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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


61 results found

war game

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a simulated military battle game where air guns are used. It is more appropriate to use than the Cantonese equivalent ‘野戰‘ because fighting a wild battle has sexual connotations in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 男:不如一齊打war game好嗎? 女:好呀 (Boy: What about playing war game together? Girl: Sure!) E.g. 男:不如一齊打野戰好嗎?女:*啪!* (Boy: What about fighting a wild battle together? Girl: *Slap!*Synonym: 野戰Reference: https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/lin/cbrc/cbcl/doc/ppt/david_li.pdf

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

open

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to being open-minded about sex, which is extremely appropriate to use to describe someone due to its hidden sexual connotations. Usage: E.g. 外表斯文,內裡open。(He/she is gentle on the outside, open on the inside.)Synonym: 豪放Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100063467924977/posts/粵式市井順口溜-文-李系德以前看香港電視處境喜劇愛回家之開心速遞有一集談到不少古老當時興的粵式市井俗語因帶有壓韻也可歸類為順口溜這些隨口噏當秘笈的俏皮話雖然老土/1263445272447725/

timing

Definition: Often said with a rising intonation on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Konger badminton coaches like to use to refer to the exact point in time of something because the Cantonese equivalent ‘時機’ somehow sounds less accurate. Usage: E.g. 描準個ball,睇好個timing打落去,咁先得架嘛。(Aim at the ball, watch for the right timing and hit it. You got it?)Synonym: 時機
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who refuses to concede despite knowing that they made the mistake in the first place. '死雞撐飯蓋' can also be shortened to '死撐' sometimes. Usage: E.g. You know you've done wrong! Stop being like a dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid!Synonym: 死雞撐飯蓋Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

locker

Definition: Pronounced with a rising intonation on the second syllable and with a non-rhotic 'r' sound at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a small lockable compartment used in a gym or school. As for the reason why the Cantonese equivalent '儲物櫃' is not used, it could be that it makes it sound like it is made in China. Usage: E.g. Locker好似好少人會講儲物櫃咁。Synonym: 儲物櫃Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/2169173/網民嚴選-10-個用英文多過中文表達的生字-網民-同朕-check-下

show off

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use instead of '炫耀', which sounds too formal to be used in conversation.  Also used as 'show qualie' sometimes. Usage: E.g. 唔好成日係到show off啦。知道你勁喇。E.g. 成日講野都夾雜英文。你喺到show qualie呀?

judgment

Definition: Often associated with negative connotations, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to show their ability to form valuable opinions after thorough thought, like a lawyer in a court case. Usage: E.g. 第一次認識人唔好咁快pass judgment啦!(Don't pass judgment so quickly upon knowing a person for the first time!) E.g. 我希望你會接受我既judgment。(I hope you will accept my judgment.)Synonym: 判斷Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1787326/page/1

list out

Definition: Often mistakened as grammatically incorrect and seen as redundant with ‘out’ conforming to ‘列出‘ in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to jotting down a number of items on a piece of paper or device. Usage: E.g. 你可以先list out所有項目,然後研究每一個點樣做。(You may first list out all the items, then study how each one can be done.)Synonym: 列出Reference: https://ludwig.guru/s/list+out

check in

Definition: An ultra convenient code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to registering your arrival at a place like a hotel or airport, as the Cantonese equivalent '辦理入住手續' sounds too long and verbose. Usage: E.g. 快D check in左先啦,至後再慢慢搵野食。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf