Unique Phrases and Expressions
Due to Hong Kong's unique historical background, Hong Kong Cantonese has evolved differently from the Chinese spoken in China, Taiwan and Singapore over the years. Hong Kong Cantonese has developed a number of phrases and expressions that are unique to the context of Hong Kong. These phrases and expressions usually make references to specific things that can only be found in Hong Kong or specific incidents that happened in Hong Kong.
Here are a few examples:
| Characters | Jyutping | literal meaning | actual meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 食皇家飯 | sik6 wong4 gaa1 faan6 | eating Royal meal | being imprisoned |
| 話知你九七 | waa6 zi1 nei5 gau2 cat1 | Who cares about your 1997? | Who cares? |
Here, the former refers to Hong Kong's status as a British colony, whose figurehead is the Royal Family, and the latter refers to the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997. The situations alluded to are both unique to Hong Kong.
Read more about this topic: Hong Kong Cantonese
Famous quotes containing the words unique, phrases and/or expressions:
“Most women of [the WW II] generation have but one image of good motherhood—the one their mothers embodied. . . . Anything done “for the sake of the children” justified, even ennobled the mother’s role. Motherhood was tantamount to martyrdom during that unique era when children were gods. Those who appeared to put their own needs first were castigated and shunned—the ultimate damnation for a gender trained to be wholly dependent on the acceptance and praise of others.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)
“A man in all the world’s new fashion planted,
That hath a mint of phrases in his brain.
One who the music of his own vain tongue
Doth ravish like enchanting harmony.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“We ought to celebrate this hour by expressions of manly joy. Not thanks, not prayer seem quite the highest or truest name for our communication with the infinite,—but glad and conspiring reception,—reception that becomes giving in its turn, as the receiver is only the All-Giver in part and infancy.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)