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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

dive under water

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they are.

Usage: E.g. A: Where did your classmate go? B: I think he dived under water.

Synonym: 潛水

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-diving-under-water

contact

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use as a more natural way to ask for another person's phone number.

Usage: E.g. 就快last day, 點拎個女同事contact好? (My last day is coming soon. What's the best way to get a female colleague's contact details?)

Synonym: 聯絡資料

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/789285/page/1

Aiya

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used as an interjection to express frustration or annoyance when something surprising occurs. (哎呀)

Usage: E.g. Aiya! I missed the bus! E.g. Aiya! I dropped the cake! E.g. Aiya! I just needed one more mark to pass the test!

Synonym: 哎呀

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/seven-cantonese-phrases-that-should-be-in-the-oed

cleansing foam

Definition: Pronounced as 'cleansing form', this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice Man to refer to the facial treatment item 'cleansing foam'.

Usage: E.g. 我通常眼同埋嘴就用左油既,即係remover,oil remover去落左先,跟住就會全面再用呢一個cleansing water再全面抺一次,跟住先至用落裝油全面再洗一次,再用cleansing form全面就再落裝咁樣。咁所以其實都有四五個step囉。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

building covenant

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong Legislative Council members to refer to a lease condition where the lot owner is required to complete the development within a specified period and obtain an Occupation Permit from the Building Authority. However, it is not to be confused with 'environmental permit'.

Usage: E.g. 劉文君發言後,林筱魯再提醒發言表達專業用語時要考慮公眾能否理解。劉文君說:「頭先官員都有用building covenant㗎!enviromental permit我唔知你哋中文叫做咩嘢。」(After Lau's speech, Lin reminded him to consider whether the public would understand such professional terminology. Lau said, "The officials used building covenant just now! I don't know what you meant by 'environmental permit' in Chinese.")

Synonym: 建築規約

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20260211/bkn-20260211164003550-0211_00822_001.html

sik farn

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘食飯’, which means eat rice.

Usage: E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食左飯未呀?) E.g. Hor yee sik farn la. (可以食飯喇)

Synonym: 食飯

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

cover

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they ask whether one has enough money for expense rather than having sufficient money itself.

Usage: E.g. 今個月cov唔cover到租金? (Can you cover the rent this month?)

Synonym: 足夠支付

Reference: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/詞典/英語-漢語-繁體/cover

shocked

Definition: A code-mixing term that a "Jayden Mami" likes to use to express unpleasant surprise while softening the tone in order to make sure the child isn't scared by the mother's emotional state.

Usage: E.g. Jayden, 你喺邊到學人dye埋D hair架? Mami好shocked呀。(Jayden, who did you learn dying your hair from? Mami is so shocked.)

Synonym: 驚訝; 震驚

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXBG2f3kq7D/ (use mobile version)

grad

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to the verb 'graduate'.  Sometimes, it is used as a noun.

Usage: E.g. 同學:你唔係怕grad唔到呀嗎? 同事:你做左幾年野?。你:我係fresh grad黎架。

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

relax

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to loosening up, taking a rest or relieving stress.

Usage: E.g. 平時做野咁大壓力,得閒就梗係要去relax吓啦!(We have so much stress from work every day. We should go and relax when we are free!)

Synonym: 放鬆; 休息一下; 減壓

Reference: https://www.ulifestyle.com.hk/community/detailpost/1aae63f8-2070-4a5b-a860-9dda56907f7f/打卡熱點/得閒就梗係要去rel/Heiman118/760860

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