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340 results found
Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to not being strict enough when managing people. Also, it often tends to depict a weakness in character by describing a person is not forceful or harsh enough.
Usage: E.g. 同事話我太soft管唔到學生，我聽完好灰。(My colleague said I am too soft and cannot manage students like this. I felt very grey afterwards.)
Synonym: 不嚴厲
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU-fcZMgjI7/ (use mobile version)
Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to describe going on a trip by oneself without sounding so alone or single.
Usage: E.g. 放假時我比較鍾意solo trip，因為咩都唔洗煩。(I like going on solo trips during holiday because I don't need to bother with anything else.)
Synonym: 單獨旅行, 獨旅
Reference: https://www.elle.com.hk/life/solo-trip
Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to avoid describing a problem as complicated because they have the intelligence to solve it. At other times, there is just not a word that covers all the meanings of intelligent, complicated and even elegant sometimes.
Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係復雜，只係太過sophisticated。如果你識將個問題分拆，你就會解答得到。 (This problem is not complicated, but just too sophisticated. If you know how to break down the problem, you will be able to solve it.)
Synonym: 複習
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?) E.g. 其實父母最緊要既責任就係比到support比子女。(In fact, the most important responsibility of parents is being able to give support to children.)
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/
