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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

fuse

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the wire that melts when the electric current exceeds the safe level in a device.

Usage: E.g. 唔好chur到部機咁行,如果咪燒fuse屎架。

Synonym: 燒fuse, 燒保險絲

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3579513/page/2

headcount

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a more technical and corporate way of referring to the number of employees in a company because '人數' sounds too everyday in Cantonese like when getting enough people to play Mahjong together.

Usage: E.g. 大家公司最近咩環境 有冇freeze headcount? (How is everybody's company doing recently? Any company is freezing headcount?)

Synonym: 人數

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3674159/page/1

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,GG

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3388417/page/1

lift

Definition: Pronounced as 'leeb' (long vowel), this is an a lot more linguistically efficient way of referring to '升降機' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 等陣呀。我兒家搭緊lift上黎。

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

game

Definition: A code-mixing term that often refers to a computer/video game.

Usage: E.g. 你最鍾意玩邊隻game呀?

Synonym: 遊戲

concern

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express worry about something.

Usage: E.g. 最近公司既野收入令到我好concern。

Reference: https://www.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/職場英語-盤點辦公室改不掉的中英夾雜-double-comfirm是錯的/1301-25515

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

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!

five o'clock flower six o'clock change

Definition: (idiom) Known as Kongish and derived from '五時花六時變‘, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is indecisive and prone to changing his or her plan all the time.

Usage: E.g. 你唔係話過鍾意呢件衫咩?你真係five o'clock flower six o'clock change呀。(五時花六時變)

Synonym: 五時花六時變

Reference: https://youtu.be/_3hhDIErE2g?si=SLsZUTCKhV5cfm8x

drop dog sh*t

Definition: Derived from '落狗屎‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to raining very heavily, which is equivalent of the phrase 'raining cats and dogs' in English.

Usage: E.g. Wa! Right now is really drop dog sh*t ah! (哇!兒家真係落狗屎呀!)

Synonym: 落狗屎

Reference: https://ling-app.com/yue/cantonese-slang-words/

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