Aim: With the movement of early detection and intervention for people at risk for psychosis, there is a growing need for a uniform terminology to describe the condition. A diagnostic label that can adapt into local culture and value may have positive effect in minimizing stigma. This study explored the preference of Chinese label for people at risk of psychosis and its associated stigma in Hong Kong. Methods: A total of 149 individuals from the general public and 51 health-care professionals were recruited between March 2013 and May 2014. The condition of at risk for psychosis was described in a vignette. Participants' preference of label and perceived stigma of the condition and their basic demographics were collected by self-administered questionnaires. Results: The most preferred Chinese label was 'yun-niang-qi' (developing period, 45%), followed by 'qian-qu-qi' (precursor period, 19%), 'feng-xian-qi' (risky period, 18%), 'zao-xian-qi' (early sign period, 16%) and 'gao-wei-qi' (high risk period, 4%). Gender, age, occupation and previous contact with mental health were not associated with preference of any Chinese label. Conclusions: The process in searching for this potential and locally accepted label for people at risk for psychosis has raised the awareness among the professionals. A proper label may help promote future clinical research and mental health services in Hong Kong.