Hong Kong Terms: O—Z

P

Menu passport prison — a country such as Canada where Hong Kong citizens grudgingly reside to obtain citizenship or passports. In Canada, reluctance summarily increases during winter.

passport widow(er) — one half of a couple who resides in a foreign country to obtain citizenship while the other lives and works in Hong Kong.

pork chop — an unkind description of an unattractive woman.

PRC — acronym for the People's Republic of China, not the People of Red China—that's not cool.

puk gaai sei — a curse. Translates loosely as to fall face first dead in the street. Means Go To Hell or Drop Dead. Often translated in triad movies as bastard.

Q

queue — the hairstyle forced upon the people of China during the rule of the Manchus. It was created by shaving the front half of the head, while maintaining a long braid in the back. Cutting the braid was considered dishonourable and was punishable by death. Also known as a pig-tail.

queue — the British word for forming a line. In Hong Kong, expect to queue for most anything you need to do.

R

rickshaw — Once the main form of public transport, now relegated to three old beat-up units (which are for sale, I might add) at the Star Ferry pier in Central, which even tourists won't ride anymore. Sad, but it wouldn't do to have these things on the streets among motor vehicles.

RTHK — acronym for Radio Television Hong Kong. The acronym sounds cooler.

S

SCMP — the South China Morning Post; the main English-language newspaper in Hong Kong.

Shenzhen — a large mainland Chinese city at the border with Hong Kong. Entry requires a visa if you aren't a Hong Kong or Chinese citizen. Either that, or you can try smuggling yourself in under a truck.

si fu — Cantonese for master. Most often used in the martial arts, but any master of any talent can be referred to as a si fu—even plumbers.

siu ye — midnight snack. Too much siu ye will make you a fei lo.

snakehead — a person who smuggles illegal immigrants into or out of Hong Kong. Snakeheads are among the lowest forms of life; worse than turtle eggs.

soh gwa — an insult or term of endearment, depending on how it's said. Translates as silly melon.

Star Ferry — the world-famous ferry line plying Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; about a 7-minute ride. My favourite way to cross the harbour, except during typhoons.

T

tai sai — a popular gambling game also called sik bo (treasure of the dice). Also see big and small.

triad — the English-language word used to describe Chinese secret societies. Today's triad organisations are devoted to nothing but criminal activities.

turtle egg — a nasty Chinese insult that questions a person's parentage ... something to do with the way female turtles bury their eggs in the sand and then bugger off, never to return.

U

uncle/aunt — used as a term of respect for elders. Used in triad societies to show respect to higher-ranking members.

W

wah — a Cantonese word used in surprise or to call attention to something, as in: Wah! This DVD player is way overpriced!

wai/wei — a Cantonese word used to answer the telephone or to get someone's attention. Often heard in movie theatres during the screening.

wire-fu — created and mastered in Hong Kong martial arts films, this is the generic name for movies featuring lots of embellished high-flying action generated through the use of wires, such as impossible hang-times, floating or running through mid-air, walking on water, flitting over roofs and tree-tops, etc. Grossly over-used in North American films since the release of the Matrix.

wu jo laaht taat — dirty. In the literal sense of the word. Often just wu jo.

Y

yam sing — Bottoms up! Used to toast others. Often said with great enthusiasm, at least when the drinking begins.

yeh jai — bastard. S.O.B..