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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 744 results

dive under water

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they are. Usage: E.g. A: Where did your classmate go? B: I think he dived under water.Synonym: 潛水Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-diving-under-water

user

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the Cantonese equivalent '使用者'. Usage: E.g. 同完個user傾好要咩feature未呀? E.g. 喺user既角度,呢個係一個bug。Synonym: 使用者

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

onsite

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to describe a job that must be done in a company office. Usage: E.g. 份合約講明份工要onsite做,冇得work from home。Synonym: 現場,在工地

care

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong businessmen to refer to something that they give a damn about, as the equivalent terms '理', '在乎' or '關心' in Cantonese sound too romantic or loving in a professional setting. Usage: E.g. 我唔care你要OT到幾多點,總之要幫我搞掂。 E.g. 其實我都好care我既員工既福利。 E.g. 艾東care! (I don't care!)Synonym: 理; 在乎; 關心

judgment

Definition: Often associated with negative connotations, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to show their ability to form valuable opinions after thorough thought, like a lawyer in a court case. Usage: E.g. 第一次認識人唔好咁快pass judgment啦!(Don't pass judgment so quickly upon knowing a person for the first time!) E.g. 我希望你會接受我既judgment。(I hope you will accept my judgment.)Synonym: 判斷Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1787326/page/1

people mountain people sea

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to emphasize how crowded and jam-packed a place is. Usage: E.g. 同事:今日搭車返工多唔多人呀? 你:多呀,可以話係people mountain people sea呀。 E.g. 你:哇,人山人海呀!朋友:簡直係people mountain people sea啦!

one ball seventy percent off

Definition: Derived from '一波三折', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe an unexpected event with twists and turns. Literal meaning: A wave that is split into three segments. Usage: E.g. 呢排真係好黑仔呀。簡直係one ball seventy percent off呀。(一波三折)Synonym: 一波三折Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/58665/

nei ming ng ming gong mud ye?

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase that is often used among local students in Hong Kong girl schools when they cannot understand what the teacher says in a lesson. Usage: E.g. *Teacher explains what to do for the lesson* Student A: Nei ming ng ming gong mud ye? Student B: Ng ming.Synonym: 你明唔明講乜野?Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/124322/集體回憶-90後最有共鳴火星文-禾刀吾g-3-你有無份
Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to acting dumb and innocent in order to win someone, such as in a card game. Usage: E.g. I know you've got an ace up your sleeves! Stop pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger!Synonym: 扮豬食老虎Reference: https://ling-app.com/yue/cantonese-slang-words/
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