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Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they are really considerate about offending someone before or after saying something, such as making a comment or remark. However, it can be entirely offensive sometimes even though the person says no offense.
Usage: E.g. 成日開口埋口都講No Offense嘅人，其實先係最Offense。(The person who always says no offense is very often the person who is the most offensive.)
Synonym: 有怪莫怪, 無意冒犯
Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe having a habit of joining events sometimes or occasionally without sounding they like to quit and join again all the time.
Usage: E.g. 我最近好忙呀，所以on and off咁樣join啲events囉。(I have been very busy, so I joined events on and off.)
Synonym: 斷斷續續
Reference: https://blog.english4u.net/blog2.aspx?id=1830
Definition: Derived from '一波三折', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe an unexpected event with twists and turns. Literal meaning: A wave that is split into three segments.
Usage: E.g. 呢排真係好黑仔呀。簡直係one ball seventy percent off呀。(一波三折)
Synonym: 一波三折
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/58665/
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to express disbelief at someone in fulfilling a promise. (比個官你做)
Usage: E.g. You say you will return your money by tomorrow? I let you be the government official!
Synonym: 比個官你做
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 working class Hong Kongers to refer to negotiating terms and conditions of an employment agreement or contract in addition to just the salary.
Usage: E.g. Offer人工太低 簽約嗰陣仲有無得bargain? (If I am being offered a low salary, can I still bargain when signing the contract?)
Synonym: 講價
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1130972/page/1
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: 介乎早餐和午餐之間的早午自助餐，配合港人遲起床吃早餐，可節省一餐時間和費用 (A brunch buffet served between breakfast and lunch time is well-suited to the habit of Hong Kongers waking up late and eating breakfast later, which saves time and cost of an additional meal.)
Usage: E.g. 呢間brunch好抵喎，揾日試下先 (This place offers brunch for a very cheap price. I'll try it one day.)
Synonym: 早午餐
Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong Legislative Council members to refer to a lease condition where the lot owner is required to complete the development within a specified period and obtain an Occupation Permit from the Building Authority. However, it is not to be confused with 'environmental permit'.
Usage: E.g. 劉文君發言後，林筱魯再提醒發言表達專業用語時要考慮公眾能否理解。劉文君說：「頭先官員都有用building covenant㗎！enviromental permit我唔知你哋中文叫做咩嘢。」(After Lau's speech, Lin reminded him to consider whether the public would understand such professional terminology. Lau said, "The officials used building covenant just now! I don't know what you meant by 'environmental permit' in Chinese.")
Synonym: 建築規約
Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20260211/bkn-20260211164003550-0211_00822_001.html
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to sense of frustration that one experiences when travelling to an overseas country.
Usage: E.g. 移英 5 年我先發現，真正嘅 culture shock 唔係食物，而係呢啲: (After moving to the UK for five years, I realized that the real culture shock is not the food, but these:) 1. Small talk 唔識接，惟有笑 (Not knowing how to continue a small talk, but just laugh it off.) 2. 開會明明有 idea，但驚發音唔啱唔敢講 (Having an idea to share in a meeting, but dare not to say it because afraid of pronunciation is not right.) 3. 同同事食 lunch，聽到 80% 但唔敢加入 (While having lunch with colleagues, I can understand 80% but dare not to join the conversation.) 4. 打電話畀 GP / council，深呼吸 3 次先撳號碼 (When calling the GP/council, I take 3 deep breaths before tapping the number.) 5. 識到啱傾嘅人，但 small talk 之後就停咗 (When meeting the right person to talk to, I stop talking after a small talk.)
Synonym: 文化衝擊
Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAZRgoSFa0
