HK Glossary
78
Hong Kong's story, told in Hong Kong's own words. This reference collects the Hong Kong terms used across the site, with Cantonese romanisation, meanings, and the corresponding usage in Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia — plus Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and English where a real term exists. Words borrowed in and words Hong Kong loaned out are both recorded. Entries marked 'unverified' are ones we could not document to our standard.
- 巴士baa1 si2← Origin
Meaningbus (a Cantonese transliteration of the English word)
公共汽車，英語 bus 的粵語音譯。香港巴士文化深厚，雙層巴士更是城市標誌之一。
← OriginEnglish 'bus' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 公交车 Taiwan 公車 Singapore 巴士＝香港 Malaysia 巴士＝香港 Japanese バスbasu Korean 버스beoseu Vietnamese xe buýt English bus Singapore and Malaysia share Hong Kong's 巴士. Mainland colloquial speech also uses it (大巴, 中巴); the official term is 公交车.
- 叉燒caa1 siu1→ Loaned out
Meaningchar siu — Cantonese barbecued pork glazed with honey
廣東燒味：以叉子掛爐烤成的蜜汁豬肉。
→ Loaned outEnglish 'char siu' and Japanese チャーシュー are borrowed from the Cantonese 叉燒.
Mainland China 叉烧 Taiwan 叉燒＝香港 Japanese チャーシューchāshū借自粵語，日式拉麵的チャーシュー由此演變 English char siu Seen on【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔
- 茶餐廳caa4 caan1 teng1→ Loaned out
Meaningcha chaan teng — Hong Kong-style café/diner serving East-meets-West comfort food
香港特有的平民餐廳，中西合璧，供應奶茶、多士、碟頭飯等，源於 1950 年代的冰室。
→ Loaned out'Cha chaan teng' entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016; the mainland and Taiwan borrow 茶餐廳 directly.
Mainland China 茶餐厅 Taiwan 茶餐廳＝香港 Singapore 茶餐厅※unverified Malaysia 茶餐室※unverified Japanese 茶餐廳chā chan ten＝香港※unverified English cha chaan teng A Hong Kong original — the word travels with the cuisine and is borrowed as-is. Malaysia's 茶餐室 (kopitiam) is a different institution; unverified.
Seen on編輯及翻譯方針
- 抽水cau1 seoi2
Meaning'chau seoi' — to piggyback on a hot topic for attention; the newsjacking ads Hong Kong brands are famous for
借勢取利；今日多指借熱門話題造勢——品牌「抽水式」廣告是香港廣告文化一絕。
Mainland China 蹭热度※unverified Taiwan 蹭熱度※unverified Seen on【延伸閱讀】香港巴士的故事香港宜家家居館
- 車長ce1 zoeng2
Meaningbus captain — Hong Kong's official title for a bus driver
巴士司機的香港稱謂。巴士公司對外一律稱司機為「車長」（bus captain）。
Mainland China 司机 Taiwan 司機 English bus captain香港英語的正式職稱 - 出世紙ceot1 sai3 zi2
Meaning'chut sai ji' (lit. born-into-the-world paper) — the everyday Cantonese word for a birth certificate
出生證明書的俗稱。
Mainland China 出生证 Taiwan 出生證明 English birth certificate Seen on【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔
- 傳呼機cyun4 fu1 gei1
Meaningpager ('chuen fu gei', locally 'call gei') — the lifeline of 1980s–90s Hong Kong before mobile phones
傳呼機（俗稱 Call 機），1980-90 年代流動電話普及前的通訊工具。
Mainland China 寻呼机中國內地口語又稱 BP 机 Taiwan 呼叫器台灣口語又稱 B.B.Call Japanese ポケベルpokeberu English pager Seen on香港電訊館
- 打工仔daa2 gung1 zai2→ Loaned out
Meaningwage earner ('da gung jai') — the working stiff's self-deprecating word for themselves
受薪僱員的自稱與統稱，帶幾分自嘲，如「打工仔的糧尾救星」。
→ Loaned out打工 travelled north from Cantonese into Mandarin with 1980s Hong Kong investment, later spawning 打工仔 and 打工人.
Mainland China 打工人※unverified2020 年代中國內地網絡流行語，與「打工仔」神似——用法待核實 Taiwan 上班族 - 打卡daa2 kaa1
Meaningto 'check in' — visit a spot for photos worth posting
到熱門地點拍照留念並在社交媒體分享。原指上班簽到。
Mainland China 打卡＝香港 Taiwan 打卡＝香港 Singapore 打卡＝香港※unverified Malaysia 打卡＝香港※unverified A social-media-era word now common across the region.
