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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language


We all know that Hong Kong is Asia's World City having a wide diversity of people having different culture, races and traditions. But what makes these Hongkies (as they called) similar?

They know the Hongkies vocabulary, also called Hongkabulary (or Hong Kong's version of urban dictionary).


Check below our selected Hongkabulary with illustrations, for easy understanding. We pretty sure you'll enjoy it coz it's really FUN!


Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

7-Eleven Shower

Running out for a quick errand and getting caught in a sudden torrential 5-minute downpour.

"I went out for a pack of cigarettes and ended up taking a 7-Eleven shower."
"See? Told you smoking was bad for you."



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Beer Crawl

Swimming stroke used on junk trips which keeps your can of beer above head height to prevent seawater incursions.

"Careful with your Tsingtao! You'll set sea in it."
"Don't worry, I have an Olympic gold in the 20m beer crawl. Or I would have, if I hadn't been drunk."



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Central Castaway

Someone who rolls out of LKF at 3am and misses the last ferry of the night to their outlying island.

"I got locked inside a toilet cubicle in IFC and missed my ferry. Now I'm a Central Castaway."

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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Drench Dye

Sweating so much that your shirt turns two shades darker.

"I really love your red tee."
"It's actually pink. This is just a drench dye."



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Hong Kong crop top

Flipping your T-shirt up and tucking it under your armpits to deal with the oppressive humidity.

"It may be hot out there, but Ah Lok is beating the heat with this vintage Hong Kong crop top look. He's as at home in the middle of IFC as he is on the runway."

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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Emigration Anxiety

Refusing to commit to a relationship because you are planning to leave Hong Kong within the next year.

"I was really into her, but she got serious emigration anxiety so it never worked out."

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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Fish Flops

Walking through a wet market in sandals.

"Ugh. I was wearing fish flops and now I've got pig blood and carp intestines all over my legs."
"That's hot."



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

SoHo Recall

Going back to SoHo after three months and not recognizing a single bar or restaurant.

"What happened to Egin Street? Why is it totally different?"
"That's SoHo recall, Mr. Quaid."



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Tsui Wah Test

Taking the person you met clubbing to Tasui Wah before you take them home, so you can check them out under the harsh flourescent light.

"Hey you disappeared last night! Did you get lucky?
"I thought I would, until he failed the Tasui Wah Test."



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Lai Seeker

The grumpy security guard who suddenly becomes the embodiment of charm and helpfulness two weeks before Chinese New Year in hopes of an increased lai see haul.

"Did he just call the lift and carry the shopping for you? You get such great service in your building!"

"Don't be fooled. He's just a lai seeker."


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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Hotpot Despot

A person who has a very specific way of doing hotpot, and will yell at or refuse to eat with people who don't understand the hotpot code of conduct.

"Waft the beef, you imbecile! Don't dump it all in at once!"
"You are such a hotpot despot."




Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Walkup Workout

Going to a rooftop party in a walkup, so you arrive sweaty and panting heavily.

"Thanks so much for coming!"
"I'd come over more if it wasn't such a walkup workout every time. Where's the beer?"



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Learn Hongkabulary: Hong Kong's Urban Language

Winston's Third Law

When two people staring at their phones collide and go flying in opposite directions.

"Ow! Why don't you look where you're going? You ruined my game of Candy Crush!"
"It's Winston's Third Law: For every smartphone, there is an equal and opposite smartphone."





Did you like these Hongkabulary?

Share your thoughts, or better share these words to your friends!



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26 comments :

  1. I love this haha. I really want to move to Hong Kong so badly, maybe in 2 years we never know!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Thuymi,

      Hong Kong is reaallllyy interesting, and each time I visit (quarterly) it never fails to amazed me, especially their vocabularies! Hahahaha sometimes I think I miss a lot and needs catching up :D

      Delete
  2. Those are really funny! The sketches are just too perfect. Some for those (like the dye job, crop top, and beer crawl) apply in the Caribbean, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Jennifer,

      Yes! It also applies here in Manila.. Like you could see it everywhere especially in most crowded places.

      Thanks for visiting :D

      Delete
  3. Hahahaha these are so fun! I love the 7-11 shower! I've never heard of some of these before

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah it was so funny and I will share more Hongkabulary terms soon!

      Delete
  4. Totally love this! It's so funny and interesting to discover phrases like these :D I believe picking up things that are only know to locals gives you a real taste of a place's culture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally true Alina!

      Learning these local words (some are silly but helpful) makes me feel more at-home when visiting Hong Kong. The locals (especially whenever I visit its local markets) finds it interesting and you are being welcome... plus they are happily give you discounts from your purchases!

      Delete
  5. Very intelligently and humorously put!!!
    And the sketches added flavor, rather life to the post!
    I am going to put them to good use here to surprise my friends. :D :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Indrani!

      Learning new language is quite easy when you start learning it local dialects :D Share it to your friends!

      Delete
  6. Hilarious... I like that beer stroke and walkup workout..Will use them here too

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a brillaint post.Thank you for sharing the funny side of language in Hong Kong. I like the fish sandals one lol lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahahaha yeah,

      fish sandals also happens here in Manila, whenever I visit the local market.. Can't help it because fish and meat are more affordable compared to buying inside the air-conditioned fish markets :D

      Delete
  8. I recently went to Wales and learnt a little bit of the language and today from your post i have learnt a little bit of Local Hong kong. :) I absolutely love Winston's third Law , keeps happening to me all the time. :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks dear!

      Ohh you should also take note the Tsui Wah test! Happens to me when I used to party in Lang Kwai Fong, hahaha totally embarrassing :D

      Delete
  9. the sketches are so well done! loved this post, a very different one! keep it coming! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. This was such an enlightening post. I would love to make it to Hong Kong one day to experience the culture!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Shane!

      Yeah you should definitely visit Hong Kong! Especially these coming holiday seasons, ohhh Hong Kong is so much fun!

      Delete
  11. I loved reading your post and thanks for sharing the amazing Hongkies vocabulary! I didn't know about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ana,

      Thank you for appreciating it. Will post more!

      Delete
  12. Hilarious! I love these and would laugh if I made a second visit to Hong Kong as I'd remember this piece. Thank you for the laughs this Sunday night!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome! I'm glad I made you laugh :D

      I will share more hongkabulary very soon!

      Delete
  13. These are so amusing, especially the 7-eleven Shower. Winstons Third law actually happened with me when I went to Hong Kong last year :)

    ReplyDelete

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