Gweilo

Gweilo (Chinese鬼佬, guĭlăo Pinyin, Cantonese gwai2 Lou2, IPA ( Cantonese ) kwɐɪ35 ləʊ35; sometimes also pronounced Gwailo ) is a Cantonese term for Caucasians (usually men).

Term

The literal translation means "ghost man " and came from the description of fair skin and blond or red hair and green or blue eyes of Caucasians. The term was initially erroneously translated as "white devils." The term originated in the middle of the 19th century as the European states increasingly gained a foothold in China and later also ruled parts of China as colonial powers. The term is usually considered outside Guangdong offensive.

Variants

Gweilo is the most commonly used term, but there are also different versions:

  • For western women: gwai2 po4 (鬼 婆, guǐpó, ghost woman ')
  • For Western Boys: gwai2 zai2 (鬼 仔, guǐzǐ, Ghost Boy ')
  • For Western girls: gwai2 mui1 (鬼 ​​妹, guǐmèi, Ghost Girl ')

Further use

He has gwei Due to the frequent use of the term now taken on the meaning for foreigners. Frequently, the following terms are used:

  • For white foreigners: baak6 gwai2 (白 鬼, bái guǐ, white spirit ')
  • For dark colored foreigners: hak1 gwai2 (黑鬼, HEI guǐ, black spirit ')

These terms clearly have a racist undertone.

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