Seen on太古館
- 大笪地daai6 daat3 dei2
Meaning'daai daat dei' — the open-air night bazaars of old Hong Kong, with hawkers, street performers and snacks; nicknamed the 'poor man's nightclub'
昔日的露天平民夜市，集擺賣、賣藝、小食於一地，有「平民夜總會」之稱。
A historical Hong Kong institution with no counterpart elsewhere.
Seen on天星小輪館
- 大牌檔daai6 paai4 dong3→ Loaned out
Meaningdai pai dong (大牌檔) — licensed open-air food stall
領有「大牌」（大型固定攤位牌照）的露天熟食檔，香港街頭飲食文化的代表。
→ Loaned out'Dai pai dong' entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016; mainland 大排档 is also a borrowing from Hong Kong.
Mainland China 大排档 Taiwan 路邊攤 Singapore 小贩中心※unverified新加坡的小販中心是集中管理的熟食中心，與香港街邊的大牌檔形式有別，並非對等說法。 Malaysia 小贩中心※unverified English dai pai dong Mainland 大排档 is itself a borrowing (and respelling) of the Hong Kong word. Singapore's hawker centres are a different, centrally-managed institution.
Seen on編輯及翻譯方針
- 斗零dau2 ling2
Meaning'dau ling' — the old nickname for the five-cent coin; the 1966 protests against the Star Ferry's five-cent fare rise are popularly known as the 'Dau Ling Riots'
五仙硬幣的俗稱。1966 年天星小輪申請加價五仙觸發的抗議，俗稱「斗零騷動」。
An old currency nickname with no counterpart elsewhere, so no equivalents are listed.
Seen on天星小輪館
- 豆品dau6 ban2
Meaningsoyabean products (tofu, soya milk, etc.)
大豆製品的統稱：豆腐、豆漿、豆腐花、腐竹等。老字號常寫作「荳品」，如深水埗公和荳品廠。
Mainland China 豆制品 Taiwan 豆製品 Singapore 豆制品※unverified Malaysia 豆制品※unverified 荳 is a variant character of 豆, common on old Hong Kong shopfronts; the site keeps each brand's own spelling.
Seen on荃灣「亞玉」「贊和」大戰，豆腐花成戰場熱話公和、義和、廖同合堅持石磨 只為了對豆味的堅持又愛又恨的一種臭——臭豆腐同名豆品店 - 孰真孰假？+14
- 豆腐花dau6 fu6 faa1
Meaningtofu pudding ('dau fu fa')
嫩滑的豆腐甜品，通常配黃糖或糖水食用。
Mainland China 豆腐脑 Taiwan 豆花 Singapore 豆花 Malaysia 豆腐花＝香港※unverified English tofu pudding※unverified Northern mainland says 豆腐脑 (often savoury); the south also uses 豆腐花. Malaysia shows both 豆腐花 and 豆花 — unverified.
Seen on荃灣「亞玉」「贊和」大戰，豆腐花成戰場熱話豆品小店也做CSR？豆渣不是垃圾！ 綠色企業變出環保產品香港豆品的故事+1
- 的士dik1 si2← Origin→ Loaned out
Meaningtaxi (from the English word; 'dik si' in Cantonese)
計程車，英語 taxi 的粵語音譯。
← OriginEnglish 'taxi' (phonetic loan)
→ Loaned out的士 entered mainland colloquial speech via Cantonese, spawning 打的 and 的哥.
Mainland China 出租车 Taiwan 計程車 Singapore 德士 Malaysia 德士※unverified Japanese タクシーtakushī Korean 택시taeksi English taxi Mainland colloquial 打的 ('hail a taxi') shows Cantonese influence. Malaysian usage may differ from Singapore's — both 德士 and 的士 are seen; unverified.
Seen on編輯及翻譯方針
- 點心dim2 sam1→ Loaned out
Meaningdim sum — the small dishes of the Cantonese teahouse: har gow, siu mai, char siu bao; a word that travelled the world with Cantonese migrants
粵式茶樓的各式小點：蝦餃、燒賣、叉燒包……隨粵港移民傳遍世界。
→ Loaned outEnglish 'dim sum' and Korean 딤섬 are both borrowed from the Cantonese — a flagship export of Cantonese food culture.
