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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary
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10 random words out of 622 results

low pay leave

Definition: A code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers to refer to “no pay leave” or non-paid leave. Usage: E.g. 請唔到病假咪請low pay leave囉! （no pay leave)Synonym: 無薪假期
2024-11-01

m

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to 'menstruation' in English.  However, it is also used as 'M記' to refer to McDonald\'s. Usage: E.g. 唔好話我聽兒家先黎M麻？ E.g. 今次真係M到阿媽都唔認得喇！E.g. 今日又食M記？唔好喇掛！
2023-03-02

sorry

Definition: A more effortless way of apologising to someone without sounding so formal and serious. Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'sor-li'. Usage: E.g. Sorry呀，踩親你。 E.g. Sorry呀，我遲到左。 E.g.你：對唔住！係我抵死，係我唔岩！朋友：唔洗咁隆重。你:SORRY囉。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers
2020-12-26

follow

Definition: A classic code-mixing term often used with the word 'case' to get someone to follow up on something in a professional manner.  However, it is now often associated with the 'follow' used in social media. Usage: E.g. 唔該同我follow吓個case呀。 E.g. 呢個case follow成點呀？ E.g. 快D follow我個IG啦！Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk
2023-03-01

seung sik

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kong students use to refer to common sense or knowledge. Usage: E.g. End sem jip lib is seung sik okay? (完Sem摺拉是常識 Okay？)Synonym: 常識Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多
2025-01-05

claim

Definition: This is a code-mixing term used to refer to claiming money.  However, it is often pronounced as 'kam' by grassroot class Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. 請問讀完個course有冇得kam返d錢架？ E.g. 請問ｄ飯錢可唔可以問返公司kam架？Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch
2023-03-01

point

Definition: A more polite way to refer to a person's standpoint, as the Cantonese equivalent term '點', meaning a dot, can refer to a woman's breast. Usage: E.g. 男人：喂，我真係好唔明你個point喎！女人：唔緊要。我慢慢解釋比你聽。 E.g. 男人：喂，我真係好唔明你個點喎！女人：你話我邊點呀？唔好性騷擾喎！Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca
2023-03-01

mm goi

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say 'please', 'excuse me' or 'thank you', depending on the situation. (唔該) Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (To call the waiter at a restaurant) E.g. Mm goi jeh jeh (Excuse me, please let me through) E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you very much!) E.g. Set A lunch, mm goi. (Set A lunch, please) E.g. Mm goi, where is the MTR? (May I ask where is the MTR?)Synonym: 唔該Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520%E2%80%9Chou%2520ging,jeng%E2%80%9D%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.
2024-04-22

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
2024-04-21

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
2025-12-15
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