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Definition: Derived from literal translation, this is an Englishised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a giraffe in a cute way.
Usage: E.g. A giraffe is actually a "long neck deer" in Cantonese.
Synonym: 長頸鹿
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUVzFQYEZ_R/?igsh=NjM5bzc1YXp5MWFi (use mobile version)
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2)
Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!
Synonym: 炒魷魚
Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a more general look or vibe of something rather than the artistic or literary manner of something, or the character of a person.
Usage: E.g. 呢家啲00後衣著style好似完美屌打90後. (Nowadays the Gen Z's dressing style seem to be winning over the 90's by far.)
Synonym: 風格
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3739511/page/4
Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the new generation of electric multiple unit trains in the Hong Kong MTR produced by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
Usage: E.g. 成型友大嗌Q train萬歲，搞到我差D以為Q train有還不完的恩情。(My friends kept shouting "Long live Q train!" which almost made me think Q train had an endless debt of gratitude to repay.)
Synonym: 市區綫願景列車
Definition: A more modern and happy-sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers use to refer to period at the end of a week where they like to enjoy it like a real holiday.
Usage: E.g. 你哋會唔會weekend 兩日一夜去日本？(Would you go to Japan for two days and one night on the weekend?)
Synonym: 週末
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3815081/page/1
Definition: (verb) Derived from the game "final fantasy", this is a Cantonese slang to refer to someone who fantasizes too much.
Usage: Be realistic! Don't FF too much la.
Synonym: Fantasize
Reference: https://www.cantoneseclass101.com/blog/2019/07/23/cantonese-text-slang/
Definition: A chic-sounding code-mixing term that refers to year-end bonus (花紅) in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. 你間公司今個年尾有bonus嗎?
Synonym: 花紅
Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf
Definition: (verb/adj.) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a less intense emotional state due to trivial matters.
Usage: E.g. 好Struggle買唔買ps5。 (Really struggling on whether to buy Playstation 5.) E.g. 我仲struggle緊今晚食D咩好。(I'm still struggling on what to eat tonight.)
Synonym: 掙扎
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3519800/page/1
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having a brief pause before acting rather than being so indecisive and not knowing what to do.
Usage: E.g. 我都覺小貴，所以hesitate緊。不過真係好靚。(I think it's a bit expensive so I am hesitating. But it's really beautiful.)
Synonym: 猶豫
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3167329/page/27
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/