Instagram
English | Chinese
10 random words out of 910 results
Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to 'secondary two syndrome' in Cantonese, which is someone in their second year of high school and acting childish, as if they are living in their own world. The term was first popularised by the comedian Hikaru Ijuin in a Japanese radio show in 1999.
Usage: E.g. My older brother has jung yi beng – he thinks he is a hero who can save the world.
Synonym: 中二病
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)
Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to socialising with people when they are too tired of '應酬' in Cantonese where one is eating, drinking or entertaining clients for the sake of establishing business relations.
Usage: E.g. 曾經諗過改 逼自己扮social 但最後發現乜都唔理做番自己最舒服 唔洗夾硬逼自己扮哂野去應酬人 (I once thought about forcing myself to pretend to be social, but in the end I found that I didn't need to care about anything but being myself was the most comfortable. I didn't have to force myself to pretend to be social to entertain people.)
Synonym: 應酬
Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/310048/page/3
Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by Hong Kongers instead of '在家工作'.
Usage: E.g. 我今日真係爽呀，可以work from home。成日煲netflix都得啦！
Synonym: 在家工作
Definition: Derived from '一波三折', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe an unexpected event with twists and turns. Literal meaning: A wave that is split into three segments.
Usage: E.g. 呢排真係好黑仔呀。簡直係one ball seventy percent off呀。(一波三折)
Synonym: 一波三折
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/58665/
Definition: A code-mixing term created by Hong Kong KOL Matthew (matthewpwj_) and Janice (janicewanwan) to refer a typical Hong Kong mother whose teaching style towards children often includes many English words mixed into their Cantonese dialogue.
Usage: E.g. Jayden呀，如果你兒家唔食野，下次Mami就唔帶你黎呢D restaurant，去返樓下茶餐廳食算喇。(Jayden, if you don't eat, Mami will not bring you to this kind of restaurant again, we will go back to the Cha Chan Teng downstairs next time.) E.g. Elaine，你係咪講粗口呀，Mami好shocked呀。你平時唔係咁架喎，你係邊度學壞呀? (Elaine, did you swear? Mami is so shocked. You were never like this before. Where did you learn this? E.g. Esmond，陣間uncle auntie黎記住嗌人呀。大聲D呀。(Esmond, when Uncle and Auntie arrives, remember to address them. Loudly.)
Synonym: Jayden阿媽
Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWqgOP1Dyfq/ (use mobile version)
Definition: A fashionable code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a meal served at noontime where they can be more casual, carefree and relaxed than in an environment created by the Cantonese equivalent ’午餐‘.
Usage: E.g. 你仲做野？快啲食lunch先啦！(You are still working? Let’s eat lunch first!)
Synonym: 午餐
Reference: https://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/workshop/Chinese/Cantonese/CantoneseExpress/characteristics/p2.aspx
Definition: Often used as '升le' (呢), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to having made an advancement in something. (升級)
Usage: E.g. 哇！今次考試表現好左好多喎。簡直係升呢呀！
Synonym: 升級
Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html
Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese.
Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)
Synonym: 倒數
Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party
Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '功課'.
Usage: E.g. 喂，聽日交assignment呀，仲係到做咩呀？！ E.g. 呢份assignment可以借黎參考嗎？
Synonym: 功課
Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf