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Definition: Derived from '母校', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a school that a person has graduated from. ie. Alma mater.
Usage: Well I’m a Catholic. I believe in what I have been taught when I was in my mother secondary school, Wah Yan Kowloon.
Synonym: 母校
Reference: https://www.inmediahk.net/node/政經/李家超透露是天主教徒-感謝「mother-secondary-school」教誨
Definition: (vulgar) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to call someone a bastard or son of a bitch. Also has the meaning of gigolo, which originated from Fuzhou in China. (契弟)
Usage: E.g. You are dead meat, sworn brother! (契弟) E.g. Oh gosh we are doomed. This time we are gonna be sworn brothers. (做契弟） E.g. So you’ve been treating me like a sworn brother all along? （當我契弟） E.g. Sworn brother walks slowly. （契弟走得摩）
Synonym: 契弟
Reference: https://baike.baidu.hk/item/%E5%A5%91%E5%BC%9F/7349815
Definition: Originated from the olden days where the upper class loved to wear old sheepskin of high quality, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to describe someone who has low social status and tries to mimick the upper class by wearing cheap quality clothing that matches the appearance of expensive clothing. ie. The white colour and look of fresh carrot skin resembles the look of old sheepskin.
Usage: E.g. You think you are so high class? What kind of fresh carrot skin are you?
Synonym: 新鮮蘿蔔皮
Reference: https://voltra.academy/blog/canton2
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to giving irrelevant responses to questions.
Usage: E.g. A：你去邊？ B：我知道。Ａ：Nine not following eight!
Synonym: 九唔搭八
Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-nine-not-following-eight/
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not know anyone. Originated from a game similar to Rummikub where pulling cards should add up to nine, but not over. Otherwise, the player will lose the game.
Usage: E.g. I have never been to this event before! Everyone was like 'three does not know seven'!
Synonym: 三唔識七
Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms
Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong actress and singer JW as a less direct way to describe someone with a bad personality.
Usage: E.g. I am not saying he is a bad person, 佢都係好人嚟㗎，男人我明白會有犯呢啲錯啦，但係當我係個受害者嘅時候，我就make咗呢個decision... (I am not saying he is a bad person, he is a good person after all, I understand men make these kind of mistakes, but since I was a victim, I made this decision...)
Synonym: 我唔係想講佢係一個壞/品質差既人
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 code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to a dish of food that is eaten before a meal to stimulate or whet one's appetite.
Usage: E.g. D人未到，不如食個appetizer等住先啦？（People have not arrived yet. What about eating an appetizer while we wait?)
Synonym: 前菜
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2723472/page/2
Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to more efficient and sometimes less official way of making a request for a job.
Usage: E.g. Jobsdb見到好多agent公司幫公司請人，一apply班agent就打來phone call，唔理你是唔是工作時間都打來，即刻問長問短... 不如直接同公司apply. (On JobsDB, you see a lot of recruitment agencies hiring for companies; the moment you apply, the agents call you—often without caring whether it’s during office hours—and immediately they start grilling you with questions... You're better off applying directly to the company.)
Synonym: 申請
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3975336/page/1
Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they admire or recognise the value of someone or something and want to show gratitude at the same time.
Usage: E.g. 好appreciate你咁短時間去練廣東話，真係好彩你聲底好靚，同埋你音樂感好好，即使廣東話唔係你最擅長嘅。(I really appreciate that you learned Cantonese in such a short period of time. It's very fortunate that you have a great voice and a very good music sense, even though Cantonese is not your strength.)
Synonym: 欣賞；感激；多謝
Reference: https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20260122/1769072872519/《中4》藝人代表「貓女郎」引發腹式呼吸之爭-肥媽被取笑鬧爆周國豐