Before the rise of Canto-pop and the internet, Cantonese opera was a popular form of entertainment Hongkongers enjoyed in the 1950s. A mix of acting, singing and martial arts, Cantonese opera was listed by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Not only does this traditional art form exist in the collective memory of the older generation, but it has also made its way into everyday conversations in Hong Kong, as some of its jargon has been transformed into slang. For example, the term used for when an actor was offbeat is now used to point out someone’s mistakes, and the funny performances interspersed between the scenes of a play now are used to discuss smoothing over something bad.
This week, we introduce slang terms borrowed from Cantonese opera to give you a taste of the city’s traditional performing arts.
Why this Hong Kong performer wants you to get a taste of Cantonese opera
1. Full house; crowded
Cantonese slang: 爆棚 baau3 paang4 (bao-pang)
Literal translation: “Burst the shelf”
Meaning: describes a crowded place or event. In the past, Hongkongers used to watch Cantonese opera in bamboo theatres, temporary performance stages built with bamboo. When the show had a full house, people would describe it as bao-pang, meaning the bamboo “shelves” were bursting with people. Later, the slang’s meaning was extended to refer to any event or place filled with people.
Example: The event featuring Mirror in Causeway Bay is very popular, and the shopping mall is bao-pang with so many of their fans.
Are you wearing an ‘idol backpack?’ Canto slang about fandoms
2. To make a mistake; to slip up
Cantonese slang: 撞板 zong6 baan2 (chong-baan)
Literal translation: “Hit the board”
Meaning: describes someone who makes mistakes. In Cantonese opera, the term baan refers to counting the beats in a song. So the term at first was used as jargon to tell someone they had started on the wrong beat. The wider public later borrowed it to describe when someone makes a mistake.
Example: It’s okay to chong-baan, but you must learn from your mistakes and be more careful next time.
3. Chaotic situation
Cantonese slang: 六國大封相 luk6 gwok3 daai6 fung1 soeng1 (luk-gok-dai-fung-sherng)
Literal translation: “Prime minister of six kingdoms”
Meaning: refers to a chaotic situation. This phrase is the name of a classic Cantonese opera piece set during the Warring States period, and it became popularised as a slang term after a murder in 1951, when the culprit used the play to describe his intent to cause chaos. Since then, the play’s name has become a slang term that refers to having arguments with others and being in chaotic situations.
Example: The scene of the two candidates arguing at the press conference was a luk-gok-dai-fung-sherng that quickly became the talk of the town.
Sup Sup Sui: Can you hear me now? Cantonese slang about communication
4. To smooth something over; to finish off
Cantonese slang: 收科 sau1 fo1 (sau-for)
Literal translation: “Collect the subject”
Meaning: to finish by smoothing over something bad that happened. Cantonese opera often has funny dialogue and gestures interspersed between scenes of the play to make audiences laugh. Usually, these silly performances will be wrapped up by another character – this act is called sau-for. Now, the phrase is used in daily conversation to refer to finishing something, usually negative.
Example: I made a huge mistake at the event, and I don’t know how to sau-for and explain it to our clients.
