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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


245 results found

consistent

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something happening or behaving the same way as before over time. Usage: E.g. 我:‘I need to stay consistent!’ 講英文人:Consistent 廣東話係乜嘢?(Me: I need to stay consistent! English speaker: What is consistent in Cantonese?)Synonym: keep住Reference: https://www.threads.com/@tracywongdc/post/DE-HfeUuJEx

ho sick

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy. Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.Synonym: 好食Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA

appreciate

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they admire or recognise the value of someone or something and want to show gratitude at the same time. Usage: E.g. 好appreciate你咁短時間去練廣東話,真係好彩你聲底好靚,同埋你音樂感好好,即使廣東話唔係你最擅長嘅。(I really appreciate that you learned Cantonese in such a short period of time. It's very fortunate that you have a great voice and a very good music sense, even though Cantonese is not your strength.)Synonym: 欣賞;感激;多謝Reference: https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20260122/1769072872519/《中4》藝人代表「貓女郎」引發腹式呼吸之爭-肥媽被取笑鬧爆周國豐

sense

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the ability to understand and recognise something with our five senses, which include sight, hear, smell, taste and feel. Usage: E.g. 男人好容易sense到女人鍾意咗自己嘅咩?(Can a man very easily sense that a woman likes him?)Synonym: 感覺Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3392065/page/3

soft

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to not being strict enough when managing people. Also, it often tends to depict a weakness in character by describing a person is not forceful or harsh enough. Usage: E.g. 同事話我太soft管唔到學生,我聽完好灰。(My colleague said I am too soft and cannot manage students like this. I felt very grey afterwards.)Synonym: 不嚴厲Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU-fcZMgjI7/ (use mobile version)

à la carte

Definition: Originated from French, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to ordering single dishes individually. Usage: E.g. 如果你唔鍾意叫set dinner,你可以叫 à la carte。(If you don't like to order the set dinner, you can order single dishes.)Synonym: 單點; 散嗌; 散叫Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

share

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to using or experiencing something together with others without the meaning of splitting apart, while not guaranteeing enjoyment and happiness. Usage: E.g. 最鍾意share 野! 一餐可以食晒唔同款,正!(I love to share things! Can eat all sorts of food in a meal! Awesome!)Synonym: 分享; 共用Reference: https://www.threads.com/@louisling8/post/DHi7b96TcQP/最鍾意share-野-一餐可以食晒唔同款正

sales

Definition: Often added with a '屎' (faeces), this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a salesperson. Usage: E.g. A: 點解好多人唔識分sale 同sell 呢2個字 B: 我諗係因為sales sale屎sell屎sale野sell野. (A: Why do so many people cannot differentiate between sale and sell? B: I think it is because sales sell sh*t and sale thing sell thing.)Synonym: sale屎Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3146390/page/1

double click

Definition: A trendy-sounding code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to pressing twice on a mouse or touchpad quickly and gently. Usage: E.g. 我點樣 fix 我嘅滑鼠每次想 click 一下嘅時候,都會 double click 呢?(How can I fix my mouse? Whenever I click it, it clicks twice?)Synonym: 雙擊Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/u21xlf/how_do_i_fix_my_mouse_double_clicking_whenever_i/?tl=zh-hant

afford

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having enough money to buy something without indicating one's ability to cope with such burden. Usage: E.g. 點解要鍾意自己 afford 唔起嘅 luxury? (Why love luxury that you can't afford?)Synonym: 負擔得起; 買得起Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3vop4Epm7/ (use mobile version)
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