Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Downloads | Lectures | Videos |
Instagram Instagram
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 706 results

No worries

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show their friendliness or generosity. Usage: E.g. No worries。今餐我比住先啦。 E.g. No worries。我幫你搞掂左喇。

like

Definition: A code-mixing filler term that real ABC's in Hong Kong love to use in all kinds of situations. Usage: E.g. 係呀,我男朋友對我幾好架,like...成日買衫比我啦,同我出街啦,like...總知好到形容唔到啦。 E.g. 外國生活幾好架,like...我成日可以踩單車啦,去shopping mall買野啦,like...總知好到數唔哂啦。 E.g. 係呀。It's like... It's like... you know? 你知我想講咩架?

bro

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show how easygoing they can be. Usage: E.g. Hey bro!不如一齊食飯啦? E.g. Hey bro!放工一齊打波呀?

sauce

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to use to refer to anything that looks like a sauce. Usage: E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係醋!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's vinegar!) E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係豉油!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's see-yau!)Synonym: 醬Reference: https://auntieemily.com/soy-sauce-chow-mein/

dude

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'. Usage: E.g. Dude,你係到搞D咩呀? E.g. Dude,你好還錢喇喎? E.g. Dude,你以為你自己好型呀?Synonym: 大佬

Return water (wui shui)

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction. Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui. Synonym: 回水

so

Definition: A shortened term for the word 'socialise' in English, which may mean different things in various situations. Usage: E.g. 喂,你so吓人好喎?(to show that you care about others) E.g. 喂,唔好成日掛住soD女仔啦。(to court somebody) E.g. 喂,後生仔要出黎soso吓先得架嘛。(to socialise) E.g. 喂,你最近好似唔係好so-so喎。(being social)

August 15

Definition: It is a slang used in casual, humorous contexts to describe the buttocks, often linked to the roundness of the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Usage: My first skateboard experience is i fell on my august 15th as soon as I stood on the board! Synonym: 八月十五Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/32249/

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

nine not following eight

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to giving irrelevant responses to questions. Usage: E.g. A:你去邊? B:我知道。A:Nine not following eight!Synonym: 九唔搭八Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-nine-not-following-eight/
Define Your Term | Learn More