Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Lecture Slides
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 622 results

I am very thanks them

Definition: Often described as comparable to the English level of a primary school chicken, this is a code-mixing phrase used by the Hong Kong celebrity Stephy Tang (鄧麗欣) to express sincere gratitude towards other people. Usage: E.g. Reporter: Tell me what you are wearing. Stephy: This is Vivienne Westwood. So I am very happy they give me that dress from England. So I am very thanks them.Synonym: 我係好多謝佢地Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/鄧麗欣

Aiya

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used as an interjection to express frustration or annoyance when something surprising occurs. (哎呀) Usage: E.g. Aiya! I missed the bus! E.g. Aiya! I dropped the cake! E.g. Aiya! I just needed one more mark to pass the test!Synonym: 哎呀Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/seven-cantonese-phrases-that-should-be-in-the-oed

memo

Definition: Often pronounced as 'meemo', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to memo paper. Usage: E.g. 喂,可唔可以幫我抄D野落張meemo到?Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/633876/港式英語-19個英文字港人常讀錯-釘橋-cam錢-janet讀到似中文

Merry Christmas

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers prefer to use to accompany Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus because they can experience the happiness first with ‘merry’ compared to the Cantonese equivalent ’聖誕節快樂‘ where the happiness '快樂‘ is placed after Christmas. Usage: E.g. 聖誕節又黎喇!Merry Christmas! (Christmas is coming! Merry Christmas!)Synonym: 聖誕節快樂, 聖誕快樂Reference: https://www.weekendhk.com/香港好去處/聖誕好去處-商場-打卡-飄雪-3275849/

assess

Definition: Originated from ‘access’, this is a code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the means through which one can enter a system or having the permission to retrieve data from a system. Usage: E.g. 唔該可唔可以比個database既assess比我? (Could you give me the access to the database?) E.g. 我assess唔到個system。可唔可以比密碼我?(I cannot access the system. Can you give me the password?)Synonym: access, 讀取Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/CjZh3wSpu4l/

proud of

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they want to show how pleased they are towards someone’s achievements, but want to sound less show-off or exaggerated about their feeling. Usage: E.g. 你考試咁高分,我好proud of你呀。(You scored so high in the exam. I am so proud of you.)Synonym: 驕傲,自豪Reference: https://www.threads.com/@grace_interest_english/post/DDthgzMyHsU

Out c

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to ‘out of syllabus’, which is used by local school students in Hong Kong. Usage: Past paper條題目out c左。

number

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a telephone number. Usage: E.g. 香港人:可唔可以交換number呀?內地人:咩number呀?香港人:緊係電話number啦。Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

mix

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to a person with a mixed-race descent. Usage: E.g. A:你係唔係mix黎架?B:乜我似mix咩?多謝。 E.g. A:你係唔係mix黎架?B:係!當然係啦!我係澳門香港mix呀!

anyhow

Definition: Usually placed at the start of a clause or sentence, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to replace the phrase '無論如何', meaning 'no matter what' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 我知你好忙,但anyhow,你一定要幫我。