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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

polly shum

Definition: Transliterated from '玻璃心' meaning 'heart made of glass', this is a code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to someone who can be easily hurt and broken, just like as fragile as glass. Usage: E.g. He is very manly but he is actually a polly shum when it comes to love.Synonym: 玻璃心Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

Fan Tai Sui

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others. Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!Synonym: 犯太歲Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/

my favit

Definition: A more linguistically efficient code-mixing term that refers to 'my favourite' in English. Originated from Hong Kong actor Ron Ng (吳卓羲). Usage: E.g. 呢到既牛腩河係至正架!簡直係my favit!E.g. 吳卓羲:「Tailin, 賣飛佛(泰林,我的最愛)」Synonym: 賣飛佛; 我的最愛Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/賣飛佛

wake up

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by a Jayden Mami when they want their children to become conscious when getting out of bed in the morning, in addition to just getting up physically as in '起身' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Angus, 起身wake up喇。What time is it now? (Angus, get up and wake up. What time is it now?)Synonym: 醒; 起身Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZhrxjDgEKu/ (use mobile version)

sor

Definition: A shortened form of 'sorry' that is often used by Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. Sor,唔小心踩到你。 E.g. *碰到人* Sor,sor,sor。Synonym: Sorry, 對唔住

one man band

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job position that covers almost all the duties that an entire department has. Usage: E.g. 我份工係one man band,所以都幾忙架。Synonym: 一腳踢Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/一腳踢

Merry Christmas

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers prefer to use to accompany Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus because they can experience the happiness first with ‘merry’ compared to the Cantonese equivalent ’聖誕節快樂‘ where the happiness '快樂‘ is placed after Christmas. Usage: E.g. 聖誕節又黎喇!Merry Christmas! (Christmas is coming! Merry Christmas!)Synonym: 聖誕節快樂, 聖誕快樂Reference: https://www.weekendhk.com/香港好去處/聖誕好去處-商場-打卡-飄雪-3275849/

JD

Definition: Short for 'job description', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use to refer to the piece of text that describes the job nature and responsibilities of a position in a company, which may be long or short depending on how much they want an applicant to know about the job. Usage: E.g. 又話會send份JD比我睇?你send左去邊度?(I thought you were going to send me the JD to have a look? Where did you send it to?)Synonym: 工作內容Reference: https://english.cool/job-description/

gay dor cheen

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask a shopkeeper how much something costs, which is extremely effective when bargaining for a lower price at wet markets. It can also be shortened to 'gay cheen' (幾錢). Usage: E.g. Gay dor cheen? (幾多錢?) E.g. Gay cheen? (幾錢?)Synonym: 幾多錢?Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

unfair advantage

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a unique or distinct competitive edge that a person or company has over others, which is often something that they were born with or started with. The phrase also tends to be more positive and optimistic than the Cantonese equivalent terms, even though some may think the opposite is true. Usage: E.g. 林作:個世界就係唔公平。你要做既,就係要用任何你身上有可能既unfair advantage。如果你唔識用你靚仔呢樣野,令人覺得你靚仔D,至少比你做intern,咁你就係傻仔。(Jo Lam: The world is unfair as we know it. What you need to do is to make use of any sort of unfair advantage that you intrinsically have. If you don't know how to make use of your advantage in having good looks or make others think you are better looking so that they would at least give you a job as an intern, then you are an idiot.)Synonym: 不公平的優勢; 不平等的優勢Reference: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2975035002684251
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