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Definition: Known as Kongish, this is code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to money and lots of different things.
Usage: E.g. Blow water. (吹水 - to chat casually or brag about something) E.g. Measure water. (磅水 - to give money) E.g. Return water. (回水 - to return money) E.g. Clear water. (通水 - to give secret info like a test) E.g. Draw water. (抽水 - to get profit or benefit for free) E.g. One lump of water. (一舊水 - one hundred dollars) E.g. What water? (乜水 - who the heck are you?)
Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from the bowl-shaped Chinese frying pan '鑊' (wok), this is a measure word that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a number of different bad situations.
Usage: E.g. Big wok! (大鑊 - big trouble has occurred) E.g. Big wok explosion! (爆大鑊 - someone revealed a big secret) E.g. Carry wok. (孭鑊 - To take the blame for someone) E.g. Slip a wok. (跣一鑊 - To set somebody up for some trouble) E.g. To make you a wok. (整你一鑊 - To give someone a trouble) E.g. Let's be cooked together in a wok! (同你一鑊熟 - To get someone else into the same trouble as you)
Synonym: 鑊
Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-big-wok-%E5%A4%A7%E9%91%8A-language/
Definition: Originated from Mandarin meaning 'I love you', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to '唔要你' in Cantonese, which means "Don't want you" in English.
Usage: E.g. A: 今日係520喔！點解您孤伶伶一個人呢？B: 哈哈哈哈哈，你個問題咁得意架咩？(A: Today is May 20th! Why are you so lonely? B: Hahahaha, why is your question so interesting?)
Synonym: 唔要你
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1pTDlz4Vns
Definition: Originated from French, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to ordering single dishes individually.
Usage: E.g. 如果你唔鍾意叫set dinner，你可以叫 à la carte。(If you don't like to order the set dinner, you can order single dishes.)
Synonym: 單點; 散嗌; 散叫
Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm
Definition: Often used as 'AA制' (policy), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to paying for yourself at a meal. (Also known as 'going Dutch' in English)
Usage: E.g. 今餐AA制得唔得呀？
Synonym: 食自己, 自己比
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is bragging about their achievements. (扮哂蟹 - baan6 saai3 haai5)
Usage: E.g. A: Stop acting like a crab! You think you are better than me?!
Synonym: 扮哂蟹
Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a more natural and effortless way to ask for another person's contact number to their mobile phone list.
Usage: E.g. 我唔係識左你好耐，不過可唔可以add左你先呀？(I haven't known you for long, but may I add you first?) E.g. 其實ig D女狂add 人係為左咩？(Why on earth are the girls on Instagram adding people wildly?)
Synonym: 加
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2309015/page/1
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: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to tasks that have not been planned and must be done at the time as they were assigned.
Usage: E.g. 今日公司唔係好忙，不過有好多adhoc野做。
Synonym: 臨時工作
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having enough money to buy something without indicating one's ability to cope with such burden.
Usage: E.g. 點解要鍾意自己 afford 唔起嘅 luxury? (Why love luxury that you can't afford?)
Synonym: 負擔得起; 買得起
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3vop4Epm7/ (use mobile version)