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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 701 results

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?

interesting

Definition: A code-mixing filler term used by westernised Hong Kongers when they don't really find the other person's topic is all that interesting in a conversation. Usage: E.g. A: 我平時鍾意寫app,去語言交流免費教人廣東話。B: 哦,interesting, interesting... (A: I like writing apps and going to language exchange to volunteer teaching people Cantonese regularly. B: Oh, interesting, interesting...) E.g. 我見外國人成日都用interesting 黎答人,仲要面無表情,會唔會係根本interesting 係外國一直都只係解: 哦⋯⋯. (I often see foreigners use 'interesting' as a response in a conversation, but without facial expression. Could it be that 'interesting' merely means like 'oh....' from a foreigner's perspective?)Synonym: 很有趣, 哦Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1047783/page/1

nice

Definition: A way to express how nice someone is on the surface. Usage: E.g. 佢個人好nice,但係識耐左先知道原來係虛偽。E.g. 佢個人好nice,不過唔知個人好唔好呢?

easy

Definition: A jubilant, nonchalant way of showing off to your friends. Used together with 'juice' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 哎呀!今次唔洗溫書都實pass啦!Easy汁啦!

bamboo stick

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is a yellow-skinned Asian but speaks English very well. I.e. Yellow on the outside but white on the inside like a bamboo stick. (竹升) Usage: E.g. Please don’t treat me like a bamboo stick! (竹升) I know how to speak Chinese!Synonym: 竹升

drop dog sh*t

Definition: Derived from '落狗屎‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to raining very heavily, which is equivalent of the phrase 'raining cats and dogs' in English. Usage: E.g. Wa! Right now is really drop dog sh*t ah! (哇!兒家真係落狗屎呀!)Synonym: 落狗屎Reference: https://ling-app.com/yue/cantonese-slang-words/

ceremony

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used instead of '典禮'. Usage: E.g. 同學:個ceremony好耐呀,完未架? 同學:你幾時去grad ceremony呀? 你:我黎唔到個ceremony呀。

LV

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the famous French luxury brand ‘Louis Vuitton’. However, the grassroots class Hong Kongers may pronounce it as ‘eh-lo-wee’. Usage: A:你最想買邊隻手袋呀?B:唔洗問緊係LV啦。(A: Which handbag do you want to buy? B: No need to ask. Must be LV.)Synonym: Louis VuittonReference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3065984/page/1

cut

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to hanging up the phone. Usage: E.g. 又cut我電話?咩事呀? E.g. 呢D sales再打黎cut佢線得架喇。Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

well-received

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by grassroots Hong Kongers when they want to express gratitude for something they have received, such as an email with an attachment. However, the working class Hong Kongers realise that this is probably not such a suitable term for them to use so they say 'Noted/Received with thanks'. Usage: E.g. Well-received with thanks. Synonym: 收到Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/35656/電郵技巧|商用電郵|職場英語-10個打工仔常犯的英文email錯誤-please-kindly-well-received-with-thanks-都係錯-內附正確寫法
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