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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

gas

Definition: Often used as '嘥gas', this is a code-mixing term that is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to wasting one's efforts. Usage: E.g. 你唔洗嘥gas,佢唔會聽你講。Synonym: 嘥gas,白費功夫Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0x5-SyI4o

tea

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong people love to use to refer to afternoon tea '下午茶'. Usage: E.g. 今日有冇時間食個tea呀? E.g. 週末不如一齊去high tea好嗎?Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

O mouth

Definition: Derived from 'O嘴', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to feeling surprised and astonished to the point where your mouth literally opens in an O shape. Usage: E.g. I was O mouth to see the football match turned around! (今次場波反敗為勝,真睇到我O哂嘴。)Synonym: O嘴Reference: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/features/article/3096419/learn-cantonese-slang-many-faces-hongkongers

kam

Definition: Pronounced as the fifth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something or someone that is strange or embarrassing. Usage: E.g. 下次唔好入錯課室咁kam喇。 E.g. 佢份人真係好kam!Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/culture/3230860/香港潮語2023香港40個最新潮語結集-壞過婉婷升級版係咩啱呀唔係附和你

goldfish man

Definition: Known as Kongish and originated from a story where a man used to lure children by promising to buy them goldfish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a paedophile. (金魚佬) Usage: E.g. Stop buying me chocolate and lure me like a goldish man!Synonym: 金魚佬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

cheers

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers when they celebrate an occasion with a drink, such as beer, wine or soft drinks. Usage: E.g. 大家一齊飲杯啦!Cheers! (Let's make a toast. Cheers!)Synonym: 乾杯, 飲杯, 飲勝Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/飲杯

appreciate

Definition: A posh way of saying that you admire someone's work or effort, in order to show your high social status or higher education background. Usage: E.g. 我好appreciate你個idea. Well done. E.g. 我好appreciate你做既野。不過,你都唔可以迫我accept你個apology。Synonym: 欣賞

That's why

Definition: Often repeated after '所以' (so) in Cantonese, this is to reinforce what this speaker is trying to explain, especially in a work situation. Usage: E.g. 程序上有好多野要double confirm,所以that's why個project到兒家仲未出街。

note

Definition: Often added with a 屎 (faeces), this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers use to refer to short pieces of information written down on paper. Usage: E.g. 阿仔,上堂記住drop低D note屎呀!Synonym: 筆記Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

warm up

Definition: A code-mixing term that can also be used to refer to a non-human object. Usage: E.g. 咁快開波?等我warm up吓先。 E.g. 同事A:喂,部機咁慢既? 同事B:部機要warm up吓先得架。
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