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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


65 results found

Hey man

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers like to use when they want to show their warmth and passion in befriending others, even when they have known a person for just a short while. Usage: E.g. Hey man,近排幾好嗎?(How have you been?) E.g. Hey man,吃左飯未呀?(Have you eaten yet?) E.g. Hey man,不如今餐我請呀?(What about I treat you this meal?)Synonym: 喂,老友

Saliva man

Definition: A person that talks too much or gossips Usage: Don't be such a saliva man! Please mind your own business. Synonym: 口水佬Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/41520/

one man band

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job position that covers almost all the duties that an entire department has. Usage: E.g. 我份工係one man band,所以都幾忙架。Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/一腳踢

eight woman

Definition: (vulgar) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe a female person who is nosy and meddles in other people's business. Similar to 'bitch' in English. Literal meaning of 八婆: eight old woman Usage: E.g. Mind your own business, eight woman! (八婆) E.g. Are you done messing around, die eight woman?! (死八婆) E.g. You are such an eight woman! (正八婆)Synonym: 八婆Reference: https://www.secretchina.com/news/b5/2013/11/29/521805.html

goldfish man

Definition: Known as Kongish and originated from a story where a man used to lure children by promising to buy them goldfish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a paedophile. (金魚佬) Usage: E.g. Stop buying me chocolate and lure me like a goldish man!Synonym: 金魚佬Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn

man

Definition: A noun-turned-adjective code-mixing term used to describe someone who is manly. Usage: E.g. 哇!你今日冇剃鬚好man呀! E.g. 得閒去吓gym鍛鍊吓肌肉先至夠man架嘛。

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

doot

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to scold someone when they are prohibited from swearing in school. At other times, it is used as an onomatopoeia of the beeping sound of Octopus card readers in Hong Kong train service. Usage: E.g. Doot你咩?!搞污糟我件校服!(F*** you?! You ruined my school uniform!) E.g. 好多人撘地鐵呀。快啲攞張八達通出黎doot部機入閘啦。(So many people taking the train. Take out your Octopus card quickly to doot the machine and enter the gate.)Synonym: F***, d*u, 嘟Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/v/114049/doot

sure

Definition: Often pronounced in two syllables as 'shu-ah' and used with ‘唔‘ (not), this is a cool sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express absolute uncertainty over a subject matter in an informal setting. Usage: E.g. 佢係唔係好叻?我唔sure。(Is he really smart? I am not sure.) E.g. 今日會唔會落雨?我唔sure。(Will it rain today? I am not sure.) E.g. 佢阿媽係唔係女人?我唔sure。(Is his mom a woman? I am not sure.)Synonym: 肯定Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=30817621

say no

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to express rejection politely without sounding so blunt. Usage: E.g. 我發現幾多人返工唔識Say No。(I found out there are many people who don't know how to say no at work.) E.g. 唔好意思,我要揸車,所以要對酒精say no。(Sorry, I need to drive so I have to say no to drinking.)Synonym: 講唔好Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3268602/page/1