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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: A less cliche and irritating sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to quickly test or experience something first, in order to know whether it is suitable for them in the long term.
Usage: E.g. 有新game出左？等我try吓先。 (A new game came out? Let me try first.) E.g. 買左件衫比我？等我try try先。 (Bought a shirt for me? Let me try try first.)
Synonym: 嘗試, 試
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2866301/page/17
Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese.
Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)
Synonym: 倒數
Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party
Definition: A highly versatile code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to repair, solve, adjust, improve or make something work again, especially in the IT sector.
Usage: E.g. fix個bug幾日都仲未揾到個問題 (I've been fixing the bug for several days and still haven't found what the problem is.)
Synonym: 整; 修理; 解決
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3516188/page/32
Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong KOL Janice (janicewanwan) who is known for playing "Jayden’s mother" to emphasize the correctness of her teachings as a typical modern mom, which she says must be correct.
Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜有助 children 盡快 pick up English。Mommy told you 嘅一定是 correct 的. (Chinese-English code-mixing aids children in picking up English more quickly. Whatever Mommy told you must be correct.)
Synonym: 媽媽告訴你
Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to apologise politely for something.
Usage: E.g. *Holding up a queue* Mm ho yi si. E.g. *Butts into a conversation* Mm ho yi si. Where is the MTR?
Synonym: 唔好意思
Definition: Derived from the Chinese internet slang '躺平', this is an Englishised code-mixing term used to describe a lifestyle of doing as little as possible, due to knowing that there is a 'rat race' going on where everyone is competing for jobs such that it is almost impossible to keep up with the societal pressure.
Usage: E.g. This exam is so difficult! I am lying flat! E.g. I am not lying flat! I must continue to find a better job!
Synonym: 躺平
Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-internet-and-texting-slang-to-use-right-now
Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they went.
Usage: E.g. I will be blacklisting this guy who promised to attend the conference but went scuba diving!
Synonym: 潛水
Definition: (Jyutping) Ask for the reason of things happened
Usage: Dim gaai zeoi gan sing jat lok jyu? (點解最近成日落雨？） - Why it always rain recently?
Synonym: 點解, Why, 為什麼
Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they are.
Usage: E.g. A: Where did your classmate go? B: I think he dived under water.
Synonym: 潛水
Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-diving-under-water