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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


161 results found

collect skin

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to tell somebody to shut the f**k up. It is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '收皮' in order to tone down the directness of this very rude phrase. It originates from street vendors who used to pack their things up on wooden mats when police arrived back in those days of Hong Kong. Usage: E.g. 喂,講完未呀?Collect skin啦。E.g. 真係頂你唔順呀,快D collect skin啦。Synonym: 收皮Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/Cy8AD_WtaxO/

off

Definition: A more polite way of telling somebody to shut up or '收皮' in Cantonese, which means to pack their things up and leave. (Also see 'collect skin') Usage: E.g. Off啦你,成日咁多野講。E.g. Off啦你,成日搞搞陣冇幫襯。Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-收皮-collect-skin/

last order

Definition: A code-mixing term that waiters love to use to refer to the last order that customers can make in a restaurant before it closes. (最後訂單) Usage: E.g. 今次last order,有D咩想落就好落喇。 E.g. Waiter: 今次最後訂單。 Customer: 吓?咩訂單話?Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

discount

Definition: A more appealing code-mixing term than the Cantonese equivalent word '折扣', which shopkeepers like to use to attract customers. Usage: E.g. 今個月清貨大discount。快D入黎慢慢揀啦!Synonym: 折扣Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

database

Definition: A code-mixing word that working class Hong Kongers love to use instead of the Cantonese equivalent '資料庫' in the IT sector. Also see 'db'. Usage: E.g. Con唔connect得到個database呀? E.g. 內地人:你能夠連接得到個資料庫嗎? 香港人:你指個database?Synonym: 資料庫

cheque

Definition: (noun) The Hong Kong way of referring to '支票' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 可以開張cheque比我嗎?Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

touchwood

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers say in order to avoid bad luck, which is similar to '大吉利是' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Touchwood講句,如果件貨聽日唔準時到,請問要等到幾時呢?Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/733616/page/1

chee sor hai bin

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to ask where a washroom is. Usage: E.g. Chee sor hai bin? (廁所喺邊?)Synonym: 廁所喺邊?Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

cute

Definition: Often pronounced as 'Q' or used as 'Q-tee', this is a code-mixing term that is used by Hong Kongers instead of '可愛' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 哇,個公仔好Q呀! E.g. 港女:你睇吓我今日著得Q唔Q-tee呀?Synonym: 可愛Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

figure out

Definition: This is a code-mixing phrase that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '諗到' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 我暫時仲未figure out到點樣solve個problem。Reference: https://english.cool/code-switching/