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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 917 results

arm arm

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to refer to something that has just happened.

Usage: E.g. My frd arm arm told me kui find gun ppl. E.g. Ngo arm arm sik jor farn. (我啱啱食左飯。)

Synonym: 啱啱

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

Of course

Definition: A phrase used by native Hong Kongers to affirm that something is true or obvious, usually among friends and relatives in informal settings, especially with the particle 'la' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 今日出街記住載口罩。 你:Of course啦! E.g. 女朋友: 哇,你好叻呀。 你:Of course啦! E.g. 男朋友: 估唔到你咁醒目。 你:Of course啦!

Jayden Mami

Definition: A code-mixing term created by Hong Kong KOL Matthew (matthewpwj_) and Janice (janicewanwan) to refer a typical Hong Kong mother whose teaching style towards children often includes many English words mixed into their Cantonese dialogue.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,如果你兒家唔食野,下次Mami就唔帶你黎呢D restaurant,去返樓下茶餐廳食算喇。(Jayden, if you don't eat, Mami will not bring you to this kind of restaurant again, we will go back to the Cha Chan Teng downstairs next time.) E.g. Elaine,你係咪講粗口呀,Mami好shocked呀。你平時唔係咁架喎,你係邊度學壞呀? (Elaine, did you swear? Mami is so shocked. You were never like this before. Where did you learn this? E.g. Esmond,陣間uncle auntie黎記住嗌人呀。大聲D呀。(Esmond, when Uncle and Auntie arrives, remember to address them. Loudly.)

Synonym: Jayden阿媽

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWqgOP1Dyfq/ (use mobile version)

night cat / ghost

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who sleeps very late and doesn't wake up early. Similar to 'night owl' in English. (夜貓/夜鬼)

Usage: E.g. Maintain good health by sleeping early! Don't be a night cat / night ghost!

Synonym: 夜貓/夜鬼

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/55996/

moment

Definition: Originated from a Steven Chow movie, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe a brief period of time where one wants to unleash his potential. (瞬間)

Usage: E.g. 我醬爆感覺到,喺呢個moment,要爆喇

Synonym: 瞬間

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/電影/46299/愛-回帶-少林足球-醬爆-變漲爆-何文輝愈撈愈掂

polly shum

Definition: Transliterated from '玻璃心' meaning 'heart made of glass', this is a code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to someone who can be easily hurt and broken, just like as fragile as glass.

Usage: E.g. He is very manly but he is actually a polly shum when it comes to love.

Synonym: 玻璃心

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

copy and paste

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that even young and senior local Hong Kong students like to use to refer to duplicating information in the digital format because they were just never used to Chinese Windows.

Usage: E.g. A:搵AI gen成編文出黎,再copy and paste落自己份功課到咪得囉。B:喂,你唔好教壞我喎?!(A: Just get the AI to generate some essay, then copy and paste it into your homework. Done! B: Hey, don't teach me a wrong habit!)

Synonym: 複製與貼上

Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/香港語文

fix

Definition: A highly versatile code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to repair, solve, adjust, improve or make something work again, especially in the IT sector.

Usage: E.g. fix個bug幾日都仲未揾到個問題 (I've been fixing the bug for several days and still haven't found what the problem is.)

Synonym: 整; 修理; 解決

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3516188/page/32

ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by foreigners when they come across a local Hong Konger who thinks they know how to speak Cantonese. Literal meaning: I don't know how to speak Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Foreigner: Mm goi sai! Dor jeh! Hong Konger: Wow, your Cantonese is so good! Foreigner: Ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa.

Synonym: 我唔識講廣東話

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

enjoy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to taking pleasure from doing something. Sometimes, it can also be used intransitively as a verb to describe a state of mind where one is having a good time.

Usage: E.g. 每次暴雨或者打風,唔知點解我都好enjoy。(Whenever there is heavy rain or typhoon, I don't know why I really enjoy it.)

Synonym: 享受

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3973322/page/1

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