Gweilo

In Hong Kong, an abundance of nicknames for Westerners have developed over the years. The term gweilo (foreign devil) originated many years ago with the birth of Chinese xenophobia. Originally it was derogatory, but since the Communist riots of 1967 it is quite openly used by both Chinese and resident foreigners. It is slang now, and more commonly used than the more polite term saiyahn (Western person). There are, however, other ruder terms used either vehemently or, again, humorously.

Appropriately, when a child throws a tantrum, his mother may call him a "barbarian devil," the same name she uses to deride a foreigner. And the tired Western joke that "all Chinese look alike" is turned around by Hong Kong's Chinese population, especially those not in regular contact with foreigners, to "all gweilo look alike."

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