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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

gag

Definition: Often used as '搞爛gag', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a lame joke or broken joke. Usage: E.g. 你唔好成日喺到搞爛gag啦!一D都唔好笑!Reference: https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/爛Gag

Let's say

Definition: A way to avoid sounding too imaginative when you want to suggest things that are impossible to happen. Usage: E.g. Let’s say你有日比人老粒左,你會點呢? E.g. Let’s say你考試肥佬左,你會點面對你家人? E.g. Let's say你比人打獲金,你會唔會還拖?

update

Definition: (adj.) Often pronounced as 'up-day', this is a code-mixing term used to describe someone or something as being very trendy or up-to-date. However, it is also sometimes used as a verb like in native English. Usage: E.g. 你部手機好update喎。(adj.) E.g. Update左個software未呀?(verb)Synonym: 潮; 更新Reference: https://www.inmediahk.net/中英夾雜

OT

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to working overtime. Sometimes, it is used as '冬OT' (winter OT), which means 'don't OT'. Usage: E.g. A:死喇,咁多野做。唔知今晚要OT到幾時呢?B:冬OT!Synonym: 加班Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

no need to ask Ah Gui

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something that is so obvious that there is no need to ask anyone about it, especially after finding out the wrong of somebody. 'Ah Gui' is a name that originated from an infamous official (李世桂) in the Qing Dynasty. Usage: E.g. It must be him who let out the secrets! No need to ask Ah Gui!Synonym: 唔洗問阿貴Reference: https://www.kamadelivery.com/blog/posts/香港10大俗語-地道文化背景大解構/

chaam

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term used to describe how poor (慘) someone is. Usage: E.g. I cried coz I am very chaam. E.g. 今次考試肥左真係好chaam。 E.g. 做到扒左喺到咁真係chaamchaam豬。Synonym: 慘Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/3056055/【港式英文】嫌米綫店「updup」及食客「wuddud」%20%20%20%20港女IG發文形容好「Chaam」

ho sick

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy. Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.Synonym: 好食Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA

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

check in

Definition: An ultra convenient code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to registering your arrival at a place like a hotel or airport, as the Cantonese equivalent '辦理入住手續' sounds too long and verbose. Usage: E.g. 快D check in左先啦,至後再慢慢搵野食。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

shopping

Definition: A chic-sounding code-mixing term used in Hong Kong Cantonese that shows the speaker's education background and western appeal. Usage: E.g. 唔好意思,我週末要去shopping。唔得閒應酬你。 E.g. 做人唔shop下ping邊得呀?Synonym: 購物Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/hongkonglinguistics/Downhome/language-contact-in-hong-kong/cantonese-englishintra-sententialcode-switchinginhongkong
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