Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Downloads | Lectures | Videos |
Instagram Instagram
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


196 results found

Gong hei fat choi

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to wish someone prosperous and good fortune during Chinese New Year. Sometimes , it may be mistakened as 'Happy new year' by non-Cantonese speaking expats, even though there is nothing really wrong with saying it to people excessively. (Variant: Kung hei fat choi) Usage: E.g. Happy Chinese New Year! Gong hei fat choi! Gong hei fat choi!Synonym: 恭喜發財Reference: https://www.zalora.com.hk/blog/lifestyle/kung-hei-fat-choi-meaning-how-to-respond-and-common-cantonese-new-year-blessings/

sorry

Definition: A more effortless way of apologising to someone without sounding so formal and serious. Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'sor-li'. Usage: E.g. Sorry呀,踩親你。 E.g. Sorry呀,我遲到左。 E.g.你:對唔住!係我抵死,係我唔岩!朋友:唔洗咁隆重。你:SORRY囉。Synonym: 對唔住Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

So far

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the time period up to now without sounding so formal and elegant in social situations. Usage: E.g. So far我覺得呢間餐廳幾好食, 但係service有D差囉。(So far I think the food in this restaurant is quite good, but the service is a little bad.)Synonym: 目前為止, 至今Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3926896/page/1

Itadakimasu

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'humbly receive', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers who work in Japanese companies to express politeness before starting to eat a meal, which is equivalent to "Let's eat" in English. Usage: E.g. A: Itadakimas! B: 其實係唔係一定要講?A: 唔係,不過有禮貌啲囉。(A: Itadakimas! B: Do we actually have to say this? A: No, but it's more polite if we do.)Synonym: 開飯喇, 唔客氣喇, Let's eatReference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itadakimasu

AA

Definition: Often used as 'AA制' (policy), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to paying for yourself at a meal. (Also known as 'going Dutch' in English) Usage: E.g. 今餐AA制得唔得呀?Synonym: 食自己, 自己比

sit

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to sitting through a lecture without participating in it, which is usually used for those who don't belong to the class or course. Usage: E.g. 同學:可以邀請我sit堂嗎? E.g. 我見到嗰位先生成日要sit堂。係助教還是professor?

add oil

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that Hong Kongers use to cheer for somebody else as encouragement or support when they are bored of the equivalent term '加油' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Add oil! 希望你今次考試高分!Synonym: 加油

actually

Definition: Often overused by Fake ABCs in Hong Kong for creating a western appeal, especially when they lack English vocabulary. Usage: E.g. Actually,我都要D時間諗下先。我過兩日再覆你。 E.g. 朋友:我地係咪約好左聽日去睇戲呀?你:Actually,我聽日唔得閒。 E.g. Actually,你講既野都有D道理。不過我唔同意。 Synonym: 其實

Lulu

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For male version, see 'Robert') Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Lulu喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

Robert

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For female version, see 'Lulu') Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Robert喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)
Define Your Term | Learn More