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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


813 results found

big ear hole

Definition: Derived from '大耳窿' with '窿' sounds like 'loan' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to a person or company that offers loans at extremely high interest rates. Usage: E.g. Don't borrow money from this company. It is a big ear hole!Synonym: 大耳窿

yeet hay

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'hot air', this is a romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to having overheat from eating too much spicy or fried foods, leading to pimples and freckles growing on your face or even buttocks. Also, yeet hay seems to only exist in Chinese medicine but not western medicine according to native Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to eat barbeque? B: No thanks, I am very yeet hay recently.Synonym: 熱氣Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/C7PVDJZpVgq/ (use mobile version)

ge

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that is similar to the apostrophe + s in English, which is used as a possessive marker. Eg. Peter's car. Usage: E.g. fyi the box in the pic ge mask is made in china ga lor...Synonym: 既Reference: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10111885/3/Li_KD%20revision%20-%20ver%202%20-%20final%20submitted.pdf

freerider

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a person who does not do any work in a group project but gets credit for it. Usage: E.g. Q: 大家見過最癲freerider係點? A: 試過group project分工之後 個freerider唔見左人 唔聽電話 唔睇 group message 直到present完之後先出現 (Q: Has anyone seen what the craziest freerider is like? A: I used to work in a group project where the freerider disappeared and we could not reach him by phone or group message. Then the freerider appeared after the presentation finished.)Synonym: 自由騎士Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2241139/page/7

OBA

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to 'Occupied but Available' in boy-girl relationships. Usage: E.g. Occupied but Available (有伴侶但仍接受追求,即可一腳踏N船)(In a relationship but is still accepting new relationships, meaning that you can be in an N number of relationships at the same time.)Synonym: Occupied but AvailableReference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2812430/page/8

yau lok

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to call the minibus driver to stop at the next bus stop. (有落) Usage: E.g. Mm goi yau lok! (唔該,有落)Synonym: 有落

jo sun

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say good morning because they cannot pronounce the Cantonese equivalent words '早晨' properly. Usage: E.g. ABC:Jo sun! 本土香港人:吓?你講咩話? ABC:Good morning!Synonym: 早晨

tick

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to marking something in order to show that it is chosen or correct. Usage: E.g. 快D tick點心紙啦。我好餓呀。(Tick the dim sum order form quickly. I'm so hungry.)Synonym: 剔Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWL_RQQysfH/ (use mobile version)

caring

Definition: A more broad and general code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having concern, kindness and empathy towards others but not to the point of being so loving. Usage: E.g. 之前都識左個男仔, 一開始都好nice 好caring, 突然有一日係車鬧左我成個鐘。(I used to know a guy who was very nice and caring at the start, but there came a day where he suddenly scolded me for an hour in the car.)Synonym: 關心別人;有愛心Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3665573/page/28

cheung fun

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to steamed rice noodle rolls, which is a popular snack at street food vendors. However, this is not to be confused with ‘fun cheung’, which means ‘dick face’ in English. Usage: E.g. Let‘s eat some fun cheung at a Chinese restaurant! Sorry, I mean cheung fun!Synonym: 腸粉Reference: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3318414/what-cheung-fun-different-types-chinese-rice-noodle-rolls-and-how-make-them
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