Mainland China 点心中國內地「点心」亦泛指糕餅零食，粵式的須注明「广式点心」 Taiwan 點心＝香港台灣「點心」泛指零食小吃，粵式的多說「港式點心」 Japanese 点心tenshin Korean 딤섬dimseom直接借自粵語「點心」 Vietnamese điểm tâm漢越詞，在越南南部指早餐 English dim sum - 電車din6 ce1
Meaningtram — Hong Kong Island's double-deck streetcar, affectionately 'ding ding'
香港島的雙層路面電車，1904 年通車，俗稱「叮叮」。
Mainland China 有轨电车 Taiwan 路面電車※unverified Japanese 路面電車romen densha日語單說「電車」指鐵路列車，與香港所指不同 English tram Singapore and Malaysia have no tramway, so no equivalent is listed.
- 電視撈飯din6 si6 lou1 faan6
Meaning'TV mixed with rice' ('din si lou faan') — eating dinner glued to the television, a picture of 1970s–80s family evenings
一邊看電視一邊吃晚飯（「撈」即拌），形容 1970-80 年代全家人晚飯時間追電視的盛況。
A Hong Kong idiom with no counterpart elsewhere, so no equivalents are listed.
Seen on【延伸閱讀】香港豆品廣告電視撈飯的年代
- 碟頭飯dip6 tau4 faan6
Meaningrice plate ('dip tau faan') — a one-plate meal of rice topped with a dish, the staple of cha chaan tengs and fast-food shops
餸菜連飯一碟上的平民飯餐，茶餐廳與快餐店的主力。
Mainland China 盖浇饭 Seen on香港麥當勞館
- 多士do1 si2← Origin
Meaningtoast ('do si', from the English word) — French toast (sai do si) is a cha chaan teng classic
烘烤過的麵包，英語 toast 的粵語音譯。茶餐廳的西多士（法蘭西多士）最為經典。
← OriginEnglish 'toast' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 吐司※unverified中國內地「吐司」多指方包本身，烘烤後的多士常說「烤面包」——用法待核實 Taiwan 吐司台灣「吐司」指方包，與香港「多士」（烘烤後）所指不盡相同 Japanese トーストtōsuto Korean 토스트toseuteu English toast Seen on公和等品牌精製腐乳成「中國芝士」的典範
- 檔口dong3 hau2
Meaningstall ('dong hau') — a market stall or small shop unit, like the tofu stalls of the wet market
攤檔、舖位。如街市裡一格一格的豆腐檔口。
Mainland China 摊位 Taiwan 攤位 English stall Seen on【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔
- 返工faan1 gung1
Meaningto go to work ('faan gung') — beware: in Mandarin the same characters mean 'redo defective work'
上班。「聽日要返工」即明天要上班。
Mainland China 上班 Taiwan 上班 Caution: in Mandarin 返工 means redoing sub-standard work — a completely different sense. A classic false friend.
Seen on【延伸閱讀】香港巴士的故事
- 菲林fei1 lam2← Origin
Meaningphotographic film ('fei lam', a Cantonese transliteration of the English word)
攝影膠卷，英語 film 的粵語音譯。
← OriginEnglish 'film' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 胶卷 Taiwan 底片 Japanese フィルムfirumu Korean 필름pilleum English film Seen on邵氏無綫館
- 腐乳fu6 jyu5
Meaningfermented bean curd — 'Chinese cheese'
發酵豆腐製品，鹹香濃郁，被稱為「中國芝士」。
Mainland China 腐乳＝香港 Taiwan 豆腐乳 Singapore 腐乳＝香港※unverified Malaysia 腐乳＝香港※unverified Japanese 腐乳fūru＝香港※unverified English fermented bean curd The mainland shares Hong Kong's 腐乳; Taiwan mostly says 豆腐乳.
Seen on公和等品牌精製腐乳成「中國芝士」的典範香港豆品的故事
- 風球fung1 kau4
Meaningtyphoon signal ('fung kau') — from the physical signals once hoisted; 'Signal No. 8' still stops the city
熱帶氣旋警告信號的俗稱，源於昔日以實物風球懸掛示警——「八號風球」至今仍是香港人的共同語言。
English typhoon signal Physical signals were retired in 2002, but 'hoisting the signal' and 'Signal No. 8' remain everyday speech.
