Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Downloads | Lectures | Videos |
Instagram Instagram
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

stir-fried squid

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2) Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!Synonym: 炒魷魚Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/

low pay leave

Definition: A code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers to refer to “no pay leave” or non-paid leave. Usage: E.g. 請唔到病假咪請low pay leave囉! (no pay leave)Synonym: 無薪假期

oj

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term that is a deliberate misspelling of 'OK'. Usage: E.g. Nei zi chin mai wah seung do new pt, my frd arm arm told me kui find gun ppl, go tgt oj ng oj? (你之前咪話想做新Part Time,我朋友同我講佢搵緊人,一齊去好唔好?)Synonym: OKReference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

hello

Definition: Often pronounced as 'ha-lo', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to greet somebody instead of '你好', which sounds too formal sometimes. Usage: E.g. Ha-lo,我叫Peter。你叫咩名?Synonym: 哈佬

build raw pork meat

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to place blame on someone in order to let him/her to face charges of crime. Usage: E.g. Let's build raw pork meat on this guy!Synonym: 砌生豬肉Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/砌生豬肉

all day breakfast

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to the breakfast set that is served all day long, but don't actually eat that often except during breakfast hours. Usage: E.g. 食all day breakfast? 唔好喇掛,就黎六點,食返晚餐好過啦。(Eat all day breakfast? I don't think so since it's about 6 o'clock. I think it's better to eat dinner.)Synonym: 全日早餐Reference: https://www.hk01.com/教煮/93368/all-day-breakfast-麵包雞蛋炸薯花款多-一張圖鑒辨清楚

solicitor

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of lawyer occupation that mostly deals with documents but actually goes to court proceedings at times. Usage: E.g. A: 你係咪做solicitor? 咁咪唔洗上court? B: 都要上court架,少啲咋麻。(A: Are you a solictor? Does that mean you don't need to go to court? B: I need to go to court, but relatively less.)Synonym: 事務律師Reference: https://cph-legal.com/2022/03/how-to-ace-a-job-interview-at-a-law-firm/

schedule

Definition: A code-mixing term that can hardly be replaced by the equivalent item in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 個project下個月deadline,記住mark低個schedule呀。 E.g. 請問你平時個schedule點架?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

written test

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a written test created by companies for job candidates, which can be easy or difficult depending on the situation. Sometimes, it can also be very 'chur' to do due to a company's limited time. Usage: E.g. 一入到去未擺低袋就俾張紙我做 Written Test,限時 20 分鐘。(When I arrived and before I even put my bag down, they gave me a piece of paper to do a written test, which had a time limit of 20 minutes.)Synonym: 筆試Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sangdongizary/post/DZmtCj0mGom?xmt=AQG0EL-oDne_ejxYTHR6FJqyzY8A-PLBBPXB5uoPeZ1QqFbjVadt9K2xVmBMMoskDQMsiRJc&slof=1

hold

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to holding something physically (揸), but with the meaning of waiting for the return of something as well. Usage: E.g. Hold住個電話先。 E.g. 個project兒家hold住左,因為要同個客傾返好先。Synonym: 揸Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644
Define Your Term | Learn More