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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

sauce

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to use to refer to anything that looks like a sauce. Usage: E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係醋!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's vinegar!) E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係豉油!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's see-yau!)Synonym: 醬Reference: https://auntieemily.com/soy-sauce-chow-mein/

can

Definition: (noun) Pronounced with the sixth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to canteen in a highly efficient manner. Usage: E.g. 淨係食過bu同city既can。(I have only eaten Baptist University's and City University's canteen.)Synonym: canteen, 食堂Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/404559/page/2

G

Definition: Originated from ‘gg’ meaning ‘game over' and often transliterated as the loan word ‘豬‘ meaning pig, this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to describe situations where they have lost or think they already lost. Even though ‘豬‘ has a similar sound as 'g', this is not to be mistaken as a mispronunication as a pig represents stupidity in Cantonese and fits the context and meaning entirely. Also said to have originated from Taiwanese. Usage: E.g. 今次對手咁勁,真係豬喇喎。(Our opponents are so powerful this time, it's really game over.) E.g. 今次考試豬左。(My exam results is game over.)Synonym: 豬, 完了,GGReference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3388417/page/1

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。Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

exposure

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to being able to gain experience of something by being in a particular environment rather than having physical contact with something. However, it is not to be confused with public exposure. Usage: E.g. 學習語言要夠exposure。(Learning a language needs enough exposure.) E.g. 做開大行去細行一定唔慣,exposure 又細啲,資源又小啲。(It must be hard getting used to working in a small company if you came from a large company. There is less exposure and resources are also less.)Synonym: 接觸Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2363704/page/1

yum cha

Definition: An Englishised Cantonese phrase that real ABC Hong Kongers use to refer to going to a traditional Chinese restaurant for dim sum. (飲茶) Usage: E.g. Let's go to yum cha this weekend!Synonym: 飲茶

no eye see

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to something that is like an eyesore to oneself because he or she cannot withstand it anymore. Usage: E.g. 你地做成日都打爛野。我真係no eye see喇。(冇眼睇)Synonym: 冇眼睇Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

whatever

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to express their dissatisfaction towards someone or something when they are running out of patience. Also, a 'la' particle is usually added to the end of it to emphasize the casual tone. Usage: E.g. A:個客講左D咩? B:咪話過要呢樣又嗰樣囉,總之whatever啦。(A: What did the client say? B: Said they wanted this and that, just... whatever la.) E.g. A:今餐想食D咩? B:Whatever啦。(A: What do you want to eat for this meal? B: Whatever la.)Synonym: 咩都好啦Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1505250505201422336.html

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

Holland Bank Cheque

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they don’t want to tell somebody directly that they are really f***ing stupid. Even though it looks like a westernised expression, it has a similar pronunciation as '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which means 'very f***ing stupid penis'. Usage: A: 有人話我係"荷蘭銀行支票", 何解??? B: HOLLAND BANK CHEQUE~自己讀~Synonym: 好撚笨柒Reference: https://m.discuss.com.hk/index.php?action=thread&tid=9184515
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