Seen on【延伸閱讀】香港巴士的故事
- 街市gaai1 si5
Meaningwet market ('gai si')
販賣新鮮食材的市場（濕貨市場），常設於專門街市大樓或街道兩旁。
Mainland China 菜市场 Taiwan 菜市場 Singapore 巴刹 Malaysia 巴刹 Japanese 市場ichiba English wet market Singapore/Malaysia's 巴刹 comes from Malay 'pasar'.
- 膠花gaau1 faa1
Meaningplastic flowers ('gaau fa') — the backbone of Hong Kong's 1950s–60s cottage industry; assembling them at home fed a generation of families
塑膠假花。1950-60 年代香港家庭手工業的支柱產業，「穿膠花」養活了整整一代基層家庭。
Mainland China 塑料花 Taiwan 塑膠花 English plastic flowers Seen on紅 A 塑膠館
- 雞仔餅gai1 zai2 beng2
Meaning'gai jai beng' (chicken biscuit) — a sweet-savoury Cantonese pastry filled with candied pork fat and fermented tofu; a tong beng classic
甘香鹹甜的廣東傳統小餅，以冰肉、南乳入餡，是唐餅的代表之一。
Mainland China 鸡仔饼 Seen on奇華餅家館
- 忌廉gei6 lim1← Origin
Meaningcream ('gei lim', a Cantonese transliteration of the English word), as in cream cake or cream soda
英語 cream 的粵語音譯，如忌廉蛋糕、忌廉味梳打。
← OriginEnglish 'cream' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 奶油注意：台灣「奶油」指牛油（butter），兩岸所指不同 Taiwan 鮮奶油 Japanese クリームkurīmu English cream - 咕嚕肉gu1 lou1 juk6
Meaningsweet and sour pork ('gu lou yuk') — a Cantonese classic; The Peninsula's Gaddi's once won an international gold medal with it
酸甜脆炸豬肉，粵菜經典，半島酒店 Gaddi's 曾憑此菜奪國際烹飪金獎。
Mainland China 咕噜肉 Taiwan 咕咾肉 English sweet and sour pork Seen on半島酒店館
- 公屋gung1 uk1
Meaningpublic rental housing ('gung uk') — government-built flats for rent, as opposed to subsidised-sale flats
公共房屋的簡稱，政府興建的出租房屋，與居屋（資助出售）相對。
Mainland China 公租房※unverified Taiwan 社會住宅※unverified Singapore 组屋 English public housing Public-housing systems differ greatly by place; equivalents are approximate.
Seen on【延伸閱讀】香港巴士的故事
- 公仔gung1 zai2→ Loaned out
Meaningdoll or cartoon figure ('gung jai') — the word behind Doll noodles (公仔麵) and 'gung jai seung' (the TV set)
玩偶、人形公仔，也泛指卡通圖案——「公仔麵」「公仔箱」（電視）都由此而來。
→ Loaned out公仔 has spread into mainland colloquial usage via Cantonese pop culture (figures, blind boxes) — unverified.※unverified
Mainland China 玩偶「公仔」亦已隨粵語進入中國內地日常用語，南方尤甚 Taiwan 玩偶 - 公仔麵gung1 zai2 min6
Meaning'Doll noodles' — Hong Kong's generic word for instant noodles, from the local Doll brand launched in 1968
即食麵的香港俗稱，源自 1968 年面世的本地品牌「公仔麵」——品牌名成了整個品類的代名詞。
See the 即食麵 entry for regional equivalents.
Seen on香港日清館
- 光酥餅gwong1 sou1 beng2
Meaning'gwong sou beng' — a plain, lightly sweet traditional biscuit-cake, an everyday teatime snack of old Hong Kong
鬆軟微甜的傳統餅食，昔日的平民茶點。
A traditional Cantonese pastry with no stable equivalents documented elsewhere.
Seen on奇華餅家館
- 鹹水草haam4 seoi2 cou2
Meaning'haam seoi cho' — the sedge twine once used at wet markets to tie up tofu and groceries, before the plastic bag
昔日街市用來綁紮食物的水草繩——膠袋普及之前，豆腐、餸菜都用鹹水草紮好帶回家。
An old market-packaging word with no counterpart elsewhere.
Seen on【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔
- 戲院hei3 jyun2
Meaningcinema ('hei yuen') — Shaw Brothers ran everything from studio to cinema chain
電影院。邵氏兄弟由片廠到戲院一手包辦，是香港影業黃金時代的縮影。
Mainland China 电影院 Taiwan 電影院 Japanese 映画館eigakan English cinema Seen on邵氏無綫館
- 汽水hei3 seoi2
Meaningsoft drink / soda
有氣碳酸飲品。香港汽水史與太古可口可樂、維他等品牌關係密切。
Mainland China 汽水＝香港 Taiwan 汽水＝香港 Singapore 汽水＝香港 Malaysia 汽水＝香港 English soft drink All four regions share 汽水 — a common word. Formal mainland usage is 碳酸饮料.
