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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

chi sin

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is crazy, or a situation that is outrageous or unbelievable. (痴線 - ci1 sin3) Literal meaning: To have your electrical wires touching. Ie. Short circuit in the brain.

Usage: E.g. Chi sin! You used all your money to gamble?! E.g. Chi sin! The restaurant gave me the wrong bill! E.g. Chi sin! You won the lottery?!!

Synonym: 痴線

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

insight

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to ask for a deeper analytical understanding of something.

Usage: E.g. 你睇完本書有咩insight? (What insights do you have after reading the book?)

Synonym: 見解; 睇法

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/202301935/202301935_1.pdf

charge

Definition: 1. A code-mixing term that refers to a payment for goods or services. 2. Often pronounced as '差廚' (caa1 cyu4), this is a code-mixing term that is used by Hong Kongers to refer to being charged for a crime.

Usage: E.g. 呢間餐廳有冇minimum charge? E.g. 今次冇落charge?!真幸運!

water

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to money and lots of different things.

Usage: E.g. Blow water. (吹水 - to chat casually or brag about something) E.g. Measure water. (磅水 - to give money) E.g. Return water. (回水 - to return money) E.g. Clear water. (通水 - to give secret info like a test) E.g. Draw water. (抽水 - to get profit or benefit for free) E.g. One lump of water. (一舊水 - one hundred dollars) E.g. What water? (乜水 - who the heck are you?)

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/679575/%E5%BB%A3%E6%9D%B1%E8%A9%B1%E8%80%83%E8%B5%B7%E4%BD%A0%E3%80%80%E3%80%8C%E6%B0%B4%E3%80%8D%E5%AD%97%E6%9C%89%E5%B9%BE%E5%A4%9A%E7%A8%AE%E6%84%8F%E6%80%9D%EF%BC%9F

close

Definition: A more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ (intimate).

Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架?E.g. 你有幾多個close friend?

Synonym: 親密

Sor

Definition: Often added with a ‘lor’ (囉) denoting a tone of reluctance, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to say sorry or apologize to someone.

Usage: E.g. A: 喂,你踩到我隻腳喎!B:SOR囉。(A: Hey, you stepped on my foot! B: SOR LOR.)

Synonym: 對唔住,sorry

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DScomA6EVMW/?img_index=1&igsh=MWNwaWNrd2tkM3JtYg== (use mobile version)

fade out

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to withdrawing from a relationship gradually. However, it can also be comparable to 'ghosting' if the withdrawal is sudden enough.

Usage: E.g. 可以點樣fade out想追我既人 (How can I fade out from someone who is chasing me?)

Synonym: 淡出

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2975441/page/1

my favit

Definition: A more linguistically efficient code-mixing term that refers to 'my favourite' in English. Originated from Hong Kong actor Ron Ng (吳卓羲).

Usage: E.g. 呢到既牛腩河係至正架!簡直係my favit!E.g. 吳卓羲:「Tailin, 賣飛佛(泰林,我的最愛)」

Synonym: 賣飛佛; 我的最愛

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/賣飛佛

flower bridge corn taxi

Definition: (vulgar, offensive) An Englishised code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to get their Asian parents to say in order to show others it is amusing. However, some Hong Kongers may not find it is that funny because the pronunciation of the Cantonese equivalent words '花橋粟米的士' only roughly resembles 'f*** you suck my d*ck', which means it is kind of a broken joke.

Usage: E.g. Mommy, point to the camera and say 'flower bridge corn taxi'!

Synonym: 花橋粟米的士

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DQ214-EgFps/ (use mobile version)

miss

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to having missed something, such as a bus or a deadline.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀,我miss左最後班車喇!\nE.g. 唔知miss左deadline會點呢?

Synonym: 錯過左

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