10 random words out of 822 results
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who only knows how to eat rice and nothing else. ie. A useless person.
Usage: E.g. He is so useless like a rice bucket!Synonym: 飯桶
Definition: An ultra convenient code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to registering your arrival at a place like a hotel or airport, as the Cantonese equivalent '辦理入住手續' sounds too long and verbose.
Usage: E.g. 快D check in左先啦，至後再慢慢搵野食。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf
Definition: Often pronounced as ‘ah-lo’, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the letter ‘r’. Even though some Hong Kongers are aware of the prestigious ‘r’ that is pronounced rhotically, most of them choose not to say it in social situations because it sounds too pretentious like a fake American born Chinese.
Usage: E.g. 去日本旅行要搭JR。(Going on vacation in Japan needs taking the J Ah-lo.)
E.g. 請問MTR喺邊到? (May I ask where is the M-tee-ah-lo?)Synonym: Ah-lo
Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to working overtime. Sometimes, it is used as '冬OT' (winter OT), which means 'don't OT'.
Usage: E.g. Ａ：死喇，咁多野做。唔知今晚要OT到幾時呢？Ｂ：冬ＯＴ！Synonym: 加班Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html
Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the school that a person had graduated from. However, working class and grassroots Hong Kongers may know this term but not use it because it sounds too Latin than English. Hence, they find ‘mother school’ is more sensible and practical to use.
Usage: E.g. 你既alma mater係邊間學校？Synonym: 母校, mother schoolReference: https://youtube.com/shorts/Br8CWgYQNak?si=aFaIMvdv2YSnCxvh
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not know anyone. Originated from a game similar to Rummikub where pulling cards should add up to nine, but not over. Otherwise, the player will lose the game.
Usage: E.g. I have never been to this event before! Everyone was like 'three does not know seven'!Synonym: 三唔識七Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms
Definition: Derived from the Chinese term '內卷' and often translated as 'involution', this is an Englishised code-mixing term that describes an economic situation where excessive competition does not lead to development and innovation. This may lead to people feeling stressed, anxious, and trapped, as the two characters mean 'inside rolling'.
Usage: E.g. I'm stuck in the rat race! I'm so tired of competing with everyone just to climb the career ladder!Synonym: 內卷Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTg1G8rpVc
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