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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


897 results found

very delicious

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that is often mistaken as grammatically incorrect due to the word 'very' being considered redundant, as 'delicious' already denotes the meaning of very yummy. However, it originates from '好好味' in Cantonese, which means 'very very tasty'.

Usage: E.g. 哇,D野食真係very delicious呀。

Synonym: 好好味

gau m daap baat

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who is off-topic or providing irrelevant answers.

Usage: E.g. Lei dou gau m daap baat! Can you answer my question?!

Synonym: 九唔搭八

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

go scuba diving

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they went.

Usage: E.g. I will be blacklisting this guy who promised to attend the conference but went scuba diving!

Synonym: 潛水

standup meeting

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a meeting that is usually shorter than what is already brief and leaves people thinking it should have been longer.

Usage: E.g. Standup meeting講得一句太brief,judge唔到performance。(A stand-up meeting can only allow people say a few sentences that are too brief, which is hard for judging an employee's performance.)

Synonym: 站立會議; 站會

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/88607/page/1

dive under water

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they are.

Usage: E.g. A: Where did your classmate go? B: I think he dived under water.

Synonym: 潛水

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-diving-under-water

play study watch

Definition: A set of code-mixing verbs that a Jayden Mami likes to forcefully use to educate their children on how to spend their time wisely on leisure and work.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,Mami told you 唔好成日掛住play,要study多啲,同埋do完哂啲homework先watch TV啦!(Jayden, Mami told you not to always play, you need to study more, and you should finish your homework before you watch TV!)

Synonym: 玩; 讀書; 睇

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXDXFJxzrUw/ (use mobile version)

See you tomorrow

Definition: It's slang for when a person eats something and it's unsuccessfully digested. Resulting in the food being pooped out the next day still intact.

Usage: I'll pass on corn or string mushrooms guys. I don't want a "see you tomorrow" situation happening tomorrow morning

stir-fried squid

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2)

Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!

Synonym: 炒魷魚

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/

building covenant

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong Legislative Council members to refer to a lease condition where the lot owner is required to complete the development within a specified period and obtain an Occupation Permit from the Building Authority. However, it is not to be confused with 'environmental permit'.

Usage: E.g. 劉文君發言後,林筱魯再提醒發言表達專業用語時要考慮公眾能否理解。劉文君說:「頭先官員都有用building covenant㗎!enviromental permit我唔知你哋中文叫做咩嘢。」(After Lau's speech, Lin reminded him to consider whether the public would understand such professional terminology. Lau said, "The officials used building covenant just now! I don't know what you meant by 'environmental permit' in Chinese.")

Synonym: 建築規約

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20260211/bkn-20260211164003550-0211_00822_001.html

communication gap

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to illustrate the distance between two parties in terms of their communication, which is often due to their difference in job positions or departments in a company. Sometimes, it may be caused by forgeting to say "double confirm", which is a common phrase used by Hong Kongers at workplace to really make sure that certain information is correct.

Usage: E.g. 其實呢啲communication gap 大家可以做好D減少誤會,寫多兩句confirm is better。(As for these communication gaps, it is better for us all to try and minimise misunderstandings by saying 'confirm' more.)

Synonym: 溝通差距

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@purpzc/post/C-l0fNJyiZM?hl=en

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