hong
/hɒŋ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: hongs
Meaning · English
A foreign trading company in China.
Noun
Examples
"You and your son are about to visit China," said a Chinese agent of an old and established hong in Canton. […] The speaker was Ah Hue, or Ah Hue-Ling. He had made a reputation for honorable dealing as an agent of the tea trade.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hong” mean?
A foreign trading company in China.
Is “hong” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.