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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 701 results

number

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a telephone number. Usage: E.g. 香港人:可唔可以交換number呀?內地人:咩number呀?香港人:緊係電話number啦。Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

r

Definition: Often pronounced as ‘ah-lo’, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the letter ‘r’. Even though some Hong Kongers are aware of the prestigious ‘r’ that is pronounced rhotically, most of them choose not to say it in social situations because it sounds too pretentious like a fake American born Chinese. Usage: E.g. 去日本旅行要搭JR。(Going on vacation in Japan needs taking the J Ah-lo.) E.g. 請問MTR喺邊到? (May I ask where is the M-tee-ah-lo?)Synonym: Ah-lo

game

Definition: A code-mixing term that often refers to a computer/video game. Usage: E.g. 你最鍾意玩邊隻game呀?Synonym: 遊戲

jetso

Definition: This is an Englishised term of the Cantonese words '著數', which refers to advantages that one can offer. Usage: E.g. 如果我幫你,你會比我D咩jetso先?Synonym: 著數Reference: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038083/what-exactly-jetso

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

double check

Definition: A nicer-sounding phrase than '重複檢查' or '檢查兩次', which means to check again or check two times. Usage: E.g. 每次考試時記住double check份卷。

build chicken shed

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak. Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!Synonym: 搭雞棚Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam

foodie

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers that refers to a person who loves food and likes to try different kinds of food. However, it is often used as a term similar to the level of a gourmet even though the person may not be a food expert. Usage: E.g. 而家啲ig foodie以為自己真係食評家。(Nowadays the foodies on IG really think they are real gourmets.)Synonym: 美食愛好者Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2093295/page/1

post

Definition: A more informal and linguistically efficient way of saying the Cantonese equivalent term '上傳'. Often pronounced as 'po' instead of 'post'. Usage: E.g. 喂,你今次po張相好鬼靚喎。

camel

Definition: Pronounced as 'cam-mell' and criticised as Fake ABC English, this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice man to refer to the animal 'camel'. Usage: E.g. 其實我自己好鍾意cam-mell色既,真係好似D駱駝色既,有少少泥色既。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
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