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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

caltor

Definition: Pronounced with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that refers to 'calculator'.  Also used as 'cal機' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 唔該借個cal機比我呀? E.g. 試下用caltor check吓個answer。

Synonym: 計數機

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

ho dor

Definition: (textspeak) Transliterated from ‘好多’ meaning ‘a lot’ or ‘many’, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to complain about the excess of homework.

Usage: E.g. Ho dor gong for ah! (好多功課呀!)

Synonym: 好多

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

one man band

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job position that covers almost all the duties that an entire department has.

Usage: E.g. 我份工係one man band,所以都幾忙架。

Synonym: 一腳踢

Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/一腳踢

dry

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone or something as dull and boring such as having no relationship, which definitely has nothing to do with 'dry dating' in native English.

Usage: E.g. 我近排冇拖拍好dry呀。(I recently haven't been dating, so dry!) E.g. 唔好成日自己一個人咁dry啦。(Don't be always by yourself, so dry!)

Synonym: 沒新鮮感,很無聊,枯燥乏味

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwE7IA18CY&t=50s

awkward

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a social situation where one feels very strange and uncomfortable, rather than an embarrassing situation where one feels ashamed or humiliated, as the Cantonese equivalent term '尷尬' can take on any of those two meanings.

Usage: E.g. 本來咁多人約左出黎食飯點知得返你地兩個,會唔會覺得好awkward? (Originally many people were going to have a meal together, but only two of you came. Did it feel awkward?)

Synonym: 尷尬

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@janemanic.english/post/DHpmw9YRm-y/很多人分不清-embarrassedembarrassing-和-awkward雖然它們都有尷尬的意思但用法不同-embarrassed-形容人的感受例如-i-?hl=zh-hk

lang

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to '靚', which describes something as beautiful or good-looking.

Usage: E.g. No, but seriously it’s really lang, you are the one who said hou ce right?

Reference: http://www.lingref.com/isb/4/039ISB4.PDF

claim

Definition: This is a code-mixing term used to refer to claiming money.  However, it is often pronounced as 'kam' by grassroot class Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. 請問讀完個course有冇得kam返d錢架? E.g. 請問d飯錢可唔可以問返公司kam架?

Synonym: 索取

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

chow mein

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to refer to a type of fried noodles with soy sauce flavour that people like to eat every day because it is so easy to make and adaptable to different ingredients and tastes.

Usage: E.g. Would you like chow mein with ham, beef, or chicken? Want to add some sesame, sweet and spicy sauce?

Synonym: 炒麵

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/4150389/page/1

extra

Definition: Often complemented with '野' meaning 'thing', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to some freebie or reward that comes with buying something or writing a review for a purchase. At times, it can also refer to any additional work that is out of the scope of an employee's role that they don't frigging want to do.

Usage: E.g. 開po出文幫手宣傳,真係會有extra野送 (If you post an article to help advertise a product, there will really be extra things rewarded.) E.g. 外賣仔的工作係餐廳出貨後送貨去你屋企無責任做extra野 (The job of a delivery person is to deliver food to your home after the restaurant prepares it, and they have no responsibility to do anything extra.)

Synonym: 額外

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3951705/page/1

notebook

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '手提電腦'.

Usage: E.g. 老師,上堂可以比帶自己notebook嗎?

Synonym: 手提電腦

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

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