624 results found
Definition: Originated as 'beat patrol' from London Metropolitan Police, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use as 'walking the beat', which refers to patrolling a designated area on foot as a police officer.
Usage: E.g. 警員今日要行 beat。(Police officers need to go on patrol today.)
Synonym: 行咇
Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2018/12/04/WH1812040003.htm
Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to describe having an overly powerful ability to do something, such as winning a game.
Usage: E.g. I can't believe you are winning every game! Are you bending machine?!
Synonym: 屈機
Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-cantonese-slang-internet
Definition: Often expressed as ‘老best’ meaning 'old best', this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to refer to a best friend that a person has known for a long time. (呢個好大部分時候係攞嚟應用自己啲friend呀樣表達自己個friend係好老友囉咁樣)
Usage: E.g. 你哋睇下呢個係我老best。(Let me show all of you. This is my old best friend.)
Synonym: 睇下呢個係我個好朋友, 老友, old best friend
Reference: https://mingpaomonthly.com/article/details/語文.書話/2025-02/1737624129007/老best、bestie有咩分別?%20(歐陽偉豪)
Definition: Derived from '大耳窿' with '窿' sounds like 'loan' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to a person or company that offers loans at extremely high interest rates.
Usage: E.g. Don't borrow money from this company. It is a big ear hole!
Synonym: 大耳窿
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone being forgetful and careless, such as forgetting their keys or where they put their phone. (大頭蝦 - daai6 tau4 haa1)
Usage: E.g. A: You forgot to bring your wallet? Such a big head shrimp!
Synonym: 大頭蝦
Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers when someone sneezes, which is similar to 'Bless you!' in English. (大吉利是)
Usage: E.g. A: Ack-choo! B: Big tangerine and red packets!
Synonym: 大吉利是
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where they are in some serious trouble. Sometimes, '大鑊' can be emphasized to a vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which literally translates to 'big penis wok' and means the person is in rather deep sh*t.
Usage: E.g. I forgot to bring my wallet! Big wok! (大鑊) E.g. Omg I lost all my money! This time is really big penis wok! (今次真係大撚鑊)
Synonym: 大鑊
Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/03/30/ED1103300032.htm
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to being very unlucky or unfortunate. (黑仔)
Usage: E.g. Today I forgot to bring my homework and give teacher scold. Very black son! (好黑仔)
Synonym: 黑仔
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.
Usage: E.g. 收皮啦!唔好再blow water!
Synonym: 吹水
Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to talking on the phone for hours. (煲電話粥)
Usage: E.g. Stop boiling telephone congee with your friend every day!
Synonym: 煲電話粥
Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese