52 results found
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where you cannot force someone into seeking help if they do not accept it.
Usage: E.g. I offered to help him with his homework but he never sent it over. Oh well... if the cow doesn't drink water, you cannot press the cow's head down.Synonym: 牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms
Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others.
Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!Synonym: 犯太歲Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/
Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who is off-topic or providing irrelevant answers.
Usage: E.g. Lei dou gau m daap baat! Can you answer my question?!Synonym: 九唔搭八Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/
Definition: Often used as '嘥gas', this is a code-mixing term that is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to wasting one's efforts.
Usage: E.g. 你唔洗嘥gas，佢唔會聽你講。Synonym: 嘥gas，白費功夫Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0x5-SyI4o
Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to describe a job that must be done in a company office.
Usage: E.g. 份合約講明份工要onsite做，冇得work from home。Synonym: 現場，在工地
Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask a shopkeeper how much something costs, which is extremely effective when bargaining for a lower price at wet markets. It can also be shortened to 'gay cheen' (幾錢).
Usage: E.g. Gay dor cheen? (幾多錢?)
E.g. Gay cheen? (幾錢?)Synonym: 幾多錢?Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know
Definition: Derived from '你大我?‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they feel that someone is bluffing them by a display of confidence.
Usage: E.g. You big me? 我big返你and give you some color you see呀！(你大我？我大返你再比D顏色你睇呀！）Synonym: 你大我?
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 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/
