maa4 jing1麻鷹麻鹰
Jyutpingmaa4 jing1
Yalemàh yīng
Definition
Black kite, a common bird of prey; or Hong Kong International Airport in taxi driver jargon.
- black kite; a large greyish-black bird of prey
- slangHong Kong International Airport
colloquialanimalstransport
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning as a bird of prey, this term is widely used by taxi drivers as a code for the Hong Kong International Airport. Using this jargon helps drivers communicate discreetly or efficiently about their destination or queue status. It is a classic example of how professional subcultures in Hong Kong develop their own specialized vocabulary.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Driver, are you going to the airport tonight?
Related words
Common phrases
a game similar to tag where one person plays the kite and others play the chicks
Common mistake
Do not use this term to refer to the airport when speaking to passengers, as they may not understand the jargon and could be confused by the reference to a bird.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
