saang2 gong2 kei4 bing1省港旗兵
Jyutpingsaang2 gong2 kei4 bing1
Yalesáang góng kèih bīng
Definition
Armed robbers from Mainland China who commit crimes in Hong Kong.
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
Originating from a 1984 Hong Kong action film, this term became a common label for cross-border criminals who entered the territory to commit armed robberies. It carries a strong historical and cinematic connotation, often evoking the gritty atmosphere of 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong crime movies. While less common in modern news reports, it remains a recognizable slang term for describing brazen, violent theft.
Examples
The robbers from the mainland back then were really fierce.
Do you think I'm a mainland robber? Grabbing things like that.
Related words
Common phrases
Long Arm of the Law film
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe any person from the mainland, as it is highly offensive and specifically targets criminal activity. It is strictly a slang term for criminals and should not be used in formal or polite conversation.
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.
