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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

wat gei

Definition: Known as Kongish and having the literal meaning of 'bend machine', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having overly powerful ability to do something. Usage: E.g. You must be wat gei in this game because you practice all the time!Synonym: 屈機Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-cantonese-slang-internet

I mean

Definition: A tag-switching phrase often used by Native Hong Kongers for clarifying on matters. However, it can sometimes be overused by Fake ABC's to strike a western impression on others. Usage: E.g. 份project未搞掂呀。I mean,我岩岩做完要check吓先。 E.g. 港女:你應該食少D野。I mean,你應該減吓肥至岩。 E.g. 香港人:你講咩話?偽ABC:I mean,well... I mean,我覺得你身材唔係好fit囉I mean。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

hygiene

Definition: A code-mixing term that a "Jayden Mami" likes to use to refer more specifically to a person's habit in keeping clean, rather than the broader sense of cleanliness and sanitary conditions that the Cantonese equivalent term "衛生" denotes. Usage: E.g. Jayden,你攞人啲嘢食之前有冇做好hygiene呀?(Jayden, did you have good hygiene before grabbing somebody else's food?)Synonym: 衛生Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/4112744/Jayden之亂|KOL拍片諷刺「Jayden媽」偽ABC育兒法%E3%80%80揭爆紅現象時間線-港媽式教仔金句

That's why

Definition: Often repeated after '所以' (so) in Cantonese, this is to reinforce what this speaker is trying to explain, especially in a work situation. Usage: E.g. 程序上有好多野要double confirm,所以that's why個project到兒家仲未出街。

chicken and duck talk

Definition: (idiom) Derived from '雞同鴨講', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe two people who are unable to understand each other due to a difference of language or values. In other words, the conversation just seems to go round and round with each person talking over each other. Usage: E.g. I think we will never understand each other because we work in different departments. What a chicken and duck talk!Synonym: 雞同鴨講Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-word-of-the-month-雞同鴨講-chicken-duck-talk/

Victoria girl

Definition: Derived from Victoria Harbour and upgraded from 'Kong girl', this is a code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to describe a Hong Kong girl who is arrogant, sharp-tongued and overly self-important, like having "blue-blood" princess-like attitude. When compared with the 'Kong girl', the only real difference seems to be that the girl is proud of being called a 'Victoria girl' rather than a 'Kong girl' because the former sounds more elegant and posh while the latter sounds more of a deragatory term. Usage: E.g. I can't believe I went from being an egg tart girl in housing estates to Rosewood hotel-level. I am now a Victoria girl and I'm proud of it.Synonym: 維多利亞妹, 維妹Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUn44TmjESh/?img_index=4&igsh=YWluejFiZm1rdHdp (use mobile version)

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?Synonym: 即係

in

Definition: (adj.) A code-mixing term used to describe someone or something as being very trendy. Usage: E.g. 哇,你今日著得好IN呀。 E.g. 聽返D流行音樂,咁先夠IN架嘛。 E.g. 做後生仔要夠IN先得架嘛。Synonym: 潮

Dim gaai

Definition: (Jyutping) Ask for the reason of things happened Usage: Dim gaai zeoi gan sing jat lok jyu? (點解最近成日落雨?) - Why it always rain recently?Synonym: 點解, Why, 為什麼

work

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to emphasize the reality of a situation, as even lovers have a working relationship sometimes. In other cases such as a workplace, it is simply to match the working atmosphere. Usage: E.g. 你:我地之間唔係好work呀,你明唔明呀?男/女朋友:明白。(你:我地之間唔係好得呀,你明唔明呀?男/女朋友:你講緊邊方面唔得呀?!) E.g. 你:個program唔work呀。老細:哦。(你:個program唔得呀。老細:又唔得!)
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