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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 744 results

Missy

Definition: A code-mixing term meaning female teacher. Usage: Eg. Missy, 請問功課幾時交? Eg. 仔仔,有d咩唔識記住問missy呀。Synonym: 先生

Lulu

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For male version, see 'Robert') Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Lulu喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

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

sir

Definition: Often used as 'Ah sir' (阿sir), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a male teacher. (Also see 'Missy' for female teacher) Usage: E.g. 阿sir,我今日冇帶功課。可唔可以唔好罰我呀?Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

night cat / ghost

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who sleeps very late and doesn't wake up early. Similar to 'night owl' in English. (夜貓/夜鬼) Usage: E.g. Maintain good health by sleeping early! Don't be a night cat / night ghost! Synonym: 夜貓/夜鬼Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/55996/

no offense

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they are really considerate about offending someone before or after saying something, such as making a comment or remark. However, it can be entirely offensive sometimes even though the person says no offense. Usage: E.g. 成日開口埋口都講No Offense嘅人,其實先係最Offense。(The person who always says no offense is very often the person who is the most offensive.)Synonym: 有怪莫怪, 無意冒犯Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100most/posts/毛牌觀察學-第五話成日開口埋口都講no-offense嘅人其實先係最offense要講offense嘢唔使咁就住嘅一係下次試吓改口講no-defense/1031481205006323/

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/

chok

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to pulling a face that looks pretentious in order to look cool. Usage: E.g. 林峯:你睇吓我個樣夠唔夠chok?!Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/

high tech

Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is advanced in technology.  There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野,Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition. Usage: E.g. 哇,張枱有自動升降好high tech呀。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

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
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