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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

I have no time

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local Hong Kong students to refer to having no time for activities such as dinner or party, which doesn't necessarily mean they have no more time left in their lives such as due to a terminal illness. Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to join the party tonight? B: I have no time.Synonym: 我冇時間Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj7SHv4Jhw4

count down

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese. Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)Synonym: 倒數Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party

shuttle

Definition: Often said without a 'bus', this is a chique sounding code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to a vehicle that has more specific and direct route to a destination. However, the Cantonese equivalent '穿梭巴士' may be used more often during holiday as it may sound more enjoyable and less 'chur' to ride on. Usage: E.g. 我每日返工都有得搭shuttle,好快就到公司。 (I can take the shuttle to work every day and get to to office very fast.)Synonym: 穿梭巴士,接駁巴士Reference: https://www.weekendhk.com/網絡熱話/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-香港人-ctb02-by-1413297/2/

trip

Definition: A Hong Kong style business trip where one tries to enjoy himself like going on a vacation, in addition to visiting a client for work purposes. Usage: E.g. 老闆:下個星期你要幫我出trip見個客,知道嗎? 你:好呀! E.g. 唔知今次出trip好唔好玩呢?Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

mon

Definition: Derived from 'monitor', this is a highly efficient use of one's eyes to keep track of the progress of somebody or something. Sometimes, even without the use of one's eyes. Usage: E.g. 喂,我咪喺度做緊野囉。你唔洗成日喺度mon住我嘛! E.g. 你:喂,大佬。你唔洗成日打電話黎mon住我嘛?!!對方:大佬?!你邊隻眼見到我mon住你呀?!! E.g. D股市跳得咁勁要成日搵人mon住先得架。

project

Definition: A generic code-mixing term that can used for a number of different items in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 你公司近排搞緊D咩project呀?(項目) E.g. 今次呢個project搞成點呀?(研究) E.g. 你諗住下次搞d咩project呀?(計劃) E.g. 小心D呀,唔見寫住project in progress咩?(工程)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

bonus

Definition: A chic-sounding code-mixing term that refers to year-end bonus (花紅) in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 你間公司今個年尾有bonus嗎?Synonym: 花紅Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

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

No worries

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show their friendliness or generosity. Usage: E.g. No worries。今餐我比住先啦。 E.g. No worries。我幫你搞掂左喇。Synonym: 唔洗擔心

ho sick

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy. Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.Synonym: 好食Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA
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