196 results found
Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.Synonym: 利是Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/
Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong restaurants love to use especially during public holiday to refer to the additional fee added to a bill because it sounds more classy than '服務費' and less explicit than '加一' or '加二' in Cantonese, which mean +10% and +20% respectively.
Usage: E.g. A: 吓？食個下午茶都要加二？ B: 今日係新年假期，所以有service charge。(A: What? There's +20% service charge even for an afternoon tea? B: Today is Chinese New Year holiday so there is service charge.)
E.g. 到底邊個發明加一服務費？(Who on earth invented +10% service charge?)Synonym: 加一, 加二, 服務費Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2268003/page/4
Definition: An overused code-mixing term by real ABC's in Hong Kong when they want to give praise or compliment to something, just like the word '正' in Cantonese but stronger.
Usage: E.g. 哇，今次個concert真係awesome！
E.g. Woah! Awesome!
Definition: A code-mixing phrase that Hong Kongers use to cheer for somebody else as encouragement or support when they are bored of the equivalent term '加油' in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. Add oil! 希望你今次考試高分!Synonym: 加油
Definition: Short for 'job description', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use to refer to the piece of text that describes the job nature and responsibilities of a position in a company, which may be long or short depending on how much they want an applicant to know about the job.
Usage: E.g. 又話會send份JD比我睇？你send左去邊度？(I thought you were going to send me the JD to have a look? Where did you send it to?)Synonym: 工作內容Reference: https://english.cool/job-description/
Definition: Usually placed at the start of a clause or sentence, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to replace the phrase '無論如何', meaning 'no matter what' in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. 我知你好忙，但anyhow，你一定要幫我。
Definition: Originated from a supermarket chain in Hong Kong, this is a code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to tell somebody to go to hell, as the name can be abbreviated to 'PK', which resembles the swear word '仆街' in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. 想搵我笨？！Go to Park'n Shop!
Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use in place of the Cantonese equivalent '交換'.
Usage: E.g. Ａ：我地swap一個球員好唔好？Ｂ：好呀，我同你swap啦。Synonym: 交換
Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to exploiting the use of something, even though at times it can seem more like abusing or misusing something instead.
Usage: E.g. 有D公司好take advantage D fresh grad，要你做唔哂野要OT。(Some companikes really take advantage of fresh graduates and get them to work overtime.)
E.g. 有D員工好take advantage公司D病假。(Some employees really take advantage of the sick leaves offered by companies.)Synonym: 利用, 濫用Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3588289/page/6
Instagram
