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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

Return water (wui shui)

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction. Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui. Synonym: 回水

caltor

Definition: Pronounced with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that refers to 'calculator'.  Also used as 'cal機' sometimes. Usage: E.g. 唔該借個cal機比我呀? E.g. 試下用caltor check吓個answer。Synonym: 計數機Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

cheese cake

Definition: Often expressed as two separate words ‘cheese’ and ‘cake’, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of going to Starbucks or Pacific Coffee to eat cheesecake. Usage: E.g. A: 唔該,我想要十個blueberry cheeeeese cake. B: 唔好意思,冇咁多個。(Excuse me, may I have ten blueberry cheesecakes? B: I’m sorry, but there aren’t that many.)Synonym: 芝士蛋糕Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/760451/page/1

eat bowl face turn bowl down

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to betraying someone after receiving some offer or advantage from them. (食碗面反碗底) Usage: E.g. I gave you so many benefits and you eat bowl face turn bowl down?!!Synonym: 食碗面反碗底Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn

cheat

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to any sort of dishonest behaviour by men that is unforgivable. Usage: E.g. 所以當我上網見到啲人寫嗰啲咩唔願意共咩苦,唔係我唔肯共患難,唔係我唔同甘共苦喎,而家係……佢cheat喎!(So when I saw some people's comments on the internet saying that we were not willing to share our suffering, it's not that I refused to share the hardships, it's not that I didn't share the joys and sorrows. It's that... he cheated!)Synonym: 欺騙Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60360165/jw剖白被背叛仍硬食拜金標籤真相-痛斥網絡風氣-永遠女仔就係雞?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

chicken and duck talk

Definition: (idiom) Derived from '雞同鴨講', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe two people who are unable to understand each other due to a difference of language or values. In other words, the conversation just seems to go round and round with each person talking over each other. Usage: E.g. I think we will never understand each other because we work in different departments. What a chicken and duck talk!Synonym: 雞同鴨講Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-word-of-the-month-雞同鴨講-chicken-duck-talk/

scout dan

Definition: Originated from the classic riddle '童子軍跳彈床' meaning scout trampoline, this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to express the meaning of 'I don't f***ing care' in informal situations. Usage: E.g. A: What do you want to eat for lunch? B: Scout dan la.Synonym: 是鳩但Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/童子軍跳彈床——是鳩但

kau

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term. Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)Synonym: 溝Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

facial

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to getting a facial treatment. Usage: E.g. 日日做facial塊面先至靚架麻。 E.g. 做緊facial咪鬼打黎啦。Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

saranghae

Definition: Orginated from the Korean phrase 'saranghae' meaning 'I love you', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to wasting someone's f***ing time. Usage: E.g. 我好鍾意睇韓劇,但係有時我覺得D劇情幾saranghae。(I really like watching Korean drama, but sometimes the plot is quite a waste of f***ing time.)Synonym: 嘥撚氣Reference: https://www.edigest.hk/社會熱話/愛你嘥氣?-五個似廣東話的韓文-265/2/
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