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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

say thank you

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that a Jayden Mami likes to repeatedly use to order their children to show gratitude to someone.

Usage: E.g. Katherine, 人地比野你, 你要講 thank you, 你要say thank you, 快D say thank you. (Katherine, when people give you something, you need to say thank you, you have to say thank you. Say thank you quickly!)

Synonym: 講多謝

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVAkhPqj83Z/ (use mobile version)

research

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize how much paper work needs to be done when conducting studies of a subject, rather than just merely studying as the Cantonese equivalent '研究' denotes.

Usage: E.g. 我兒家part-time喺大學做research,好忙架。(I am now part-time doing research at university, very busy.)

Synonym: 研究

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@146snk/post/DKQjVZnhSNU/香港嘅bachelor訓練根本就冇乜預你去做research所以根本唔會教你點申請mphilphd-點樣寫research-proposal-點樣approac

briefing

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a meeting that highlights the key points rather than something that is more like a presentation.

Usage: E.g. 返工要提前返去briefing又唔計工時係咪犯法?(Is it illegal for an employee to go to work earlier for a briefing but not pay them salary?)

Synonym: 簡報會

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2566840/page/1

click

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers love to use to refer to selecting something on an electronic device, such as by using a mouse or touchpad.

Usage: E.g. 幫手click吓我D廣告啦!

Synonym: 點擊

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201705266.pdf

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

anyhow

Definition: Usually placed at the start of a clause or sentence, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to replace the phrase '無論如何', meaning 'no matter what' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 我知你好忙,但anyhow,你一定要幫我。

Synonym: 點都好

explore

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers like to use when they want to sound like they are taking the time to choose something, rather than being so picky and indecisive.

Usage: E.g. A: 今個假期你會去邊呀?B: 我仲explore緊有咩options。(A: Where will you go this holiday? B: I am still exploring options.)

Synonym: 探索

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@christineknlau/post/DSXI_fNj5ES/christine呀我份工其實唔錯但總覺得缺少啲嘢-最近好多人同我講類似嘅話人工ok但冇挑戰性同事nice但冇growth公司穩定但好悶呢種感覺我稱之為care

two beat six

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to an incompetent person of low status. It is the first part of the allegorical saying '未夠斤兩‘, which means the person is not qualified. Since 2 + 6 taels = half catty, it means the person is not much in catty and taels.

Usage: E.g. You two beat six should not be part of our group!

Synonym: 二打六

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/41660/

Last day

Definition: This is a code-mixing phrase commonly used to replace 最後一日 when the last day of activity is reached.

Usage: E.g. 今日係唔係last day?

Synonym: 最後一日

rocket science

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize that something is not a complex problem.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係rocket science。再一齊諗諗佢就解決得到。

Reference: https://www.mi-learning.com/itsnotrocketscience-meaning/

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