20150423-Michael Chugani 褚簡寧：又中又英——Shroff Account Number
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧：又中又英——Shroff Account Number
2015-04-23
Every year when I receive my tax bill, the payment instructions say I must write the Shroff Account Number on the back of the check (cheque in British English). I have never bothered to find out the exact meaning of the word "shroff" but came across it when I researched the word "jetso" on the internet. In my previous column I explained that "jetso" is not a real English word even though the Tourism Board has used it for a discount shopping campaign called Happy at Hong Kong Super Jetso. The word "jetso" is a made-up English word from the Cantonese words "cheuk so", which mean receiving benefits.
I have now found out that "shroff" is also not an English word even though you can see it in Hong Kong's car parks and in tax bills. Hong Kong's car parks have a "Shroff Office" where people pay for their parking. The word "shroff" is not used in English-speaking countries such as Britain, the US, and Canada. It is only widely used in Hong Kong. It is an Indian word that means money-changer, cashier, or banker and came from the Persian language. The British brought many Indians to Hong Kong during the early days of colonial rule and "shroff" became a widely-used word. But I do not understand why the government still uses this outdated word when no other place uses it anymore.
Another word that is widely used in Hong Kong but not used anywhere else is the word "nullah". It is also of Indian origin and is a canal with concrete on each side to divert water. People who did not grow up in Hong Kong would have no clue what these words mean. Even native English speakers would have no clue about the meaning of the words. The expression "no clue" means "no idea" or being completely unable to understand something. I wonder if the time has come for the Inland Revenue Department and the car parks to stop using the word "shroff".
每年當我收到稅單時，繳稅指引都會列明，我必須在支票背後寫上稅單號碼（Shroff Account Number）。我從來不太費心去查明"shroff"的真正意思，只是當我上網查考"jetso"時，碰巧遇到這個字。我在上一篇專欄中解釋道，"jetso"不是真正的英文字，即使旅遊發展局將它用在一個名為 Happy at Hong Kong Super Jetso 的購物優惠活動裏。"Jetso"是一個拼湊而成的英文字，來自廣東話「着數」一詞。
我現在又發現，"shroff"也並非英文用語，即使你可以在香港的停車場和稅單中見到。香港的停車場有"Shroff Office"，即繳費處。但"shroff"這個字卻不見於英國、美國和加拿大等英語國家，只在香港廣泛使用。它其實是一個印度字，來自波斯語，意指銀錢兌換商、收帳員或銀行業者。在殖民統治初期，英國人帶了許多印度人來港，"shroff"便成為廣泛用語。但我不明白，當其他地方都不再使用時，為何政府還在用這個過時的字。
另一個別處不會用、香港卻常用的字是"nullah"。它也是來自印度，解作溝渠。不在香港長大的人，對這些字的意思是完全摸不着頭腦的（no clue）。即使以英語為母語的人，也對這些字詞的意思毫無頭緒（no clue）。習語 no clue解作不知道或完全想不通某事。我倒想知道，稅務局和停車場是時候停用"shroff"這個字了嗎？
mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
2015-04-23
Every year when I receive my tax bill, the payment instructions say I must write the Shroff Account Number on the back of the check (cheque in British English). I have never bothered to find out the exact meaning of the word "shroff" but came across it when I researched the word "jetso" on the internet. In my previous column I explained that "jetso" is not a real English word even though the Tourism Board has used it for a discount shopping campaign called Happy at Hong Kong Super Jetso. The word "jetso" is a made-up English word from the Cantonese words "cheuk so", which mean receiving benefits.
I have now found out that "shroff" is also not an English word even though you can see it in Hong Kong's car parks and in tax bills. Hong Kong's car parks have a "Shroff Office" where people pay for their parking. The word "shroff" is not used in English-speaking countries such as Britain, the US, and Canada. It is only widely used in Hong Kong. It is an Indian word that means money-changer, cashier, or banker and came from the Persian language. The British brought many Indians to Hong Kong during the early days of colonial rule and "shroff" became a widely-used word. But I do not understand why the government still uses this outdated word when no other place uses it anymore.
Another word that is widely used in Hong Kong but not used anywhere else is the word "nullah". It is also of Indian origin and is a canal with concrete on each side to divert water. People who did not grow up in Hong Kong would have no clue what these words mean. Even native English speakers would have no clue about the meaning of the words. The expression "no clue" means "no idea" or being completely unable to understand something. I wonder if the time has come for the Inland Revenue Department and the car parks to stop using the word "shroff".
每年當我收到稅單時，繳稅指引都會列明，我必須在支票背後寫上稅單號碼（Shroff Account Number）。我從來不太費心去查明"shroff"的真正意思，只是當我上網查考"jetso"時，碰巧遇到這個字。我在上一篇專欄中解釋道，"jetso"不是真正的英文字，即使旅遊發展局將它用在一個名為 Happy at Hong Kong Super Jetso 的購物優惠活動裏。"Jetso"是一個拼湊而成的英文字，來自廣東話「着數」一詞。
我現在又發現，"shroff"也並非英文用語，即使你可以在香港的停車場和稅單中見到。香港的停車場有"Shroff Office"，即繳費處。但"shroff"這個字卻不見於英國、美國和加拿大等英語國家，只在香港廣泛使用。它其實是一個印度字，來自波斯語，意指銀錢兌換商、收帳員或銀行業者。在殖民統治初期，英國人帶了許多印度人來港，"shroff"便成為廣泛用語。但我不明白，當其他地方都不再使用時，為何政府還在用這個過時的字。
另一個別處不會用、香港卻常用的字是"nullah"。它也是來自印度，解作溝渠。不在香港長大的人，對這些字的意思是完全摸不着頭腦的（no clue）。即使以英語為母語的人，也對這些字詞的意思毫無頭緒（no clue）。習語 no clue解作不知道或完全想不通某事。我倒想知道，稅務局和停車場是時候停用"shroff"這個字了嗎？
mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
留言
張貼留言