Although iconization is widely recognized as a crucial process through which linguistic differences are accorded social significance, we know little about how iconic linkages travel across time and space. This article highlights the processual nature of iconization and reveals recontextualization as an important mechanism for the transformation of indexical signs into icons. Focusing on a well‐known poem that purportedly encapsulates the defects of the simplified Chinese script used in mainland China, this study shows how its recontextualization in Hong Kong's print and social media between 2000 and 2015 helped construct simplified Chinese as defective and map its “defects” onto mainlanders. 圖符化雖被廣泛認為是語言差異被賦予社會涵義的關鍵過程,但我們目前對於圖符連結如何穿越時間和空間所知甚少。本文著重圖符化的過程性,並視重新脈絡化為將指示性符號轉化為圖符的重要機制。以一首據稱概括中國簡體字之缺陷而著名的詩,本文展現2000至2015年間香港的報章及社會媒體如何藉由重新脈絡化,將簡體字建構為有缺陷的,進而將簡體字的「缺陷」影射到來自內地的中國人。 图符化虽被广泛认为是语言差异被赋予社会涵义的关键过程,但我们目前对于图符连结如何穿越时间和空间所知甚少。本文着重图符化的过程性,并视重新脉络化为将指示性符号转化为图符的重要机制。以一首据称概括中国简体字之缺陷而着名的诗,本文展现2000至2015年间香港的报章及社会媒体如何藉由重新脉络化,将简体字建构为有缺陷的,进而将简体字的「缺陷」影射到来自内地的中国人。