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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 701 results

agenda

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that refers to a list of matters to be discussed at a meeting. (議程) Usage: E.g. 我哋宜家一齊go through吓今日嘅agenda。Synonym: 議程Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/開會常用英文-講完即刻pro咗-095043435.html

sorry

Definition: An ultra polite code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who really know how to sincerely say sorry or apologise to someone. Usage: E.g. Do姐:全部都錯。嗱,唔係sorly,係sorry,捲脷架。(Carol Cheng: All wrong. It's not sorly, it's sorry, you have to roll your tongue.)Synonym: Sor, 對唔住Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPgONqRk7Qc/?igsh=NWZ3ODYzdjBydmdj (use mobile version)

post

Definition: A more informal and linguistically efficient way of saying the Cantonese equivalent term '上傳'. Often pronounced as 'po' instead of 'post'. Usage: E.g. 喂,你今次po張相好鬼靚喎。

thank you

Definition: Often said with an extra 'you' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to make sure that the other person really gets the thank you message.  Sometimes, it is uttered as 'fank q' or 'fank q you', especially by the grassroots class Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. 今次搬屋真係好thank you你呀! E.g. 恭喜發財!*逗利是* Thank you你呀! E.g. 朋友:尋日嗰五舊水還返比你。 你:Fank q你呀!Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/網絡熱話/一句英文分辨港人身份-ctb12-652218/3/

invoice

Definition: The Hong Kong way of referring to the invoice sent to customers, as '發票' is rarely used. Usage: E.g. 張invoice send左比個客未呀? E.g. 喂,你咁快send左invoice黎係咪想追我數呀?

family time

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the all sorts of time spent with one's family, which aren't necessarily quality time but rather for the purposes of occasion. Usage: E.g. 節日就黎到,記住唔好去旅行,留返啲時間一齊食飯同family time。(Holiday is coming. Remember not to go travelling but spare some time eating a meal together and having family time.)Synonym: 家庭時間Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3704109/page/10

opportunity

Definition: A more sophisticated way of expressing chance (機會) in Cantonese, as the English term denotes prospect for advancement or success. Usage: E.g. 好多謝貴公司今日比呢個opportunity我地黎做個presentation.

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

stay

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time. Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐?(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月?(May I stay at your home for several months?)Synonym: 逗留Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sammy.goew/post/DSP4G9Zkqqb/請問有冇香港人會喺曼谷stay多幾日是咁的我開場前寄存咗我部dji同腳架但係我走咗先醒起而寄存點依家已經閂咗-我又今晚機走求好心人幫我取回薄酬

New Year’s Eve

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers who really miss hearing the word Eve from Christmas Eve so much that they wished Christmas could prolong to the new year. Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve你會同朋友交換禮物嗎?B: 吓,唔係聖誕節先會交換禮物咩?!(Will you exchange gifts with friends on New Year's Eve? B: What? Don't people exchange gifts during Christmas instead?)Synonym: 除夕Reference: https://www.hk01.com/知性女生/60307715/除夕倒數2026-10大倒數好去處-迪士尼煙花-西九音樂會-倒數派對
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