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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

guarantee

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer more specifically to the legal promises made by a company, especially in a contract or agreement. Usage: E.g. bonus guarantee 有3個月?有d 公司好仆街係咪都話生意唔好減咁d 架wor (Is it guaranteed to have 3 months of bonus? Some companies are really an epic fail and say their business is not doing good then lower your salary.)Synonym: 保證Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2863234/page/3

chill

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to mean 'relaxing' (adjective), while real ABC's use it as a verb meaning 'to relax'.  However, Fake ABC's use this term to mean feeling cold. (發冷) Usage: E.g. 我覺得首歌好chill呀,好好聽。(relaxing) E.g. 我地一齊去chill一陣呀?(to relax) E.g. 我覺得好chill呀。閂細D aircon得嗎?(feeling cold)Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

chee sor

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that real ABC’s like to use to refer to toilet. (廁所) Usage: E.g. Excuse me? Where is the chee sor?Synonym: 廁所Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

bug

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by people in the IT sector to refer to a computer bug (漏洞). Usage: E.g. 唔係掛?今次個program有咁多bug?!Synonym: 漏洞

seven

Definition: Pronounced as 'se-fun' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a shortened term used to refer to the 7-Eleven convenience store. Usage: E.g. 今日放工記得去seven買野呀。 E.g. 我要去seven交電話費。

spin

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that refers to describing a matter as something else, especially in politics. Usage: E.g. 鍾培生:阿林作好鍾意將件事spin到同政治有關。

catch up

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to refer to talking to someone in order to know what they have been doing. Usage: E.g. 我地幾時會再catch up吓?好耐冇見喇。Synonym: 趕上進度

surprised

Definition: Often pronounced without the 'd', this is a neutral-sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they are not sure which Cantonese equivalent word to use when something unexpected happens. Usage: E.g. 哇,你考試咁高分,我好surprised呀。(Wow, you scored a high mark in your exam. I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇,你最近減肥呀?我好surprised呀。 (Wow, you went on a diet recently? I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇,你有男朋友?我好surprised呀。(Wow, you got a boyfriend? I'm so surprised.)Synonym: 驚喜,驚訝Reference: https://tsangyoksing.hk/2009/10/06/輕音節的正確讀法/

say yes

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they show acceptance towards something or someone. Even though it is often used in informal situations and not written down, it can sometimes be official enough like when a girl accepts a guy during a marriage proposal. Usage: E.g. 個女人未say yes直接搶佢隻手戴戒指。(The girl didn't even say yes and he grabbed her hand to put on the ring.)Synonym: 答應Reference: https://www.threads.com/@timorese2332/post/DVnTY5-jiQo?xmt=AQF0qy0bkiofGtnpzBvRV8K80eRv2Va6md233oSjBwnVGUCCMt_lLP7oN7zuNkcGOPG9nm0h&slof=1

mark

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like use to refer to marking or jotting things down. (標記) Usage: E.g. 記住mark低個schedule比我睇吓先。阿媽:老師上堂講既野有冇mark低呀?
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