Instagram
English | Chinese
842 results found
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers when someone sneezes, which is similar to 'Bless you!' in English. (大吉利是)
Usage: E.g. A: Ack-choo! B: Big tangerine and red packets!
Synonym: 大吉利是
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where they are in some serious trouble. Sometimes, '大鑊' can be emphasized to a vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which literally translates to 'big penis wok' and means the person is in rather deep sh*t.
Usage: E.g. I forgot to bring my wallet! Big wok! (大鑊) E.g. Omg I lost all my money! This time is really big penis wok! (今次真係大撚鑊)
Synonym: 大鑊
Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/03/30/ED1103300032.htm
Definition: Pronounced as 'bee-lee-bah-la', this is a code-mixing onomatopoepic phrase used by native Hong Kongers in a 90's limerick to describe someone talking a lot, loudly or fast.
Usage: E.g. XXX（人名）未夠18歲學人揸飛機，跌落屎坑執玻璃，返到屋企唔忿氣，BiLiBaLa放臭屁，阿媽以為漏煤氣，原來衰仔放緊屁。(E.g. XXX (name) learned to drive a plane under 18 years old, and fell into the toilet to pick up the glass. He returned home feeling resentful, then kept talking a lot and made a stinky fart. His mother thought there was a gas leak, but it turned out that the bad boy was farting.)
Synonym: 嗶哩叭啦
Definition: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '大文件夾' to refer to a large-sized folder for keeping documents.
Usage: E.g. 如果folder唔夠大，搵個binder再放哂D文件入去。
Synonym: 大文件夾
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to being very unlucky or unfortunate. (黑仔)
Usage: E.g. Today I forgot to bring my homework and give teacher scold. Very black son! (好黑仔)
Synonym: 黑仔
Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.
Usage: E.g. 收皮啦！唔好再blow water！
Synonym: 吹水
Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/
Definition: Derived from '吹水唔抹嘴', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to someone who brags about his or her achievements and doesn't take any responsibility for it. ie. To talk bullsh*t.
Usage: E.g. Don't believe in what he says! He likes blowing water without wiping mouth all the time! (唔好信佢講既野！佢成日都鍾意喺度吹水唔抹嘴！)
Synonym: 吹水唔抹嘴
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the visually appealing exterior of something, such as the figure of a person.
Usage: E.g. 2023年落選港姐郭珮文，參選時憑著驕人的35C身材獲封「最強Body」(Juliana Kwok, a Miss Hong Kong contestant in 2023, was dubbed the "Ultimate Body" during the competition thanks to her impressive 35C figure.)
Synonym: 身體
Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3585362
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to talking on the phone for hours. (煲電話粥)
Usage: E.g. Stop boiling telephone congee with your friend every day!
Synonym: 煲電話粥
Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese
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