Instagram
English | Chinese
10 random words out of 917 results
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having a brief pause before acting rather than being so indecisive and not knowing what to do.
Usage: E.g. 我都覺小貴，所以hesitate緊。不過真係好靚。(I think it's a bit expensive so I am hesitating. But it's really beautiful.)
Synonym: 猶豫
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3167329/page/27
Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a physical inspection of a site in order to discuss the scope of work with contractors and foresee any potential problems.
Usage: E.g. 進行project之前要做好site visit，以便理解好成個scope。
Synonym: 實地考察
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who likes leeching off others. (菠羅雞 - bo1 lo4 gai1)
Usage: E.g. That girl is such a pineapple chicken! She just comes every time for the benefits and does not share or contribute.
Synonym: 菠羅雞
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/60017/
Definition: Derived from '大耳窿' with '窿' sounds like 'loan' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to a person or company that offers loans at extremely high interest rates.
Usage: E.g. Don't borrow money from this company. It is a big ear hole!
Synonym: 大耳窿
Definition: Known as Kongish and originated from a story where a man used to lure children by promising to buy them goldfish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a paedophile. (金魚佬)
Usage: E.g. Stop buying me chocolate and lure me like a goldish man!
Synonym: 金魚佬
Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that Hong Kong expats use to describe a female who is pretty, or a male who is handsome, or an object that is good-looking.
Usage: E.g. You look very leng today! (你今日好靚呀！) E.g. Wa! This dress ho leng ah! (哇！呢條裙好靚呀！) E.g. You are so leng jai! (你好靚仔呀！)
Synonym: 靚
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,91
Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is very unadvanced in technology. There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野，Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition. '撈' refers to '有得撈', which means you can earn a living.
Usage: E.g. 今時今日唔可以再咁low tech架喇。快D買返部智能手機啦。
Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf
Definition: Pronounced as the fifth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something or someone that is strange or embarrassing.
Usage: E.g. 下次唔好入錯課室咁kam喇。 E.g. 佢份人真係好kam!
Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/culture/3230860/香港潮語2023香港40個最新潮語結集-壞過婉婷升級版係咩啱呀唔係附和你
Definition: A highly efficient code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use when they want to do a short summary of what happened in a period of time without sounding so repetitive, old school and verbose as '概括重述' denotes.
Usage: E.g. 不如我地一齊recap一下今個week做左咩？(What about doing a recap of what we did this week?)
Synonym: 概括重述
Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20052634/香港職場中英夾雜用語-內地網民舉30個例子-表示識粵語都無法理解
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/