Instagram
English | Chinese
52 results found
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a man whose wife is cheating on him.
Usage: E.g. Why did you have to cheat on me and let me wear the green hat for so long?!!
Synonym: 載綠帽
Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagra (use mobile version)
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a restaurant located inside a school or company. However, it is worth noting that the origin of the word is from Europe and should not to be confused with ‘can-ting’ or ‘can-teng’ in Mandarin or Cantonese (餐廳), which start with the ‘ts’ sound instead of ‘k’ sound in ‘can’.
Usage: E.g. 今日好多人呀！快啲落canteen霸位啦！(There are so many people today! Let's go to the canteen to hog the seats first!)
Synonym: 飯堂; 食堂 ; 餐廳
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSKkZbOEqPJ/ (use mobile version)
Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students as a casual way of labelling something as not related to the topic matter at hand.
Usage: E.g. off topic講兩句: 文理都緊要，理科是硬道理，但文科（文學、歷史；或者是哲學）才是中學教育中唯一認真（seriousness）的科目。(Let me make a few off-topic remarks: Both arts and sciences are important, with sciences being the most important, but arts (literature, history, or philosophy) are the only subjects in secondary education that require seriousness.)
Synonym: 跟話題無關
Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yuxichau/post/C5vuQ64SgYQ?hl=en
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who betrays others. ie. A traitor. (二五仔)
Usage: E.g. I can't believe you are the two five boy who let out the secret!
Synonym: 二五仔
Reference: https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202105/25/AP60ac0e63e4b0a46dabeb8867.html
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where there is a scene or fight going on between people, and you are just excited to watch what will happen as a bystander. '食住花生等睇戲' can be shortened to '食花生' sometimes.
Usage: E.g. I have never seen people argue like this over Whatsapp! Let's eat peanuts while waiting to watch a film!
Synonym: 食住花生等睇戲
Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something that is so obvious that there is no need to ask anyone about it, especially after finding out the wrong of somebody. 'Ah Gui' is a name that originated from an infamous official (李世桂) in the Qing Dynasty.
Usage: E.g. It must be him who let out the secrets! No need to ask Ah Gui!
Synonym: 唔洗問阿貴
Reference: https://www.kamadelivery.com/blog/posts/香港10大俗語-地道文化背景大解構/
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/
Definition: A less cliche and irritating sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to quickly test or experience something first, in order to know whether it is suitable for them in the long term.
Usage: E.g. 有新game出左？等我try吓先。 (A new game came out? Let me try first.) E.g. 買左件衫比我？等我try try先。 (Bought a shirt for me? Let me try try first.)
Synonym: 嘗試, 試
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2866301/page/17
Definition: Originated from the Hong Kong Olympics sprint athlete '刁俊希', this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they feel like they cannot bother giving a f*** about something.
Usage: E.g. Should I study for this exam? Felix Diu!
Synonym: 費撚事屌
Reference: https://www.threads.com/@lovelovehannigram/post/DH8tkORpNQ2
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe strenuous tasks that are almost impossible to complete.
Usage: E.g. Getting my son to do homework is like pulling a cow up the tree!
Synonym: 拉牛上樹
Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms