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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


101 results found

refer

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to recommend a candidate for a vacant position. Usage: E.g. 如果你識到朋友做呢行,可以refer佢比我地嗎?Synonym: 推薦, 介紹Reference: https://goop.ai/topic/2r3f/尋英文補習教學partner

load

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to putting information into a computer. (載入) Usage: E.g. 點解個website load咁耐都load唔到架?Load得咁慢真係GG喇。Synonym: 載入

gen

Definition: Derived from ‘generate’, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to generating report using a computer. Usage: E.g. 幾時gen到份report?Synonym: 生成Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/topic/detail/20052582/香港職場30個中英夾雜用語-內地網民-自己會粵語也聽不懂/1

attachment

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the computer file that is sent along with an email message. Usage: E.g. 我搵唔到你個email既attachment。可以再send多次嗎?Synonym: 附件Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/topic/detail/20052582/香港職場30個中英夾雜用語-內地網民-自己會粵語也聽不懂/1

potential

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to display your level of knowledge, as if you come from higher education background. Usage: E.g. 老闆:我覺得呢個idea好有potential。快D走去落實啦。 E.g. 我覺得你個人好有potential。不過就寸左D。

Eat Cha SIU

Definition: This is a Cantonese slang that refers to a situation where a player has a clear opportunity to score a point. The slangs origin comes from a volleyball game where a sports announcer said "Cha SIU" instead of the word "chance". Although the word came from a volleyball game initially, it's more widely used in badminton games. Usage: That was a total set up for a smash, total Cha SIU! Synonym: 食叉燒Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-生舊叉燒好過生你-better-to-give-birth-to-char-siu-than-you/#:~:text=Sik6%20caa1%20siu,back%20into%20its%20own%20court.

Sei fo

Definition: (Kongish) When something goes completely wrong. Or doesn't work out (fail, flop) Usage: Sei fo! We didn't prepare for the presentation today. It was a total flop!Synonym: 死火

take care

Definition: An a lot more gentle and caring way of telling someone to take care of themselves compared to the Cantonese equivalent. Explanation: 你自己照顧自己—>以後你自己搞掂喇—>你自己食自己—>慘慘豬(@V@) Usage: E.g. 媽咪要去旅行喇。你自己take care喇。 E.g. 以後take care喇。Sayorara.

wun gut

Definition: Derived from 'gut' (吉) meaning nothingness or tangerines, this is a romanised code-mixing slang phrase used to describe someone is messing about and wasting time, which purportedly comes from people in the past going into Hong Kong stores just to drink the bowl of soup called 'gut' soup (吉湯) without spending money on the food at all. 'wun' can mean to mix (混) or to transport (運). Usage: Auntie: Stop tasting my fruits here and there! Are you wun gut?Synonym: 運吉, 混吉Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

plan

Definition: A more positive-sounding code-mixing term compared to the same item (計劃) in Cantonese.  Often pronounced as 'pan'. Usage: E.g. 做D咩都要plan定先得架麻。 E.g. 做D咩都要計劃好先得架麻。(you may sound like a schemer in this one! XD)Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf
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