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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 701 results

hiking

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the sport of walking long distances on mountains because they have gotten so used to it and see it as a hobby rather than something laborious like '行山', which literally translates to 'walk mountain'. Usage: E.g. 今個weekend去唔去hiking呀? 不如今次行遠D呀? (Do you want to go hiking this weekend? What about going on a longer trail?)Synonym: 行山Reference: https://letsgohiking.blog/

water fish

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is easily deceived or fooled. Usage: E.g. Some people say Hong Kong is an international water fish city! (國際水魚都市)Synonym: 水魚

eye degrees

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the extent someone is shortsighted in degree units. Usage: E.g. You are shortsighted? What is your eye degrees?Synonym: prescription, diopters, 度數Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmy095Db9U&t=190s

seafood ghost

Definition: Known as Kongish and transliterated from '屎忽‘ meaning buttocks, this is a code-mixing phrase used to describe someone who always doesn't do what he or she says will do, somewhat like a faggot or asshole in English. Usage: E.g. This guy is such a seafood ghost! We always save him a seat at the restaurant but he never turns up!Synonym: 屎忽鬼Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/%E5%B1%8E%E5%BF%BD%E9%AC%BC

Never mind

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to tell someone not to worry about something anymore, even though it may not sound polite to English speakers. Usage: E.g. Never mind啦。我地下次再約。 E.g. Never mind啦。我自己搞得掂。

need sheep have sheep

Definition: Translated from ‘要咩有咩’ with ‘咩’ (what) having a similar sound utterance of a sheep, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that is said during Chinese New Year to wish someone they can get whatever they need. Usage: E.g. Gong Hei fat choi! I wish you need sheep have sheep this year!Synonym: 要咩有咩Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/12/kongish-a-new-language-of-hong-kongers/

locker

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '儲物櫃'. Usage: E.g. 哎呀。我唔記得左我D野放左喺locker到。Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

sheung tong

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to attending a lesson. (上堂 ) Usage: E.g. Nei gum yat sheung ng sheung tong ar? (你今日上唔上堂呀?)Synonym: 上堂Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/12/kongish-a-new-language-of-hong-kongers/

camel

Definition: Pronounced as 'cam-mell' and criticised as Fake ABC English, this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice man to refer to the animal 'camel'. Usage: E.g. 其實我自己好鍾意cam-mell色既,真係好似D駱駝色既,有少少泥色既。Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

db

Definition: A code-mixing word that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to '資料庫' in the IT sector. Also see 'database'. Usage: E.g. 連得到個db未? 定係connect唔到呢?Synonym: 資料庫
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