- 荷里活ho4 lei5 wut6← Origin
MeaningHollywood — the Hong Kong transliteration ('ho lei wut'); Shaw Brothers imported the Hollywood studio system to Hong Kong
美國電影業中心 Hollywood 的香港譯名。邵氏引入荷里活片廠制度，造就香港電影盛世。
← OriginEnglish 'Hollywood' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 好莱坞 Taiwan 好萊塢 Japanese ハリウッドhariuddo Korean 할리우드holliudeu English Hollywood Seen on邵氏無綫館
- 影相jing2 soeng2
Meaningto take photos ('ying seung') — the everyday Cantonese verb for photography
拍照。「影」是粵語「拍攝」的講法，影張相＝拍張照。
Mainland China 拍照 Taiwan 拍照 Seen on嘉頓麵包館
- 熱狗jit6 gau2← Origin
Meaning'hot dog' — Hong Kong slang for the non-air-conditioned bus, named for its sweltering summer cabin; the last ones retired in 2012
無空調巴士的香港俗稱，因夏天車廂焗熱而得名。隨著最後一批非空調巴士於 2012 年退役，「熱狗」成為集體回憶。
← OriginEnglish 'hot dog' (calque, extended to mean the non-air-conditioned bus)
A Hong Kong bus-fan nickname with no counterpart elsewhere, so no equivalents are listed.
Seen on退役九巴遊走外國街頭？
- 洋行joeng4 hong2→ Loaned out
Meaninghong ('yeung hong') — the foreign trading houses of old Hong Kong, such as Jardine and Swire; English borrowed 'hong' from this Cantonese word
外資貿易商行，如怡和洋行、太古洋行——香港開埠故事的主角。
→ Loaned outEnglish 'hong' (a Far East trading house) was borrowed from Cantonese 行 (hong), alongside 'taipan' (大班).
Mainland China 洋行＝香港 Taiwan 洋行＝香港 English hong英語 hong 借自粵語「行」，專指遠東的洋行 - 原子粒jyun4 zi2 nap1
Meaning'atomic grain' ('yuen ji nap') — the old Hong Kong word for the transistor; cheap transistor radios powered the golden age of radio
電晶體（transistor）的香港舊稱。1950-60 年代的「原子粒收音機」帶動了香港電台廣播的黃金時期。
Mainland China 晶体管 Taiwan 電晶體 English transistor Seen on香港電台館
- 月餅會jyut6 beng2 wui2
Meaningmooncake club ('yut beng wui') — a monthly instalment scheme for pre-ordering Mid-Autumn mooncakes, common from the 1950s to the 1980s
以每月分期供款預購中秋月餅的制度，1950 至 80 年代盛行——基層家庭應付大節開支的智慧。
A Hong Kong bakery institution with no counterpart elsewhere, so no equivalents are listed.
Seen on奇華餅家館
- 曲奇kuk1 kei4← Origin→ Loaned out
Meaningcookie ('kuk kei', a Cantonese transliteration of the English word)
英語 cookie 的粵語音譯。
← OriginEnglish 'cookie' (phonetic loan)
→ Loaned out曲奇 entered mainland Chinese via Hong Kong and is now the standard word on packaging.
Mainland China 曲奇＝香港由香港傳入，中國內地包裝常見「曲奇饼干」 Taiwan 餅乾※unverified台灣「餅乾」泛指各類餅乾，非專指曲奇；亦有直接稱「曲奇餅」。 Japanese クッキーkukkī Korean 쿠키kuki English cookie - 冷氣laang5 hei3
Meaningair conditioning ('laang hei')
空調。口語也稱冷氣機。
Mainland China 空调 Taiwan 冷氣＝香港 Singapore 冷气 Malaysia 冷气 Japanese エアコンeakon English air conditioning Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia share Hong Kong's word; the mainland says 空调.
Seen on匯豐銀行館【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔
- 利是lai6 si6→ Loaned out
Meaninglai see — red packet of lucky money
農曆新年等喜慶場合派發的紅封包。太古中文名的傳說之一，正與利是上的「大吉」有關。
→ Loaned outVietnamese lì xì is borrowed from the Cantonese 利是; Hong Kong English also uses 'lai see'.
