Cantonese Tuesdays: Hong Kong insults

Ed: Yes, it’s Wednesday, sue me. Another Hong Kong themed post in our mini series from across the border. In the light of fresh clashes between occupiers, police, angry residents and pro-mainland agents provocateurs, some colourful language is being thrown around. Hong Kongers (香港人 xiānggǎngrén) blame mainland Chinese (大陆人 dàlùrén) for being uncouth and under the heel. Mainlanders accuse Hong Kongers of being arrogant and unpatriotic. Here are a few insults necessary to keep up with the mudslinging, from Rosalyn S.

First up, Hong Kong slurs for mainlanders or pro-Chinese groups:

• 蝗蟲 wong4 cung4 / 蝗虫 huángchóng – locust. Coined when newly rich mainland Chinese started to "invade" Hong Kong after the hangover and use up their resources

• 保皇黨 bou2 wong4 dong2 / 保皇党 bǎohuángdǎng – pro-Beijing political group in Hong Kong (lit. the Royalist Party). Used by liberal Hong Kongers to attack conservative local groups

• 啊燦 aa1 caan3 / 阿灿 Ā Càn – mainland bumpkin. The name of an amusingly naive character in a Hong Kong TV series from 1979. Used derogatorily for new immigrants 

•北菇雞 baak1 gu1 gai1 / 北菇鸡 běigūjī – mainland prostitute. A common Cantonese dish with dried mushrooms and chicken. A play on 鸡 jī, the slang for prostitute

Next, mainland insults for Hong Kong:

• 港怂 gǎngsǒng – Hong Kong filth. 港 (gǎng) for HK, 怂 (sǒng) for "frightened". But 怂 can also be replaced by 㞞 (sóng, semen) for a more expressive version (HT @niubi)

• 港灿 gǎngcàn – Hong Konger in the mainland. A play on 阿灿 Ā Càn

• 港女 gǎngnǚ – spoiled princess. Literally just “Hong Kong girl”, but comes with the connotations of someone rich and bratty (ring any bells?)

• 臭港 chòugǎng – rotten Hong Kong. Literally “smelly harbour”, a play on “fragrant harbour”, the literal meaning of 香港 (xiānggǎng, Hong Kong)

• 走狗 zǒu gǒu – running British dog. ‘Nuff said