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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

mm sick teng

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use when they don't understand what someone is saying in Cantonese. Usage: Hong Konger: 你叫咩名? Expat: Mm sick teng.Synonym: 唔識聽Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html

mood

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person's emotional state that can be driven by an atmosphere or a person. Usage: E.g. 女朋友講完句野搞到我無晒mood (My girlfriend said something which made me lose my mood.)Synonym: 心情Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/294607/page/3

firm

Definition: A shortened term of the word 'confirm' in English, used to maximise communicative efficiency and to get the listener to confirm ASAP. Usage: E.g. 下個月個party既日期firm左未呀? E.g. 你下次個appointment firm左未呀? E.g. Firm左未呀?快D啦。

close

Definition: A more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ (intimate). Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架?E.g. 你有幾多個close friend?Synonym: 親密

friendly

Definition: Sometimes used with a negation particle such as '唔' meaning 'not' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something as not very kind and pleasant in a less direct and personal way, even though the word is usually used to describe a person. Usage: E.g. 你講得岩。香港揸車唔係咁friendly。(You are right. Driving in Hong Kong isn't very friendly.)Synonym: 友善

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」

say no

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to express rejection politely without sounding so blunt. Usage: E.g. 我發現幾多人返工唔識Say No。(I found out there are many people who don't know how to say no at work.) E.g. 唔好意思,我要揸車,所以要對酒精say no。(Sorry, I need to drive so I have to say no to drinking.)Synonym: 講唔好Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3268602/page/1

main course

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the stage of a meal where the main dish is served. As to why ‘course’ is more often used than ‘dish’ compared to the Cantonese phrase ‘主菜‘, it may be to do with the upper class etiquette that the stage of a meal is more important than the dish itself. Usage: E.g. 食semi-buffet質素好過buffet, 起碼個main course係入得落口 (The quality of eating semi-buffet is higher than buffet, at least the main course is decent.)Synonym: 主菜Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3120803/page/3

ma ma dei

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used to describe something, a person, or state as being so-so, or just okay in quality. Usage: E.g. A: How was the event? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: How are you today? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: What do you think of this shirt? B: I think it's ma ma dei.Synonym: 麻麻地Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases

fai di

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to tell someone to hurry up. The particle 'la' is often added for emphasis. Usage: Fai di la! The bus is here!Synonym: 快D啦Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html
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