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Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a dress code that mixes both formal and everyday clothing, which they sometimes have a hard time deciding whether it should look a bit smarter or a bit more casual.
Usage: E.g. 由大學interview到出嚟做嘢搵intern都有一個迷思：就係到底乜嘢係Smart Casual？全套老西又太過火 牛記笠記＋波鞋又太求其 名牌鞋高踭鞋又好似扮大個 每次面試前揀衫揀鞋都揀到懷疑人生 到底我係要smart啲定casual 啲？(E.g. From college interviews to finding a job as an intern, I always had a question: What exactly is Smart Casual? Wearing an entire western suit is too formal. Jeans and T-shirt plus sneakers are too casual. Designer shoes and high heels seem to pretending to be older. Every time I choose clothes and shoes before an interview, I question my life. In the end, do I want to be smarter or more casual?)
Synonym: 商務便裝; 半正式休閒裝
Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/_wcZZSBV4/
Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to socialising with people when they are too tired of '應酬' in Cantonese where one is eating, drinking or entertaining clients for the sake of establishing business relations.
Usage: E.g. 曾經諗過改 逼自己扮social 但最後發現乜都唔理做番自己最舒服 唔洗夾硬逼自己扮哂野去應酬人 (I once thought about forcing myself to pretend to be social, but in the end I found that I didn't need to care about anything but being myself was the most comfortable. I didn't have to force myself to pretend to be social to entertain people.)
Synonym: 應酬
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/310048/page/3
Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a meeting that is usually shorter than what is already brief and leaves people thinking it should have been longer.
Usage: E.g. Standup meeting講得一句太brief，judge唔到performance。(A stand-up meeting can only allow people say a few sentences that are too brief, which is hard for judging an employee's performance.)
Synonym: 站立會議; 站會
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/88607/page/1
Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time.
Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐？(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月？(May I stay at your home for several months?)
Synonym: 逗留
Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to refer to an easy task, which is equivalent to 'piece of cake' in English.
Usage: E.g. A: Thanks for helping me out! B: No problem! Sup sup sui la!
Synonym: 濕濕碎
Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases
Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Konger girls to refer to having the strength or resilience to handle something emotionally, as in "I can take it", which they can sometimes do to a certain extent.
Usage: E.g. 出到嚟網上有咁多言論一路話我，我就覺得算啦，我係做呢行，我take(接受)咗佢啦，唔緊要啦。但take下take下，都take咗年幾兩年 (When I started working in this industry, there were so many discussions on the Internet talking about me, I thought it was okay because I knew I was in this industry, so I took it, it doesn't matter. But as I kept taking this and taking that, I realised that I had already been taking things in for a few years)
Synonym: 承受; 承受壓力
Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong policemen when they want to take legal or enforcement action to deal with a situation. At other times, it can simply be used to describe an action that one must take in order to further one's progress.
Usage: E.g. 如果比我地警方查到你犯法，我地會take action。(If our police force finds out that you have broken the law, we will take action.) E.g. 依加我地唔上唔落咁又唔敢再take action住。(Right now, our relationship is not getting anymore so I am afraid of taking any actions yet.)
Synonym: 採取行動
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1671360/page/1
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: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to marking something in order to show that it is chosen or correct.
Usage: E.g. 快D tick點心紙啦。我好餓呀。(Tick the dim sum order form quickly. I'm so hungry.)
Synonym: 剔
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWL_RQQysfH/ (use mobile version)
Definition: Often said with a rising intonation on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Konger badminton coaches like to use to refer to the exact point in time of something because the Cantonese equivalent ‘時機’ somehow sounds less accurate.
Usage: E.g. 描準個ball，睇好個timing打落去，咁先得架嘛。(Aim at the ball, watch for the right timing and hit it. You got it?)
Synonym: 時機
