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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 822 results

general

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to describe something as too broad, vague or not specific enough without sounding too judgmental. Usage: E.g. 啲ad永遠都寫得好general,你唔in過根本唔知人地要咩人。(The job ads are always written in such a general sense. You can never know what they are looking for unless you have been interviewed by them before.)Synonym: 籠統 Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1789393/page/34

low tech

Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is very unadvanced in technology.  There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野,Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition. '撈' refers to '有得撈', which means you can earn a living. Usage: E.g. 今時今日唔可以再咁low tech架喇。快D買返部智能手機啦。Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

happy

Definition: (verb.) An adjective-turned-verb code-mixing term meaning to enjoy oneself. Usage: E.g. 做人久唔久都要happy一吓先得架嘛。 E.g. 今個週末一齊去happy吓好嗎? E.g. 聽日放工一齊去happy hour啦!(歡樂時光)

fun cheung

Definition: With a literal meaning of pig‘s intestines, this is a code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is lazy and has no progress in life. It originates from the swear word '撚樣‘ and is used as a euphemism for calling someone a dick face. Usage: E.g. Ditch me again?! This guy is such a fun cheung! (又放我飛機?呢條友仔正粉腸!)Synonym: 粉腸Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/粉腸

hang

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to computer that has become unresponsive, due to a halt or freeze. Usage: E.g. 部電腦新買架喎,咁易hang機?! E.g. 係咪唔夠RAM所以hang左呀?Synonym: 當機

add

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a more natural and effortless way to ask for another person's contact number to their mobile phone list. Usage: E.g. 我唔係識左你好耐,不過可唔可以add左你先呀?(I haven't known you for long, but may I add you first?) E.g. 其實ig D女狂add 人係為左咩?(Why on earth are the girls on Instagram adding people wildly?)Synonym: 加Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2309015/page/1

JD

Definition: Short for 'job description', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use to refer to the piece of text that describes the job nature and responsibilities of a position in a company, which may be long or short depending on how much they want an applicant to know about the job. Usage: E.g. 又話會send份JD比我睇?你send左去邊度?(I thought you were going to send me the JD to have a look? Where did you send it to?)Synonym: 工作內容Reference: https://english.cool/job-description/

rat race

Definition: Derived from the Chinese term '內卷' and often translated as 'involution', this is an Englishised code-mixing term that describes an economic situation where excessive competition does not lead to development and innovation. This may lead to people feeling stressed, anxious, and trapped, as the two characters mean 'inside rolling'. Usage: E.g. I'm stuck in the rat race! I'm so tired of competing with everyone just to climb the career ladder!Synonym: 內卷Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTg1G8rpVc

positive

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use when they report back to candidates on their interview result, which is more objective than the Cantonese equivalent that contains the phrase ‘評價‘, which tends to give people the feeling of being evaluated or judged. Usage: E.g. 今日收到消息話你既面試表現都係positive架。(I received news today saying that your interview result was positive.)Synonym: 正面評價Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2492328/page/36

align

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to reaching a consensus on matters of a situation. Usage: E.g. 我地一齊align一下意見,再匯報比上頭知。Synonym: 保持一致Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html
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