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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


739 results found

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where there is a scene or fight going on between people, and you are just excited to watch what will happen as a bystander. '食住花生等睇戲' can be shortened to '食花生' sometimes. Usage: E.g. I have never seen people argue like this over Whatsapp! Let's eat peanuts while waiting to watch a film!Synonym: 食住花生等睇戲Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms
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

binder

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '大文件夾' to refer to a large-sized folder for keeping documents. Usage: E.g. 如果folder唔夠大,搵個binder再放哂D文件入去。Synonym: 大文件夾

winter melon tofu

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe any unfortunate event such as an accident. Usage: E.g. If I have any winter melon tofu, I will sue your company!!!Synonym: 冬瓜豆腐Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/39119/

discipline

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong parents when they want to train their kids to be more well-behaved and organised without sounding so harsh and verbose. Usage: E.g. 你今次考試考到咁低分。以後要discipline啲去溫書,知唔知?!(You got such a low mark in the exam this time. From now on, you should have more discipline to study, understand?)Synonym: 有紀律

shopping

Definition: A more neutral-sounding term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to '購物' or '買野', which signify the commitment to buying things. Usage: E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去商場啦。男朋友:吓?又買野?!女朋友:唔係呀。去shopping咋嘛。 E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去shopping啦。男朋友:又買野?!女朋友:去window shopping咋嘛。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/1177618/Cantonese_English_code_switching_research_in_Hong_Kong_A_survey_of_recent_research

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

In general

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use when they want to express their well-educated guess or opinion on a subject matter without sounding so formal and bookish. Usage: E.g. 呢個program我覺得in general係幾學到野。(I think I can really learn from this program in general.)Synonym: 一般而言Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3990504/page/1

Jayden Mami

Definition: A code-mixing term created by Hong Kong KOL Matthew (matthewpwj_) and Janice (janicewanwan) to refer a typical Hong Kong mother whose teaching style towards children often includes many English words mixed into their Cantonese dialogue. Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,如果你兒家唔食野,下次Mami就唔帶你黎呢D restaurant,去返樓下茶餐廳食算喇。(Jayden, if you don't eat, Mami will not bring you to this kind of restaurant again, we will go back to the Cha Chan Teng downstairs next time.) E.g. Elaine,你係咪講粗口呀,Mami好shocked呀。你平時唔係咁架喎,你係邊度學壞呀? (Elaine, did you swear? Mami is so shocked. You were never like this before. Where did you learn this? E.g. Esmond,陣間uncle auntie黎記住嗌人呀。大聲D呀。(Esmond, when Uncle and Auntie arrives, remember to address them. Loudly.)Synonym: Jayden阿媽Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWqgOP1Dyfq/ (use mobile version)

Mommy told you

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong KOL Janice (janicewanwan) who is known for playing "Jayden’s mother" to emphasize the correctness of her teachings as a typical modern mom, which she says must be correct. Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜有助 children 盡快 pick up English。Mommy told you 嘅一定是 correct 的. (Chinese-English code-mixing aids children in picking up English more quickly. Whatever Mommy told you must be correct.)Synonym: 媽媽告訴你Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60339385/jayden之亂-中英夾雜潮文橫掃社交平台-諷刺港媽真實育兒方式?utm_campaign=native&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01webshare#google_vignette
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