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Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak.
Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!
Synonym: 搭雞棚
Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam
Definition: Often transliterated and pronounced as the loan phrase '肥佬' meaning 'fat guy', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe getting an unsuccessful result when doing something. Sometimes, it can be shortened to '肥' (fat) as a verb.
Usage: E.g. 哎呀！今次考試肥左佬！ E.g. 唔係掛？考咁多次都肥？！
Synonym: 肥佬
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/16296/
Definition: Originated from the warning sounds of the bells when a tram is driving in Hong Kong, this is an Englishised code-mixing term which refers to the tram that can be taken in the Hong Kong Tramways on Hong Kong Island.
Usage: Let's take a tour of Hong Kong Island by taking the Ding Ding!
Synonym: 叮叮, 電車
Reference: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/attractions/hong-kong-tramways.html
Definition: (verb) Derived from the game "final fantasy", this is a Cantonese slang to refer to someone who fantasizes too much.
Usage: Be realistic! Don't FF too much la.
Synonym: Fantasize
Reference: https://www.cantoneseclass101.com/blog/2019/07/23/cantonese-text-slang/
Definition: Derived from 'gut' (吉) meaning nothingness or tangerines, this is a romanised code-mixing slang phrase used to describe someone is messing about and wasting time, which purportedly comes from people in the past going into Hong Kong stores just to drink the bowl of soup called 'gut' soup (吉湯) without spending money on the food at all. 'wun' can mean to mix (混) or to transport (運).
Usage: Auntie: Stop tasting my fruits here and there! Are you wun gut?
Synonym: 運吉, 混吉
Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now
Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase meaning something is of the best quality. It cannot get better than it already is.
Usage: E.g. Wa! This dim sum is mou dak ding!
Synonym: 冇得頂
Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use when they don't understand what someone is saying in Cantonese.
Usage: Hong Konger: 你叫咩名? Expat: Mm sick teng.
Synonym: 唔識聽
Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html
Definition: This is a Cantonese slang that refers to a situation where a player has a clear opportunity to score a point. The slangs origin comes from a volleyball game where a sports announcer said "Cha SIU" instead of the word "chance". Although the word came from a volleyball game initially, it's more widely used in badminton games.
Usage: That was a total set up for a smash, total Cha SIU!
Synonym: 食叉燒
Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a distinctive characteristic by which someone or something can be identified.
Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜絕對係香港人signature。 E.g. 呢碟菜就係呢間餐廳既signature。
Synonym: 標誌，招牌菜
Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ
Definition: A code-mixing term that the Hong Kong actor Dicky Cheung (張衛健) loves to use in the "Journey of the West" Cantonese TV episode, in order to display the almighty character of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King.
Usage: E.g. Yo！打妖精咋麻，洗乜驚呀？！
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtl4WF0RwWI&t=224s