Although this phrase has a broad range of meanings from arrogant, to flashy and impressive, it is most commonly used as an intensifier, similar to the use of “fucking” in English as in “that’s so fucking cool”, although, ba bai is not as rude and can be used in everyday conversation.
Though commonly used in Hong Kong and southern China, Babai is not a Chinese word. Back during a time when Guangzhou was a bustling port connecting Southern China to the World’s various trade routes, many people from across the globe came to trade with China. These included traders from India who would often be heard crying out “Bapre!” which still means “oh my god” in several Indian languages in existence today. Cantonese dockworkers enjoyed the expressiveness that Bapre could convey and have continued to keep it alive in Cantonese to this day.