10 random words out of 681 results
Definition: Derived from the Chinese term '內卷' and often translated as 'involution', this is an Englishised code-mixing term that describes an economic situation where excessive competition does not lead to development and innovation. This may lead to people feeling stressed, anxious, and trapped, as the two characters mean 'inside rolling'.
Usage: E.g. I'm stuck in the rat race! I'm so tired of competing with everyone just to climb the career ladder!Synonym: 內卷Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTg1G8rpVc
Definition: A phrase used by native Hong Kongers to affirm that something is true or obvious, usually among friends and relatives in informal settings, especially with the particle 'la' in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. 朋友: 今日出街記住載口罩。 你：Of course啦！
E.g. 女朋友: 哇，你好叻呀。 你：Of course啦！
E.g. 男朋友: 估唔到你咁醒目。 你：Of course啦！
Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from '大檸樂', this is a more euphemistic way of saying the vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which means a big f***ing serious trouble has occurred.
Usage: E.g. I forgot to hand in my assignment yesterday. Big lemon coke!Synonym: 大檸樂
Definition: A code-mixing term that often refers to a computer/video game.
Usage: E.g. 你最鍾意玩邊隻game呀？Synonym: 遊戲
Definition: Short for 'available zero', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is often used by Hong Kong teen celebrities to sell themselves as idols that have never dated or been in a relationship before.
Usage: E.g. 鍾柔美男女關係複雜 A0形象被質疑 絕密校園生活揭秘 (Yumi Chung's complicated love relationships raise questions about her A0 image; her top-secret campus life revealed.)Synonym: Available zero, 未拍過拖Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/鍾柔美yumi被爆扮a0-中學時至少有4名男友？-就連「學霸」之名都被質疑-080040455.html
Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say good morning because they cannot pronounce the Cantonese equivalent words '早晨' properly.
Usage: E.g. ＡＢＣ：Jo sun! 本土香港人：吓？你講咩話？ ＡＢＣ：Good morning!Synonym: 早晨
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: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese.
Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.Synonym: 利是Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/
Instagram
