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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

feel

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe an experience as pleasurable. However, it can also be used to refer to having romantic feelings towards a person. Usage: E.g. 呢間bar好有feel。(This bar has a good vibe.) E.g. 唔好意思,我對你冇feel。(Sorry, but I don’t have any feelings for you.)Synonym: 感覺; 氣氛; 心情Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNvk8qHZBN-/ (use mobile version)

onsite

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to describe a job that must be done in a company office. Usage: E.g. 份合約講明份工要onsite做,冇得work from home。Synonym: 現場,在工地

mean

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used when you want to avoid describing someone as being '衰' or not nice. Usage: E.g. 男仔:喂,我覺得你咁樣講野好衰呀。女朋友:你話我衰?! E.g. 男仔:喂,我覺得你咁樣講野好mean呀。女朋友:講得岩。我有時講野係mean左D,不過唔至於係衰。

six seven

Definition: Originated from the song "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla, this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z westernised Hong Kongers when they want to say 'I don't know' or refer to something 'so-so' as a rating. Sometimes, it may have no meaning at all, even when the person is juggling both hands up and down excitedly. Coincidently, six seven looks similar to the Cantonese expression '碌柒', which has the literal meaning of 'a stick of dick' and refers to an idiot. Usage: E.g. A: How was the movie? B: Six seven. *Hands juggling up and down* (So-so.) E.g. A: What is the answer to this question? B: Six seven! (I don't f***ing know.)Synonym: 唔撚知, 係喇掛Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQbVj-KkvEX/?hl=en (use mobile version)

dead air

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '冷場' (laang5 ceong4), which literally translates to 'cold scene'. Usage: E.g. 考口試最緊要唔好dead air。Synonym: 冷場Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

soft

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to not being strict enough when managing people. Also, it often tends to depict a weakness in character by describing a person is not forceful or harsh enough. Usage: E.g. 同事話我太soft管唔到學生,我聽完好灰。(My colleague said I am too soft and cannot manage students like this. I felt very grey afterwards.)Synonym: 不嚴厲Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU-fcZMgjI7/ (use mobile version)

Key

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used with “啱key”, which refers to whether you get along well with somebody. Explanation: like the key in a piece of music. Usage: Eg. 你同你朋友啱唔啱key呀?Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/啱key

rice bucket

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who only knows how to eat rice and nothing else. ie. A useless person. Usage: E.g. He is so useless like a rice bucket!Synonym: 飯桶

common sense

Definition: A term that seems to originate from the English culture and can hardly be replaced by the Cantonese equivalent term '常識'. Usage: E.g. 喂,你咁快就落搭,有冇common sense架? E.g. 一睇就知係搵笨啦,你有冇common sense架? E.g. 你好似有常識,不過冇common sense。Synonym: 常識Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

salty wet

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe a person who is perverted. (鹹濕) Usage: E.g. Don't be so salty wet watch girls all the time la.Synonym: 鹹濕Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese
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