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

point

Definition: A more polite way to refer to a person's standpoint, as the Cantonese equivalent term '點', meaning a dot, can refer to a woman's breast. Usage: E.g. 男人:喂,我真係好唔明你個point喎!女人:唔緊要。我慢慢解釋比你聽。 E.g. 男人:喂,我真係好唔明你個點喎!女人:你話我邊點呀?唔好性騷擾喎!Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

common

Definition: Often pronounced as ‘cummun’, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express how common something is without making it sound unpopular or nothing special. Usage: E.g. 做呢個行業好common架咋。(This occupation is so common!)Synonym: 普遍, 普通Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/C04Br91vuJT/

Last day

Definition: This is a code-mixing phrase commonly used to replace最後一日 when the last day of activity is reached. Usage: E.g. 今日係唔係last day?

5g

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term meaning "I don't know", which is derived from '唔知'. Usage: E.g. Me also 5g. (我都唔知)Synonym: 唔知Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多#google_vignette

Never mind

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to tell someone not to worry about something anymore, even though it may not sound polite to English speakers. Usage: E.g. Never mind啦。我地下次再約。 E.g. Never mind啦。我自己搞得掂。

mm sick teng

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use when they don't understand what someone is saying in Cantonese. Usage: Hong Konger: 你叫咩名? Expat: Mm sick teng.Synonym: 唔識聽Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html

high

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to getting high or excited. Usage: E.g. 尋晚唱K唱到好high。 E.g. 你咪成日喺到自high啦。

seafood ghost

Definition: Known as Kongish and transliterated from '屎忽‘ meaning buttocks, this is a code-mixing phrase used to describe someone who always doesn't do what he or she says will do, somewhat like a faggot or asshole in English. Usage: E.g. This guy is such a seafood ghost! We always save him a seat at the restaurant but he never turns up!Synonym: 屎忽鬼Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/%E5%B1%8E%E5%BF%BD%E9%AC%BC

group

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a relatively small number of people or things being put together but probably not big enough to be an organisation or entity. Usage: E.g. 我地間公司係一個group,不如加入我地既whatsapp group再傾吓我地可以點合作?(Our company is a group. What about joining our Whatsapp group so we can talk about how we can work together?)Synonym: 組, 組織, 集團Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/23487/職場熱話-被迫加入廿個公司group-員工-不停彈訊息-連apple-watch都壞埋

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