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Definition: A useful alternative if your boss is tired of hearing the word 'somehow' when you want to avoid saying 'I don't know' to a question.
Usage: E.g. For some reason個file corrupt左。 E.g. For some reason個printer壞左。 E.g. For some reason今次個客唔搵我地。
Definition: Originated from the olden days where the upper class loved to wear old sheepskin of high quality, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to describe someone who has low social status and tries to mimick the upper class by wearing cheap quality clothing that matches the appearance of expensive clothing. ie. The white colour and look of fresh carrot skin resembles the look of old sheepskin.
Usage: E.g. You think you are so high class? What kind of fresh carrot skin are you?
Synonym: 新鮮蘿蔔皮
Reference: https://voltra.academy/blog/canton2
Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to staying healthy and in good shape by doing physical exercise.
Usage: E.g. 平時食咁多野又忙住做野，要keep fit先得架！(If you eat a lot regularly and are busy working all the time, you should keep fit!)
Synonym: 保持身體健康
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Za8b2zE0uYg
Definition: Originated from Italian meaning 'milk', this is a code-mixing used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk, which they believe should not be as heavy as other kinds of coffee as the term '拿鐵' denotes, which has the literal meaning of 'carry metal'.
Usage: E.g. 唔該，我想要一杯tall size既latte。(Excuse me, may I have a tall sized latte?)
Synonym: 拿鐵
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3648151/page/1
Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers who really miss hearing the word Eve from Christmas Eve so much that they wished Christmas could prolong to the new year.
Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve你會同朋友交換禮物嗎？B: 吓，唔係聖誕節先會交換禮物咩？！(Will you exchange gifts with friends on New Year's Eve? B: What? Don't people exchange gifts during Christmas instead?)
Synonym: 除夕
Reference: https://www.hk01.com/知性女生/60307715/除夕倒數2026-10大倒數好去處-迪士尼煙花-西九音樂會-倒數派對
Definition: Said to have originated from 'copycat' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who cheats or copies other people's answers in an exam. (出貓)
Usage: E.g. Don't dare to bring out the cat in an exam! (唔好咁大擔考試出貓！)
Synonym: 出貓
Definition: Transliterated from '玻璃心' meaning 'heart made of glass', this is a code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to someone who can be easily hurt and broken, just like as fragile as glass.
Usage: E.g. He is very manly but he is actually a polly shum when it comes to love.
Synonym: 玻璃心
Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the ability to understand and recognise something with our five senses, which include sight, hear, smell, taste and feel.
Usage: E.g. 男人好容易sense到女人鍾意咗自己嘅咩？(Can a man very easily sense that a woman likes him?)
Synonym: 感覺
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3392065/page/3
Definition: With a literal meaning of 'hot air', this is a romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to having overheat from eating too much spicy or fried foods, leading to pimples and freckles growing on your face or even buttocks. Also, yeet hay seems to only exist in Chinese medicine but not western medicine according to native Hong Kongers.
Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to eat barbeque? B: No thanks, I am very yeet hay recently.
Synonym: 熱氣
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/C7PVDJZpVgq/ (use mobile version)