Mainland China 红包 Taiwan 紅包 Singapore 红包 Malaysia 红包※unverified Japanese お年玉otoshidama專指新年給小孩的錢，範圍較「利是」窄 Korean 세뱃돈sebaetdon※unverified Vietnamese lì xì直接借自粵語「利是」 English red packet Also written 利市 / 利事. Singapore and Malaysia also use Hokkien-derived 'angpow'.
Seen on太古館
- 落雨lok6 jyu5
Meaningraining ('lok yu') — Cantonese for 下雨; Red A's classic slogan promised schoolbags that could take the rain
下雨。紅Ａ經典廣告對白「落雨都唔怕入水」正是六七十年代的香港記憶。
Mainland China 下雨 Taiwan 下雨 Seen on紅 A 塑膠館
- 老婆餅lou5 po4 beng2
Meaningwife cake ('lou po beng') — flaky pastry with winter-melon filling, a signature Cantonese bakery item
冬蓉酥皮餅，廣東傳統餅食，香港餅家的招牌唐餅之一。
Mainland China 老婆饼 Taiwan 老婆餅＝香港 English wife cake※unverified Seen on奇華餅家館
- 錄影帶luk6 jing2 daai2
Meaningvideotape — Shaw and TVB programmes reached overseas Chinese communities through videotape rental
錄影磁帶。邵氏、無綫的節目正是靠錄影帶租賃走向世界各地的華人社區。
Mainland China 录像带 Taiwan 錄影帶＝香港 Japanese ビデオテープbideotēpu English videotape Seen on邵氏無綫館
- 米芝蓮mai5 zi1 lin4← Origin
MeaningMichelin — the Hong Kong transliteration of the French brand and its dining guide
法國輪胎品牌及其餐飲指南 Michelin 的香港譯名。
← OriginFrench brand name 'Michelin' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 米其林 Taiwan 米其林 Japanese ミシュランmishuran English Michelin - 奶茶naai5 caa4
MeaningHong Kong-style milk tea — strong black tea with evaporated milk, the soul of the cha chaan teng; also called 'silk-stocking' milk tea
港式奶茶：濃紅茶加淡奶，茶餐廳的靈魂飲品，也稱「絲襪奶茶」。
Mainland China 奶茶＝香港中國內地「奶茶」今多默認指珍珠奶茶類手搖飲品，港式的須注明「港式奶茶」 Taiwan 奶茶＝香港 Japanese ミルクティーmirukutī English milk tea Seen on【延伸閱讀】親子繪本豆品的故事參考資料
- 牛雜ngau4 zaap6
Meaning'ngau jaap' — braised beef offal, a street-food staple from the old night bazaars to today
滷煮牛內臟小食，昔日大笪地至今日街頭的平民美味。
Mainland China 牛杂 Taiwan 牛雜＝香港※unverified English beef offal Seen on天星小輪館
- 按樽on3 zeon1
Meaningbottle deposit ('on jeun') — pay a deposit with your bottled drink, get it back on return; Vitasoy's 1975 move to paper cartons did away with it
購買樽裝飲品時付按金、退樽取回的制度。1975 年維他奶改用紙包裝，正是為了省去按樽安排。
Mainland China 押瓶费※unverified English bottle deposit Seen on維他奶館
- 三文治saam1 man4 zi6← Origin
Meaningsandwich ('saam man ji', a Cantonese transliteration of the English word)
英語 sandwich 的粵語音譯。
← OriginEnglish 'sandwich' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 三明治 Taiwan 三明治 Singapore 三文治＝香港※unverified Japanese サンドイッチsandoitchi Korean 샌드위치saendeuwichi English sandwich - 西餅sai1 beng2
MeaningWestern-style pastry and cakes, as opposed to traditional Chinese tong beng
西式糕餅的統稱，與中式的唐餅相對。
Mainland China 西点 Taiwan 西點 - 手信sau2 seon3
Meaning'sau seon' — a small gift, usually edible, brought back for family and friends; Kee Wah's pastries are a classic
出門探親訪友時隨手帶備的小禮物，多為餅食特產——奇華的唐餅正是經典手信。
Mainland China 伴手礼※unverified由台灣用語傳開；廣東地區也通「手信」 Taiwan 伴手禮 Japanese お土産omiyage English souvenir手信專指帶給親友的小禮物（多為食品），比 souvenir 範圍窄 Seen on奇華餅家館
- 士多si6 do1← Origin
Meaningcorner shop / mom-and-pop store ('si do', from the English 'store')
小型雜貨店，英語 store 的粵語音譯，多為街坊小店，賣零食、飲品、日用品。
← OriginEnglish 'store' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 小卖部 Taiwan 雜貨店 Singapore 杂货店※unverified Malaysia 杂货店※unverified English corner shop Singapore and Malaysia also have kedai-derived words from Malay; usage unverified.
- 小巴siu2 baa1
Meaningpublic light bus ('siu ba') — Hong Kong's 16–19-seat minibuses, red (non-scheduled) or green (scheduled), a transit system unique to the city
公共小型巴士，一般載客 16 至 19 人，分紅色（非專線）與綠色（專線）兩種，是香港獨有的交通制度。
Mainland China 小巴＝香港※unverified口語常見（受粵語影響），正式名稱各城市不一 English minibus Seen on品牌廣告與巴士風景共存？
- 小輪siu2 leon4
Meaningferry — as in the Star Ferry
渡海小輪，來往維港兩岸的渡輪，以天星小輪最為人熟悉。
Mainland China 渡轮 Taiwan 渡輪 Singapore 渡轮※unverified Malaysia 渡轮※unverified Japanese フェリーferī English ferry - 梳打so1 daa2← Origin
Meaningsoda ('so da', a Cantonese transliteration of the English word) — soda water, cream soda
英語 soda 的粵語音譯：梳打水、忌廉味梳打。
← OriginEnglish 'soda' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 苏打 Taiwan 蘇打 Japanese ソーダsōda English soda - 雙層巴士soeng1 cang4 baa1 si2
Meaningdouble-decker bus — running on Hong Kong's streets since 1949 and one of the city's icons
有上下兩層的巴士。1949 年起行走香港街頭，是香港的城市標誌之一。
Mainland China 双层巴士 Taiwan 雙層巴士＝香港 Japanese 二階建てバスnikaidate basu English double-decker bus - 掃街sou3 gaai1
Meaningstreet-food grazing — eating one's way down a street of snack stalls
沿街逐檔吃小食，「掃」盡街頭美食之意。
Hong Kong colloquial with no stable equivalents elsewhere — none are listed rather than guessed.
Seen on太古館
- 雪糕syut3 gou1
Meaningice cream ('suet go')
冰淇淋。香港由牛奶公司雪糕車到便利店雪櫃，雪糕品牌承載不少童年回憶。
Mainland China 冰淇淋 Taiwan 冰淇淋 Singapore 雪糕＝香港※unverified Malaysia 雪糕＝香港※unverified Japanese アイスクリームaisukurīmu Korean 아이스크림aiseukeurim English ice cream In parts of the mainland 雪糕 means an ice pop, not ice cream. Singapore and Malaysia use both 雪糕 and 冰淇淋 — unverified.
- 雪櫃syut3 gwai6
Meaningrefrigerator ('suet gwai', lit. snow cabinet)
冰箱。
Mainland China 冰箱 Taiwan 冰箱 Singapore 冰箱※unverified Malaysia 冰箱※unverified Japanese 冷蔵庫reizōko English refrigerator Seen on退役九巴遊走外國街頭？【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔
- 貼士tip1 si2← Origin
Meaningtips ('tip si', from the English word) — a gratuity, or a hint (as in racing tips)
小費；也指提示、內幕消息（如馬經貼士）。英語 tips 的粵語音譯。
← OriginEnglish 'tips' (phonetic loan)
Mainland China 小费 Taiwan 小費 Japanese チップchippu English tip Seen on香港麥當勞館
- 唐餅tong4 beng2
Meaningtraditional Chinese pastry ('tong beng' — 'Tong' meaning Chinese), such as wife cakes and chicken biscuits
中式傳統餅食的統稱（「唐」即華人之意），如老婆餅、雞仔餅、嫁女餅。
Mainland China 中式糕点 Taiwan 漢餅 Seen on奇華餅家館
- 糖水tong4 seoi2
Meaningtong sui — the Cantonese family of sweet dessert soups: red-bean sweet soup, sesame paste, tofu pudding
廣東式甜湯的統稱——紅豆沙、芝麻糊、豆腐花都是糖水。
Mainland China 甜汤※unverified廣東地區同樣講「糖水」 Taiwan 甜湯※unverified English tong sui※unverified Seen on香港日清館
- 屋邨uk1 cyun1
Meaningpublic housing estate ('uk chuen')
公共房屋屋苑，由政府興建供市民租住。屋邨生活是幾代香港人的集體回憶。
Mainland China 保障性住房※unverified Taiwan 社會住宅※unverified台灣「國宅」（國民住宅）多為出售式，且已停辦，與香港出租的屋邨不盡相同；「社會住宅」較接近，但用法待核實。 Singapore 组屋 Malaysia 组屋※unverified English public housing estate Public-housing systems differ by place, so equivalents are approximate: Singapore's HDB flats are owner-occupied, unlike Hong Kong's rental estates. The mainland term is unverified.
