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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: 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: 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
Definition: Originated from a tradition where people would donate gifts to those in need, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who do not want to be misunderstood as the day on which they would open presents, as the Cantonese equivalent terms denote the opening of presents on that day.
Usage: E.g. 聽日就係boxing day。你會去邊到shopping？(Tomorrow is boxing day. Where will you go shopping?)
Synonym: 節禮日, 拆禮物日
Reference: https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/拆禮物日
Definition: A more subtle way for Hong Kongers to refer to the undergarment worn by women, as the Cantonese equivalent term '胸圍' may sound too explicit and embarrassing in mentioning the female's body part.
Usage: E.g. 哎呀，我今日唔記得左載bra添。
Synonym: 胸圍
Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf
Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show how easygoing they can be.
Usage: E.g. Hey bro！不如一齊食飯啦？ E.g. Hey bro！放工一齊打波呀？
Synonym: 兄弟
Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak.
Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!
Synonym: 搭雞棚
Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam
Definition: This is an lot more linguistically efficient way of saying the Cantonese equivalent '打電話', which has 3 long syllables.
Usage: E.g. 可以兒家call你嗎？ E.g. 我尋日call爆你機都唔聽。你去左邊呀？
Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk
Definition: A code-mixing term used by the upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the espresso-based coffee made with steamed milk because the Cantonese equivalent '意大利泡沫咖啡' is too sophisticated to say.
Usage: E.g. A：我平時最鍾意飲意大利泡沫咖啡。香港人：你指cappucino?
Synonym: 意大利泡沫咖啡
Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong businessmen to refer to something that they give a damn about, as the equivalent terms '理', '在乎' or '關心' in Cantonese sound too romantic or loving in a professional setting.
Usage: E.g. 我唔care你要OT到幾多點，總之要幫我搞掂。 E.g. 其實我都好care我既員工既福利。 E.g. 艾東care! (I don't care!)
Synonym: 理; 在乎; 關心