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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

eat bowl face turn bowl down

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to betraying someone after receiving some offer or advantage from them. (食碗面反碗底)

Usage: E.g. I gave you so many benefits and you eat bowl face turn bowl down?!!

Synonym: 食碗面反碗底

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn

narm sun

Definition: (textspeak) Derived from '男神' meaning 'male god', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a super attractive man who females can fantasize about.

Usage: E.g. Ngo geen dou narm sun dem gun beat, ho lun ying cls. (我見到男神Dem緊Beat,好L型痴L線。)

Synonym: 男神

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

cheap

Definition: (adj.) A euphemistic way of saying 'cheap' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 喂,你唔洗咁cheap嘛? E.g. 你正cheap精黎架! E.g. Cheap到咁樣,我真係第一次見。

Synonym: 低俗

out cat

Definition: Said to have originated from 'copycat' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who cheats or copies other people's answers in an exam. (出貓)

Usage: E.g. Don't dare to bring out the cat in an exam! (唔好咁大擔考試出貓!)

Synonym: 出貓

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3181508/cat-got-your-tongue-feline-inspired-cantonese-slang-all-kinds

solicitor

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of lawyer occupation that mostly deals with documents but actually goes to court proceedings at times.

Usage: E.g. A: 你係咪做solicitor? 咁咪唔洗上court? B: 都要上court架,少啲咋麻。(A: Are you a solictor? Does that mean you don't need to go to court? B: I need to go to court, but relatively less.)

Synonym: 事務律師

Reference: https://cph-legal.com/2022/03/how-to-ace-a-job-interview-at-a-law-firm/

site visit

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a physical inspection of a site in order to discuss the scope of work with contractors and foresee any potential problems.

Usage: E.g. 進行project之前要做好site visit,以便理解好成個scope。

Synonym: 實地考察

doot

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to scold someone when they are prohibited from swearing in school. At other times, it is used as an onomatopoeia of the beeping sound of Octopus card readers in Hong Kong train service.

Usage: E.g. Doot你咩?!搞污糟我件校服!(F*** you?! You ruined my school uniform!) E.g. 好多人撘地鐵呀。快啲攞張八達通出黎doot部機入閘啦。(So many people taking the train. Take out your Octopus card quickly to doot the machine and enter the gate.)

Synonym: F***, d*u, 嘟

Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/v/114049/doot

chop

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a company stamp. (公司蓋章)

Usage: E.g. 可唔可以借個chop黎用吓?

Synonym: 公司蓋章

Reference: https://paper.hket.com/article/190909/行政人員英語詞窮%20見客口啞

clarify

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to make something clear or to seek clarification from another person.

Usage: E.g. 我想clarify一吓呢個task係做咩。(I want to clarify what is to be done in this task.) E.g. 我想clarify一吓,係唔係九點開會?(Just to clarify, are we having a meeting at 9 o'clock?)

Synonym: 澄清; 釐清; 講清楚; 問清楚

Reference: https://hk.amazingtalker.com/questions/7500

mm ho yi si

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to apologise politely for something.

Usage: E.g. *Holding up a queue* Mm ho yi si. E.g. *Butts into a conversation* Mm ho yi si. Where is the MTR?

Synonym: 唔好意思

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

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