese word relate to each other compactly. For instance, radicals in Chinese symbolize various gestures and actions. It paves a way for Cantonese to possess strong expressiveness.[4] Therefore, people nurture and create slanguage in Cantonese easily. Some words simply do not exist in other Chinese dialects. For example, there is no formal Chinese character for jiu (𡁻), which is verbal Cantonese for chew in which the word is simply made up by Hong Kong people.[5]
Teenagers, being the most innovative and dynamic language users in a society, create new terms frequently. The younger generation is probably more responsible for spreading slangs directly because they are much more susceptible to the world of television comedies, commercials, comic strips and so on. This explains why a large portion of slang expressions originate and spread out from youth communities. It also states that slanguage is not only for communication, but also for recording the current culture. Thus, through the wide acceptance of Hong Kong slanguage, the culture of Hong Kong teenagers and perhaps even the entire society can be realized.