As we all know that Cantonese is a dialect and some of the commonly used words and phrases “borrowed” from other languages, English in particular. Dennis Ho has assembled and submitted some very interesting words/phrases. You may be surprised to find that they include some of the most commonly used words, like 唱錢, 派頭…….
| Cantonese | English | Meaning and example |
| 派頭 | Pride | 50年代，流行講「派頭」這個形容詞，即是「講派場、有威勢、夠舖張」的正面稱讚 |
| 疴畢甩 | All blood | 如果遇上麻煩、辣手難題、或者死路一條， 就會自嘆一句：「呢一鑊真係疴畢甩！」
吓？你架Civic仔撞爛人哋架法拉利？你今次真係疴畢甩！」 |
| 蛇guare | Scare | 蛇guare」形容人「騰雞，無膽，大驚少怪」
你唔好咁蛇guare啦！乜都自己嚇自己一餐 |
| 仆街 | Poor guy | 「仆街」經常被人誤以為是「動詞」：咀咒對方「仆喺條街度！」其實「仆街」是名詞，來自英文的「Poor guy
呢條友連80歲啊婆沖涼都裝！正一仆街！」 |
| 薯嘜 | Schmuck | 讚人叻仔就話佢smart，但係彈人蠢鈍就叫佢「薯嘜」！薯嘜並非源於「蕃薯的嘜頭
嘩！乜你仲著「大地牌」冷衫？咁薯嘜架！」 |
| 花臣 | Fashion | 80年代，一講到「花臣」，就是指新的gimmick（噱頭）。 即是「新招數、新花款、新點子」， 「花臣」來自英文「Fashion」，
哼！黔驢技窮！睇你仲有乜嘢新花臣吖？！」 |
| 蝦碌 | Hard luck | 蝦碌泛指拍電影時的NG (即係No Good) 片段，所謂「蝦碌鏡頭」， 現實生活裏，蝦碌指忙中有錯，掛萬漏一，失之交臂。
唔好意思，一時蝦碌，將你個master file delete咗！你要重新再打過呀！」 |
| 老粒 | Rob | 90年代初，流行講「老粒」，即是搶劫。「老粒」並非指一粒很老的東西，「老粒」來自英文「Rob」，
咪郁！老粒呀！快啲攞哂啲錢出嚟，唔係一刀捅瓜你！」 |
| 符碌 | Fluke | 符碌」指不靠實際能力，幸運地達成目標、純粹僥倖彩數
臨尾一Q，俾佢符符碌碌咁打埋個黑柴入尾袋添！」 |
| 唱錢 | Change | 當要使用另一個國家的貨幣，便要去找換店「唱錢」，「唱啲美金」、「唱啲英磅」、「唱啲人民幣」
下個禮拜去倫敦旅行，而家趁英磅平，唱定啲錢先！」 |
| 臨時演員叫「茄呢啡」 | Carefree | |
| 咕喱 | Coolie | |
| 泊 | Parking | 汽車泊車的「泊」字，來自Parking中的「Park」。 |
| 索 | Sharp | 「條女好索！」＝「條女好Sharp！」 |
| 发蹄腾 | Frightened | 好惊 |
| 有D啤 | Depressed | 无心机做野 |
| 频能 | Panic | 忙乱 |
| 爆格 | Burglary | 被人入屋盗窃 |
| 喊到飞呢发辣 | Fully flated | 喊到很凄凉。 |
| 信唔信我丙你? | Punch | 信唔信我打你? |
| 拗「叫」 | Argue | 争执 |
| 木独 | Moody | 无心机唔出声 |
Dear all, I am Mark Huang from class of 85. I was shown this website to talk about the LSPS site occupation by a Govt School, and have thoroughly enjoyed poking around.
For this topic, I wonder if the term 來佬貨 is related to the word Royal, probably meaning the goods that come with the “By appointment to her Majesty the Queen”?
I like it. Since language is an evolving art, I hope all can contribute and enlarge this list day by day.
Thanks, Francis for your great work and big heart.