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335 results found
Definition: Often added with a ‘lor’ (囉) denoting a tone of reluctance, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to say sorry or apologize to someone.
Usage: E.g. Ａ： 喂，你踩到我隻腳喎！Ｂ：SOR囉。(A: Hey, you stepped on my foot! B: SOR LOR.)
Synonym: 對唔住，sorry
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DScomA6EVMW/?img_index=1&igsh=MWNwaWNrd2tkM3JtYg== (use mobile version)
Definition: An ultra polite code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who really know how to sincerely say sorry or apologise to someone.
Usage: E.g. Do姐：全部都錯。嗱，唔係sorly，係sorry，捲脷架。(Carol Cheng: All wrong. It's not sorly, it's sorry, you have to roll your tongue.)
Synonym: Sor, 對唔住
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPgONqRk7Qc/?igsh=NWZ3ODYzdjBydmdj (use mobile version)
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2)
Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!
Synonym: 炒魷魚
Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/
Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the humid or wet kind of hot in the summer.
Usage: E.g. Sup yeet is like Hong Kong in the summer. Very hot and sticky.
Synonym: 濕熱
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DczhNdazB8t/?igsi=NnVxejdyYWthMXVi (use mobile version)
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to giving encouragement to someone or helping them emotionally. Sometimes, it can also extend to providing necessities for someone such as food and shelter.
Usage: E.g. 你嘅另一半比唔比到情緒support你架? (Is your spouse able to give you emotional support?)
Synonym: 支持; 鼓勵; 養活
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3641328/page/1
Definition: Often pronounced in two syllables as 'shu-ah' and used with ‘唔‘ (not), this is a cool sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express absolute uncertainty over a subject matter in an informal setting.
Usage: E.g. 佢係唔係好叻？我唔sure。(Is he really smart? I am not sure.) E.g. 今日會唔會落雨？我唔sure。(Will it rain today? I am not sure.) E.g. 佢阿媽係唔係女人？我唔sure。(Is his mom a woman? I am not sure.)
Synonym: 肯定
Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=30817621
Definition: Often pronounced without the 'd', this is a neutral-sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they are not sure which Cantonese equivalent word to use when something unexpected happens.
Usage: E.g. 哇，你考試咁高分，我好surprised呀。(Wow, you scored a high mark in your exam. I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇，你最近減肥呀？我好surprised呀。 (Wow, you went on a diet recently? I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇，你有男朋友？我好surprised呀。(Wow, you got a boyfriend? I'm so surprised.)
Synonym: 驚喜，驚訝
Reference: https://tsangyoksing.hk/2009/10/06/輕音節的正確讀法/
Definition: A versatile code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use in a variety of situations, depending on the context. However, the recently popular phrase of 'take嘢' can also be roughly translated into a number of different things and not only refer to taking drugs, as the Cantonese word '嘢' has a literal meaning of 'thing'.
Usage: E.g. 你諗住take邊科? (Which subject will you take?) E.g. 我要take個sick leave. (I will need to take a sick leave.) E.g. 上堂要記住take notes. (Remember to take notes during lesson.)
Synonym: 拿取, 攞, 拎
Definition: Made popular by an anti-drug advertisement featuring Hong Kong celebrity Aaron Kwok, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use with the Cantonese word '嘢', which means 'take drugs' altogether, even though 'take嘢' literally means 'take thing'.
Usage: E.g. 保安局禁毒宣傳品出現「公關災難」，令「一齊企硬 唔take嘢」標語，在柱面上呈現「齊企硬 Take嘢」。There was a "PR disaster" in the Security Bureau's anti-drug promotional materials, which caused the slogan "Stand firm together, don't take any drugs" to be presented as ""Stand firm together and Take Drugs".
Synonym: take嘢, take drugs
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWGb-PriJLK/?igsh=b3Vwa2xmNHFuZ2Qz (use mobile version)
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
