10 random words out of 681 results
Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the school that a person had graduated from. However, working class and grassroots Hong Kongers may know this term but not use it because it sounds too Latin than English. Hence, they find ‘mother school’ is more sensible and practical to use.
Usage: E.g. 你既alma mater係邊間學校？Synonym: 母校, mother schoolReference: https://youtube.com/shorts/Br8CWgYQNak?si=aFaIMvdv2YSnCxvh
Definition: Originated from 'my pleasure', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers to express their enjoyment in helping someone when they have used 'You are welcome' too often. Also, saying the Cantonese equivalent '我的榮幸' may just sound too formal and exaggerated for a small favour done for someone.
Usage: E.g. A: Thank you哂你呀！B: My preeessure.Synonym: 我的榮幸, my pleasureReference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3178884/page/39
Definition: Short for 'available zero', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is often used by Hong Kong teen celebrities to sell themselves as idols that have never dated or been in a relationship before.
Usage: E.g. 鍾柔美男女關係複雜 A0形象被質疑 絕密校園生活揭秘 (Yumi Chung's complicated love relationships raise questions about her A0 image; her top-secret campus life revealed.)Synonym: Available zero, 未拍過拖Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/鍾柔美yumi被爆扮a0-中學時至少有4名男友？-就連「學霸」之名都被質疑-080040455.html
Definition: A way to sound more certain and less hesitant when your friend/boyfriend/girlfriend is asking you whether you want to do something with him or her.
Usage: E.g. 朋友: 聽日去唔去睇戲呀？ 你: Depends啦。
E.g. 女朋友: 係咪聽日去shopping呀? 你: Depends啦。
E.g. 女朋友: 係咪聽日去shopping呀? 你: 睇下點啦。 *啪！*
Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong teachers to make it clear and explicit that their students are essentially dead if they hand in their homework or assignment late, as the Cantonese equivalent phrase ‘截止日期’ does not denote the meaning of death at all.
Usage: E.g. 聽日就係deadline, 唔交功課就零雞蛋！(Tomorrow is deadline. If you do not hand in your homework, you will get a zero mark!)Synonym: 截止日期Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/809281/page/1
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe working for a job while looking for a better one. (騎牛搵馬 - ke4 ngau4 wan2 maa5)
Usage: E.g. Look for a job first! You can always ride an ox while looking for a horse!Synonym: 騎牛搵馬Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575
Definition: A term that seems to originate from the English culture and can hardly be replaced by the Cantonese equivalent term '常識'.
Usage: E.g. 喂，你咁快就落搭，有冇common sense架？
E.g. 一睇就知係搵笨啦，你有冇common sense架？
E.g. 你好似有常識，不過冇common sense。Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk
Definition: Often used as '嘥gas', this is a code-mixing term that is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to wasting one's efforts.
Usage: E.g. 你唔洗嘥gas，佢唔會聽你講。Synonym: 嘥gas，白費功夫Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0x5-SyI4o
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