Some may argue that Hong Kong’s unique flavour of English is fading, but many words and phrases continue to endure. While we are less likely to use words like “godown” for a warehouse or to label an unmarried woman as a “spinster”, as the government does, terms borrowed from languages such as Cantonese and Hindi have become so prevalent that you might assume they have always been part of English everywhere.
Many Cantonese contributions to the English language are food-related, with terms like “dim sum”, “cha chaan teng” and “yin yeung” found in various English dictionaries.
Hong Kong’s history has also led to interactions with other colonial languages from Britain, such as Tamil and Malay, as well as Portuguese, due to our proximity to its former colony, Macau. Let’s take a closer look at eight English expressions commonly used in Hong Kong.
1. Add oil!
Derived from the Chinese expression 加油, this phrase is commonly used to offer encouragement. This literal translation is often used by bilingual speakers in the city. The phrase was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018.
Meaning: You can do it!
2. Chop
The term has an interesting origin, coming from the Hindi-Urdu word chaap, which means a stamp, seal, brand or the instrument used to create such markings. Linguist Lisa Lim notes that the phrase entered the English language in the early 19th century as a reference to a trademark. This adoption was due to British trade expansion in the Indian subcontinent.
Meaning: a seal or stamp, including traditional wooden seals with carved names in Chinese characters and modern rubber stamps
3. Ding ding
Hong Kong’s trams are a cherished form of public transport. The streetcars have an endearing nickname: “ding ding”, which comes from the ringing of the bell that sounds when the tram is in motion. In 2015, a proposal was submitted to the government suggesting the cancellation of the tram route from Central to Admiralty, arguing that walking was faster than taking the tram. A race between humans and the tram was organised, but only four of the 40 participants succeeded in outrunning the tram.
Meaning: the tram, of course
4. Lai see
In bilingual regions, it is common to use a transliteration or romanisation to refer to the traditional lucky crimson packet in Chinese culture. In English, this is typically called a “red envelope”, which is a direct translation of the Mandarin term hong bao. However, in Hong Kong, we commonly refer to it as lai see, the transliteration of the Cantonese term 利是, which means “good luck”. This term describes the monetary gift given on special occasions.
Meaning: a lucky red packet filled with money, typically given during celebrations
5. Nullah
The term is an anglicised version of the word naala, which can be found in several Indian languages. Originally, it meant a hollow stalk or tube, but in the Indian subcontinent, it has come to refer to a watercourse, riverbed or ravine. After the British took control of Hong Kong in 1841, the Surveyor General’s Office worked on building drainage systems, including nullahs, to improve sanitation.
Meaning: an open, typically concrete-lined channel designed to prevent flooding. In Hong Kong, some nullahs still exist, while others have been covered up
6. Praya
Although not commonly used in everyday conversation, the term still appears in official contexts and in the names of certain streets. The word derives from praia, the Portuguese term for beach. It was used in Hong Kong during the 19th century to describe a waterfront promenade. Today in Hong Kong, New Praya Kennedy Town – a seaside street on Hong Kong Island – is a popular spot during storms. This popularity is due to the sea wall being perpendicular to the sea surface, which allows the waves hitting the shore to create huge splashes that soak the spectators.
Meaning: in Hong Kong, a broad road running parallel to the harbour
7. Shroff
Shroff is a surname commonly found in South Asia. The English term is derived from the Hindi word saraf. While in the Indian subcontinent it typically refers to a banker or money changer, in East Asia, it is now used to mean a cashier, particularly in a parking facility. The term was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016.
Meaning: In Hong Kong, a shroff is usually a place to conduct payments.
8. Typhoon
You probably know what a typhoon is. But where did the word come from? Well, historians disagree. Some trace it back to a Min Chinese phrase which means “winds which last long” used around 1124. New Chinese characters would be created in the 1500s to match the sound, and the phrase would eventually reach Mandarin. Other linguists propose the English word comes from tufan, a Persian word also used in Hindi to mean storm. The ancient Greeks even had a mythological creature with a similar-sounding name: Typhon, a monstrous serpentine giant.
Meaning: a tropical cyclone that develops in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean with hurricane-force winds of at least 118km/h
