I took this picture in Mongkok. This is one of the shopping mall's signboard in Mongkok. We can see in the picture that the name of the shopping mall is "新の城". The hiragana "の" is used as the name of the shopping instead of using Chinese word "之" for the same meaning. However, it is a local shopping mall. The target customer is not Japanese people. Why they use the hiragana "の" as the name of shopping mall? I believe one of the reason is that using Japanese language is considered as "fashionable" and "up-to-date" in Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong teenagers nowaday love Japanese popular culture, they think that Japanese is a mondern language. It just likes Japanese using English as modern words. Therefore, hiragana is used as the name of shopping mall to attract Hong Kong teenagers.
Eddy san,
回覆刪除This is a great analysis of characters.
I did not realize Japanese is "cool" and "up-to-date." Is this for teenagers? or people in Hong Kong in general?
Maybe Hong Kong people in general love Japanese culture too. Since I keep hearing that my friends and my relatives says that Japan is a great country and they love buying products from Japan. However, I believe that they think Japanese culture is "grand" and "beautiful", not "cool" and "up-to-date". I think Hong Kong teenagers love Japanese culture more than the others since they are attracted by Japanese popular culture such as fashion, anime and idols. Therefore, it gives the sense of "cool" and "up-to-date" to teenagers of Hong Kong.
回覆刪除Eddy san,
回覆刪除That's an very interesting point!
Can you bring that issue into our class tomorrow?
Sure, I am glad to do so.
回覆刪除Good observation!
回覆刪除Japan gives a good impression on HK people
Yes! Honk Kong customers, especially the youngsters, like to buy Japanese products.
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