The Cantonese expression gwai or gwailo can be translated a variety of ways: "ghost," "ghost man," "devil," "demon," "foreign devil." Although it literally refers to supernatural beings, it is commonly used as a pejorative term for all foreigners, not just Caucasians. The degree of hostility it expresses depends on context and historical situation. In contemporary Hong Kong it is often used as a generic, mildly derisive term for non-Chinese (and also used by non-Chinese residents to refer to themselves). In other Chinese dialects, including Mandarin, the word generally refers only to the supernatural realm.