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


613 results found

pass

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use instead of '通過'.  Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'pass-si'. Usage: E.g. 今次考試pa唔pass呀? E.g. 我今次pass-si呀!仲好高分添!Synonym: 通過Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922

do

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to gestures and customs that an employee must do or learn when they work in a company. Usage: E.g. 老細黎到仲唔識DO? 快D讓座同沖杯咖啡比佢啦! E.g. 打工仔要識DO先得,如果咪好快冇得撈。Reference: https://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/lifestyle/archive/goodjob/23372

heavy

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe the feeling of eating too much. Usage: E.g. 食完打邊爐再飲咖啡會好heavy。Synonym: 好腬

highlight

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students like use to refer to highlighting important information with a highlighter pen. (瑩光筆) Usage: E.g. 學生:等我highlight句野先,方便溫書嗰陣時。 老師:考試時記住帶返支highlighter。冇既就要underline架喇。Reference: https://www.weekendhk.com/weekspecial/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-香港人-ctb081-hc-1413297/3/

raise flag

Definition: Used as '立flag', this is a code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to being very vocal about what you want to do, but end up doing something that is completely opposite. Usage: E.g. 佢又立flag話以後會減肥,點知佢就走左食buffet。Synonym: 立flagReference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

lunch

Definition: A fashionable code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a meal served at noontime where they can be more casual, carefree and relaxed than in an environment created by the Cantonese equivalent ’午餐‘. Usage: E.g. 你仲做野?快啲食lunch先啦!(You are still working? Let’s eat lunch first!)Synonym: 午餐Reference: https://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/workshop/Chinese/Cantonese/CantoneseExpress/characteristics/p2.aspx

high tech

Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is advanced in technology.  There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野,Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition. Usage: E.g. 哇,張枱有自動升降好high tech呀。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

can

Definition: (noun) Pronounced with the sixth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to canteen in a highly efficient manner. Usage: E.g. 淨係食過bu同city既can。(I have only eaten Baptist University's and City University's canteen.)Synonym: canteen, 食堂Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/404559/page/2

low tech

Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is very unadvanced in technology.  There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野,Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition. '撈' refers to '有得撈', which means you can earn a living. Usage: E.g. 今時今日唔可以再咁low tech架喇。快D買返部智能手機啦。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

double check

Definition: A nicer-sounding phrase than '重複檢查' or '檢查兩次', which means to check again or check two times. Usage: E.g. 每次考試時記住double check份卷。