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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


128 results found

So far

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the time period up to now without sounding so formal and elegant in social situations. Usage: E.g. So far我覺得呢間餐廳幾好食, 但係service有D差囉。(So far I think the food in this restaurant is quite good, but the service is a little bad.)Synonym: 目前為止, 至今Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3926896/page/1

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)

join

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to refer to the act of becoming a part of a group or party, but sometimes without the responsibility or effort of attending or participating. Usage: E.g. A: 今晚join唔join個after party? B: Join左喇,不過懶得去囉。(Will you join the after party tonight? B: I have joined already, but I'm too lazy to go.)Synonym: 加入,參加Reference: https://www.threads.com/@harpymill/post/DT0laZJDJNR/video-唔好意思係咪太遲join個party尋秦記-豎琴-harp-香港

solicitor

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of lawyer occupation that mostly deals with documents but actually goes to court proceedings at times. Usage: E.g. A: 你係咪做solicitor? 咁咪唔洗上court? B: 都要上court架,少啲咋麻。(A: Are you a solictor? Does that mean you don't need to go to court? B: I need to go to court, but relatively less.)Synonym: 事務律師Reference: https://cph-legal.com/2022/03/how-to-ace-a-job-interview-at-a-law-firm/

urgent

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to demand immediate attention towards a matter without sounding like they are in such a hurry or wanting the other person to hurry the f*** up. Usage: E.g. 呢個係一個urgent既task。B: 明白 (Understood) E.g. 呢個係一個緊急既任務。B: 洗唔洗咁急呀?(Why is there such a hurry?)Synonym: 緊急Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20052634/香港職場中英夾雜用語-內地網民舉30個例子-表示識粵語都無法理解

latte

Definition: Originated from Italian meaning 'milk', this is a code-mixing used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk, which they believe should not be as heavy as other kinds of coffee as the term '拿鐵' denotes, which has the literal meaning of 'carry metal'. Usage: E.g. 唔該,我想要一杯tall size既latte。(Excuse me, may I have a tall sized latte?)Synonym: 拿鐵Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3648151/page/1

office

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers have unconsciously adopted to refer to a workplace because they have used Microsoft Office a bit too much growing up for doing homework and assignments. Usage: E.g. 聽日要返office?唔係打八號風球咩?!(We need to go to office tomorrow? Isn't it gonna be typhoon 8?!)Synonym: 辦公室Reference: https://www.jobmarket.com.hk/m/Bastille/返Shift網民大呻轉返Office工仲辛苦:朝九晚六先係真地獄?

tiramisu

Definition: Often mistakened as a Japanese dessert, this is an Italian code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who are on a diet but cannot resist the temptation of eating desserts such as cheesecakes so they pick tiramisu which contains a lot less fat. Usage: E.g. 不如食埋tiramisu先埋單好嗎?我兒家減緊肥,不過唔算太過分啫?(What about eating a tiramisu before we get the bill? I am going on a diet, but I don’t think this would be too fat to eat?Synonym: 提拉米蘇Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3766385/page/1

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

all day breakfast

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to the breakfast set that is served all day long, but don't actually eat that often except during breakfast hours. Usage: E.g. 食all day breakfast? 唔好喇掛,就黎六點,食返晚餐好過啦。(Eat all day breakfast? I don't think so since it's about 6 o'clock. I think it's better to eat dinner.)Synonym: 全日早餐Reference: https://www.hk01.com/教煮/93368/all-day-breakfast-麵包雞蛋炸薯花款多-一張圖鑒辨清楚
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