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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

due

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used in place of '交'.

Usage: E.g. 同學:份功課幾時due呀?你:好似聽日due得喇喎。

visa

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the Cantonese equivalent '簽證'.

Usage: E.g. 你搞好左travel visa未呀?(旅遊簽證) E.g. 你到外國工作要有working visa架。(工作簽證)

Synonym: 簽證

poisonous guy

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is extremely introverted and prefers being alone all the time.

Usage: E.g. Get yourself out and meet some people! Stop being such a poisonous guy!

Synonym: 毒男

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-quick-lesson-must-know-hong-kong-slang

general

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to describe something as too broad, vague or not specific enough without sounding too judgmental.

Usage: E.g. 啲ad永遠都寫得好general,你唔in過根本唔知人地要咩人。(The job ads are always written in such a general sense. You can never know what they are looking for unless you have been interviewed by them before.)

Synonym: 籠統

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1789393/page/34

please

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to making someone happy, satisfied and giving them pleasure, which is really not an easy task for anyone to do, but at least it doesn't always mean to win someone's favour by flattery like '取悦' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 宣萱自揭離開無綫原因:原來可能要刷鞋,要please一啲你唔想please嘅人,咁我問自己得唔得?唔得。(Jessica Hester Hsuan reveals the reason for leaving TVB: It turns out that you may have to make up to people, to please those who you don't want to please, so I ask myself can I? No.)

Synonym: 使滿意, 開心; 取悦

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20260202/bkn-20260202190138911-0202_00862_001.html

sem

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to 'semester' and can hardly be replaced '學期'.

Usage: E.g. 大學生:唔知今個sem考成點呢? 你:份project幾時交呀?同學:sem尾先至交呀。

Synonym: 學期

G

Definition: Originated from ‘gg’ meaning ‘game over' and often transliterated as the loan word ‘豬‘ meaning pig, this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to describe situations where they have lost or think they already lost. Even though ‘豬‘ has a similar sound as 'g', this is not to be mistaken as a mispronunication as a pig represents stupidity in Cantonese and fits the context and meaning entirely. Also said to have originated from Taiwanese.

Usage: E.g. 今次對手咁勁,真係豬喇喎。(Our opponents are so powerful this time, it's really game over.) E.g. 今次考試豬左。(My exam results is game over.)

Synonym: 豬, 完了,GG

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3388417/page/1

explode rock

Definition: Known as Kongish and sometimes used as 'to go rock blasting', this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to going for a wee. (爆石)

Usage: E.g. Please wait a moment. I need to go rock blasting!

Synonym: 爆石

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

align

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to reaching a consensus on matters of a situation.

Usage: E.g. 我地一齊align一下意見,再匯報比上頭知。

Synonym: 保持一致

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

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