593 results found
Definition: Often pronounced as ‘ah-lo’, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the letter ‘r’. Even though some Hong Kongers are aware of the prestigious ‘r’ that is pronounced rhotically, most of them choose not to say it in social situations because it sounds too pretentious like a fake American born Chinese.
Usage: E.g. 去日本旅行要搭JR。(Going on vacation in Japan needs taking the J Ah-lo.)
E.g. 請問MTR喺邊到? (May I ask where is the M-tee-ah-lo?)Synonym: Ah-lo
Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong parents when they want to train their kids to be more well-behaved and organised without sounding so harsh and verbose.
Usage: E.g. 你今次考試考到咁低分。以後要discipline啲去溫書,知唔知?!(You got such a low mark in the exam this time. From now on, you should have more discipline to study, understand?)Synonym: 有紀律
Definition: Often pronounced in two syllables as 'shu-ah' and used with ‘唔‘ (not), this is a cool sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express absolute uncertainty over a subject matter in an informal setting.
Usage: E.g. 佢係唔係好叻?我唔sure。(Is he really smart? I am not sure.)
E.g. 今日會唔會落雨?我唔sure。(Will it rain today? I am not sure.)
E.g. 佢阿媽係唔係女人?我唔sure。(Is his mom a woman? I am not sure.)Synonym: 肯定Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=30817621
Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to scold someone when they are prohibited from swearing in school. At other times, it is used as an onomatopoeia of the beeping sound of Octopus card readers in Hong Kong train service.
Usage: E.g. Doot你咩?!搞污糟我件校服!(F*** you?! You ruined my school uniform!)
E.g. 好多人撘地鐵呀。快啲攞張八達通出黎doot部機入閘啦。(So many people taking the train. Take out your Octopus card quickly to doot the machine and enter the gate.)Synonym: F***, d*u, 嘟Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/v/114049/doot
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe that something must be done no matter how worse the situation is.
Usage: E.g. I don't care three seven twenty one. This project must proceed!Synonym: 唔理三七廿一Reference: https://www.ourchinastory.com/zh/5530/何謂「唔理三七廿一」?%C2%A0
Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to use to refer to anything that looks like a sauce.
Usage: E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係醋!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's vinegar!)
E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係豉油!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's see-yau!)Synonym: 醬Reference: https://auntieemily.com/soy-sauce-chow-mein/
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 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/