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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 744 results

menu

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the list of dishes available at a restaurant. (餐牌) Usage: E.g. 伙記,唔該比個menu我睇呀。Synonym: 餐牌Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

arts

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to the DIY handicrafts that can be easily made by anyone, even though such crafts do require creativity to be unique enough like the fine arts sometimes. Usage: E.g. A: 請問你地啲手工藝係咪真係幫到人舒緩壓力?你地係咪讀心理學架?B: 吓?我都想。其實我地都係偏向arts架。(A: May I ask whether your handicrafts really help people to relieve their stress? Do you study psychology? B: What? I wish I do. Actually, we lean more towards the arts.)Synonym: 美術, 勞作

take

Definition: A versatile code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use in a variety of situations, depending on the context. However, the recently popular phrase of 'take嘢' can also be roughly translated into a number of different things and not only refer to taking drugs, as the Cantonese word '嘢' has a literal meaning of 'thing'. Usage: E.g. 你諗住take邊科? (Which subject will you take?) E.g. 我要take個sick leave. (I will need to take a sick leave.) E.g. 上堂要記住take notes. (Remember to take notes during lesson.)Synonym: 拿取, 攞, 拎Reference: https://www.threads.com/@the.dialoguer/post/DWT7-WdlIxw?xmt=AQF0JUqJJsoEVSjTxoX99nK5oYLe0PIoT4tb5CseE3XE-w

individual

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe people who are really just minding their own business but not necessarily alone or single. Usage: E.g. 呢間bar啲人點呀?係唔係個個都好individual咁樣呀? (How are the people in this bar? Are they all really just minding their own business?)Synonym: 單獨Reference: https://www.threads.com/@matthew_lam1116/post/DAcSyqdScem?hl=zh-hk

actually

Definition: Often overused by Fake ABCs in Hong Kong for creating a western appeal, especially when they lack English vocabulary. Usage: E.g. Actually,我都要D時間諗下先。我過兩日再覆你。 E.g. 朋友:我地係咪約好左聽日去睇戲呀?你:Actually,我聽日唔得閒。 E.g. Actually,你講既野都有D道理。不過我唔同意。 Synonym: 其實

on call

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that is used by Hong Kongers to mean that they are ready to go to work whenever they get a call from their company. Usage: E.g. 我每星期工作五天。不過我假日都要on call。

Never mind

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to tell someone not to worry about something anymore, even though it may not sound polite to English speakers. Usage: E.g. Never mind啦。我地下次再約。 E.g. Never mind啦。我自己搞得掂。

saranghae

Definition: Orginated from the Korean phrase 'saranghae' meaning 'I love you', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to wasting someone's f***ing time. Usage: E.g. 我好鍾意睇韓劇,但係有時我覺得D劇情幾saranghae。(I really like watching Korean drama, but sometimes the plot is quite a waste of f***ing time.)Synonym: 嘥撚氣Reference: https://www.edigest.hk/社會熱話/愛你嘥氣?-五個似廣東話的韓文-265/2/

kai

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is silly and stupid. ie. An imbecile. Usage: E.g. 唔好成日咁KAI喺到亂咁嗌啦!你係低能定係白痴架?! E.g. Don't be so kai yelling all the time! Are you low b or an idiot?

gay

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who has an interest in the same gender without making it sound so clear and explicit in case someone is eavesdropping. At other times, it can be used to describe something as awkward such as a plot in a story or film. Usage: E.g. A: 我想問你一個問題:你係咪gay架? B: 唔好喇掛,我唔想搞gay。 (A: I want to ask you a question: Are you gay? B: No thanks, I don't want to be gay.) E.g. A: 今次套電影好睇嗎?B: 我覺得啲劇情好gay囉。(A: Do you like the movie this time? B: I think the story is really gay.)Synonym: 同性戀, 搞gayReference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1088/
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