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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

naughty

Definition: A code-mixing term that a Jayden Mami uses to refer to a more playful misbehaviour in a lighthearted way rather than describing a child genuinely bad and unmanageable that the Cantonese equivalent terms tend to denote.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,唔好再咁naughty啦。你唔食菜,又唔飲湯,你唔會healthy架!(Jayden, don't be so naughty. If you don't eat vegetables and don't drink soup, you will not be healthy!)

Synonym: 曳;百厭

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/7397/

form

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job application form where loads of information need to be filled in, especially for large companies.

Usage: E.g. 點解D大公司填FORM要咁詳細。又身份證住址生日,有冇得唔填咁詳細? (Why do large companies need you to fill in forms with such detail? For example, ID, address, and birthday. Can we not fill in with such detail?)

Synonym: 表格

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2545196/page/1

jam

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to paper being stuck in a printer.

Usage: E.g. 個printer又jam紙?唔係掛?

Synonym: 卡住紙

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

work life balance

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job benefit that often comes with some downsides or sacrifices in order to maintain a good balance between work and leisure, such as a lower salary.

Usage: E.g. 網民A:講得出Work-life balance 嘅工多數都唔係Work-life balance (Netizen A: Jobs that say they have a work-life balance usually don't have work-life balance.) E.g. 網民H:人工低咪Work-life balance,但户口唔balance (Netizen H: If you have low salary, it means you have work-life balance, but your bank account will not have a balance.)

Synonym: 工作與生活的平衡

Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/35732/職場熱話-香港公司5日工作天就標榜自己係work-life-balance-事主-成日放工仲要覆message

Pokemon card

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers who are obsessed with the Pokemon trading card game that they are willing to collect and resell pokemon cards of the highest values.

Usage: E.g. 藍田站交收 20 萬 Pokemon Card 慘被搶。(A man was robbed while exchanging $200,000 worth of Pokemon Cards at Lam Tin Station.)

Synonym: 精靈寶可夢 (China), 神奇寶貝 (Taiwan), 寵物小精靈 (Hong Kong), ポケモンカードゲーム (Japan)

Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20085941/藍田站交收-萬-pokemon-card-慘被搶去卡錢盡失-網民嘲-咁貴都唔出閘面交/1

as long as

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to emphasize the duration of time that an event is happening which is probably not coming to an end so soon.

Usage: E.g. 總之as long as我係你個上司,你就要聽我講既野。(In short, as long as I am your superior, you have to listen to what I say.)

Synonym: 只要

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100094319732462/posts/簡單總結返尋日live-1-租務改革令租客更難租樓難言對經濟整體有正面影響2-對於hong-kong-scouser嘅campaign-我哋認為同我地bno平權/689410454212940/

dup

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term for 'duplicate'. (verb)

Usage: E.g. 呢part好似dup多左次。 E.g. 你dup多份做template,然後再改會好D。

common

Definition: Often pronounced as ‘cummun’, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express how common something is without making it sound unpopular or nothing special.

Usage: E.g. 做呢個行業好common架咋。(This occupation is so common!)

Synonym: 普遍, 普通

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/C04Br91vuJT/ (use mobile version)

madam

Definition: The Hong Kong way of referring to a female police officer (女警官).

Usage: E.g. 女警:Target出現。全世界出動!下屬:Yes, Madam!

Synonym: 女警官

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

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

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