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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 701 results

mai daan

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask the waiter to get the bill. Usage: E.g. Mai daan, mm goi! (埋單, 唔該!)Synonym: 埋單Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

prefer

Definition: A code-mixing term by native Hong Kongers to avoid saying the word 'like' in order to sound more professional in formal situations, or to avoid sounding biased when you like one item more than another. Usage: E.g. 你prefer今星期邊一日interview呀? E.g. 你prefer幾點睇戲呀? E.g. 我prefer佢個idea多D。Synonym: 比較喜歡

proud of

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they want to show how pleased they are towards someone’s achievements, but want to sound less show-off or exaggerated about their feeling. Usage: E.g. 你考試咁高分,我好proud of你呀。(You scored so high in the exam. I am so proud of you.)Synonym: 驕傲,自豪Reference: https://www.threads.com/@grace_interest_english/post/DDthgzMyHsU

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

discuss

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to talk about a topic with someone or a group of people and have them share their ideas and opinions. Usage: E.g. 不如一齊discuss吓個project點樣做? E.g. 我地discuss吓個問題,然後再結論。可以嗎?Synonym: 討論

contribute

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to giving or providing something, in order to help achieve a goal. Usage: E.g. 麻煩大家contribute一吓個discussion。Synonym: 貢獻Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

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

lunch

Definition: A fashionable code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a meal served at noontime where they can be more casual, carefree and relaxed than in an environment created by the Cantonese equivalent ’午餐‘. Usage: E.g. 你仲做野?快啲食lunch先啦!(You are still working? Let’s eat lunch first!)Synonym: 午餐Reference: https://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/workshop/Chinese/Cantonese/CantoneseExpress/characteristics/p2.aspx

sik farn

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘食飯’, which means eat rice. Usage: E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食左飯未呀?) E.g. Hor yee sik farn la. (可以食飯喇)Synonym: 食飯Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

this this rice

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a popular dish known as two dish rice, which originates from pointing one's finger to dishes when choosing dishes to eat at a two dish rice restaurant. Usage: E.g. Excuse me, I want this, this, this...Synonym: 兩餸飯, two dish riceReference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/topic/detail/20091475/dse-英文口試驚現-兩餸飯-考起學生-考評局正解非this-this-rice/3
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