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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


110 results found

firm

Definition: A shortened term of the word 'confirm' in English, used to maximise communicative efficiency and to get the listener to confirm ASAP. Usage: E.g. 下個月個party既日期firm左未呀? E.g. 你下次個appointment firm左未呀? E.g. Firm左未呀?快D啦。

my pressure

Definition: Originated from 'my pleasure', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers to express their enjoyment in helping someone when they have used 'You are welcome' too often. Also, saying the Cantonese equivalent '我的榮幸' may just sound too formal and exaggerated for a small favour done for someone. Usage: E.g. A: Thank you哂你呀!B: My preeessure.Synonym: 我的榮幸, my pleasureReference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3178884/page/39

no offense

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they are really considerate about offending someone before or after saying something, such as making a comment or remark. However, it can be entirely offensive sometimes even though the person says no offense. Usage: E.g. 成日開口埋口都講No Offense嘅人,其實先係最Offense。(The person who always says no offense is very often the person who is the most offensive.)Synonym: 有怪莫怪, 無意冒犯Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100most/posts/毛牌觀察學-第五話成日開口埋口都講no-offense嘅人其實先係最offense要講offense嘢唔使咁就住嘅一係下次試吓改口講no-defense/1031481205006323/

two beat six

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to an incompetent person of low status. It is the first part of the allegorical saying '未夠斤兩‘, which means the person is not qualified. Since 2 + 6 taels = half catty, it means the person is not much in catty and taels. Usage: E.g. You two beat six should not be part of our group!Synonym: 二打六Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/41660/

finish

Definition: Often added with a ‘咗’ like the ‘-ed’ form in English for past tense, this is a code-mixing term that is used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to having completed something, such as an event or project. Usage: E.g. 你地finish咗個project未呀? E.g. 終於finish咗個event!Synonym: 完成Reference: https://www.businesstimes.com.hk/articles/157451/創新科技獎學金2024-挑選25位傑出大學生-每人最高15萬港元獎學金/

awkward

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a social situation where one feels very strange and uncomfortable, rather than an embarrassing situation where one feels ashamed or humiliated, as the Cantonese equivalent term '尷尬' can take on any of those two meanings. Usage: E.g. 本來咁多人約左出黎食飯點知得返你地兩個,會唔會覺得好awkward? (Originally many people were going to have a meal together, but only two of you came. Did it feel awkward?)Synonym: 尷尬Reference: https://www.threads.com/@janemanic.english/post/DHpmw9YRm-y/很多人分不清-embarrassedembarrassing-和-awkward雖然它們都有尷尬的意思但用法不同-embarrassed-形容人的感受例如-i-?hl=zh-hk

Victoria girl

Definition: Derived from Victoria Harbour and upgraded from 'Kong girl', this is a code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to describe a Hong Kong girl who is arrogant, sharp-tongued and overly self-important, like having "blue-blood" princess-like attitude. When compared with the 'Kong girl', the only real difference seems to be that the girl is proud of being called a 'Victoria girl' rather than a 'Kong girl' because the former sounds more elegant and posh while the latter sounds more of a deragatory term. Usage: E.g. I can't believe I went from being an egg tart girl in housing estates to Rosewood hotel-level. I am now a Victoria girl and I'm proud of it.Synonym: 維多利亞妹, 維妹Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUn44TmjESh/?img_index=4&igsh=YWluejFiZm1rdHdp (use mobile version)

main course

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the stage of a meal where the main dish is served. As to why ‘course’ is more often used than ‘dish’ compared to the Cantonese phrase ‘主菜‘, it may be to do with the upper class etiquette that the stage of a meal is more important than the dish itself. Usage: E.g. 食semi-buffet質素好過buffet, 起碼個main course係入得落口 (The quality of eating semi-buffet is higher than buffet, at least the main course is decent.)Synonym: 主菜Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3120803/page/3

receiver

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers use to refer to a small wireless unit that is plugged into a computer’s USB port for receiving signals for a keyboard or mouse. Usage: E.g. 有冇見過我個receiver? 我好似唔見左。Synonym: 接收器

angry

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a "Jayden Mami" to describe a state of emotional stress due to a child misbehaving, even though it sounds less serious and less hinting of being upset or furious compared to the Cantonese equivalent terms. Usage: E.g. Jayden,你唔勤力啲swim,媽咪同爸B會angry㗎!(Jayden, if you don't work harder on swimmig, Mami and Daddy will be angry!)Synonym: 嬲; 激氣; 憤怒; 生氣Reference: https://eastweek.stheadline.com/pets/18474/Jayden媽咪是誰社交網絡爆紅兼殺入毛孩界
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