- 屋苑uk1 jyun2
Meaninghousing estate ('uk yuen') — a large residential development, especially a private one such as Mei Foo Sun Chuen or Taikoo Shing
大型住宅發展項目，特別指私人屋苑（美孚新邨、太古城等）。
Mainland China 小区 Taiwan 社區※unverified English housing estate Seen on地產發展商改的地鐵站名
- 鑊wok6→ Loaned out
Meaningwok ('wok') — the round-bottomed Cantonese cooking pan; the English word was borrowed from this Cantonese one
圓底炒鍋。粵語日常用「鑊」，不說「鍋」。
→ Loaned outEnglish 'wok' was borrowed from the Cantonese 鑊 and is in every major English dictionary.
Mainland China 锅 Taiwan 鍋 Japanese 中華鍋chūkanabe English wok Seen on【延伸閱讀】荳品廠誕生公和荳品廠
- 集體回憶zaap6 tai2 wui4 jik1
Meaningcollective memory ('jaap tai wui yik') — the phrase became a Hong Kong keyword during the 2006–07 campaigns to save the Star Ferry and Queen's piers
一代人共同的記憶。2006-07 年天星碼頭及皇后碼頭保育運動後，成為香港談論城市變遷的關鍵詞。
Mainland China 集体记忆 Taiwan 集體記憶 English collective memory 集體回憶 is the Hong Kong currency of the academic concept 'collective memory'; Taiwan and the mainland usually say 集體記憶/集体记忆.
- 找換店zaau2 wun6 dim3
Meaningmoney changer ('jaau wun dim') — Hang Seng Bank began as one such small shop on Wing Lok Street in 1933
兌換外幣的小店。恒生銀行 1933 年正是以小型找換店（銀號）形式在永樂街起家。
Mainland China 兑换店※unverified English money changer Seen on恒生館
- 制水zai3 seoi2
Meaningwater rationing ('jai seui') — in the drought years of the 1960s supply was cut to four hours every four days; a defining collective memory
政府限制供水。1960 年代香港食水短缺，最嚴重時每四天供水一次，「制水」是一代人的集體回憶。
English water rationing Seen on紅 A 塑膠館
- 樽zeon1
Meaningbottle ('jeun') — Cantonese says 'one jeun of soft drink', not the Mandarin 瓶
瓶子。粵語講「一樽汽水」，不說「一瓶」。
Mainland China 瓶 Taiwan 瓶 Seen on公和等品牌精製腐乳成「中國芝士」的典範紅 A 塑膠館【延伸閱讀】豆漿製作過程大公開【延伸閱讀】街市裡的豆腐檔+3
- 芝士zi1 si2← Origin→ Loaned out
Meaningcheese ('ji si', a Cantonese transliteration of the English word)
英語 cheese 的粵語音譯。
← OriginEnglish 'cheese' (phonetic loan)
→ Loaned out芝士 spread into everyday mainland usage with Hong Kong-style dining (cheesecake, baked rice).
Mainland China 奶酪「芝士」亦已隨港式餐飲普及於中國內地菜單 Taiwan 起司 Japanese チーズchīzu Korean 치즈chijeu English cheese - 即食麵zik1 sik6 min6
Meaninginstant noodles — Hongkongers habitually call them by brand names such as Doll or Demae Iccho
即食麵（方便麵）。香港人慣以「公仔麵」或「出前一丁」等品牌名代稱。
Mainland China 方便面 Taiwan 泡麵 Singapore 快熟面※unverified Japanese インスタントラーメンinsutanto rāmen Korean 라면ramyeon韓語「라면」兼指即食麵這一品類 English instant noodles Seen on香港日清館
- 總站zung2 zaam6
Meaningterminus — the first/last stop of a bus or rail line
巴士或鐵路路線的起訖站。
Mainland China 终点站 Taiwan 總站＝香港 Japanese 終点shūten English terminus
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