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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


25 results found

set

Definition: Used to refer to setting things up in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 伙記:等我set好張枱先再叫你入黎啦。 客人:好呀。 E.g. 個server set up左未呀?

set

Definition: A code-mixing term used by waitresses at the famous Tam Jai Sam Gor noodle restaurant to refer to something that is fixed, such as food items on a menu.

Usage: E.g. 譚仔阿姐:個餐係set咗咁多個餸架。唔洗你揀。(Tam Jai waitress: The meal is already set with that many food items. No need for you to choose.)

Synonym: 設定

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3286078/hong-kongs-tam-jai-noodle-joint-waitresses-are-stars

à la carte

Definition: Originated from French, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to ordering single dishes individually.

Usage: E.g. 如果你唔鍾意叫set dinner,你可以叫 à la carte。(If you don't like to order the set dinner, you can order single dishes.)

Synonym: 單點; 散嗌; 散叫

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

Eat Cha SIU

Definition: This is a Cantonese slang that refers to a situation where a player has a clear opportunity to score a point. The slangs origin comes from a volleyball game where a sports announcer said "Cha SIU" instead of the word "chance". Although the word came from a volleyball game initially, it's more widely used in badminton games.

Usage: That was a total set up for a smash, total Cha SIU!

Synonym: 食叉燒

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-生舊叉燒好過生你-better-to-give-birth-to-char-siu-than-you/#:~:text=Sik6%20caa1%20siu,back%20into%20its%20own%20court.

energy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local celebrity Jo Lam to refer to having the power and ability to have enthuasiasm, curiosity and interest towards other people, in order to improve your quality of life and have what he calls superpower.

Usage: E.g. 林作:如果你想改善你既世界,應該最想追求嗰個quality係嗎?答案就係energy。我唔係一個最係大聲講野,乍乍跳ADHD野既人,但係我可以喺每一個場合帶出嗰種enthusiasm,嗰種curiosity,嗰種interest,係一個會令到個場裡面既人更加被感染,更加對生命係有一種熱誠喺度。你要既係呢樣野,先至係我既所謂Superpower。(E.g. If you want to improve your world, then you would most likely want to pursue that quality of life? The answer is energy. I'm not a person who talks the loudest and hyperactive like ADHD, but I can bring out that enthusiasm, that curiosity, that interest in every setting, which will influence people to have a greater passion for life. This is what you want, which is what I call superpower.)

Synonym: 活力; 能量

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAWrSkepea/

finance

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use as a broader term to refer to a whole load of stuff related to managing money, assets, investments, borrowing and more. Sometimes, it is also used as another term for money, especially when the word money just sounds sensitive to a person.

Usage: E.g. A: 你做咩行業? B: Finance. A: 咁係做銀行, 財務管理, 投資定係咩? (A: What industry do you work in? B: Finance. A: So do you work in bank, asset management, investment or what? E.g. 今餐有D貴。你有冇finance? (This meal is quite expensive. Do you have finance?)

Synonym: 金融,財務,財政,資金

Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/金融学

mm goi

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say 'please', 'excuse me' or 'thank you', depending on the situation. (唔該)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (To call the waiter at a restaurant) E.g. Mm goi jeh jeh (Excuse me, please let me through) E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you very much!) E.g. Set A lunch, mm goi. (Set A lunch, please) E.g. Mm goi, where is the MTR? (May I ask where is the MTR?)

Synonym: 唔該

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%E2%80%9Chou%2520ging,jeng%E2%80%9D%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

wok

Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from the bowl-shaped Chinese frying pan '鑊' (wok), this is a measure word that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a number of different bad situations.

Usage: E.g. Big wok! (大鑊 - big trouble has occurred) E.g. Big wok explosion! (爆大鑊 - someone revealed a big secret) E.g. Carry wok. (孭鑊 - To take the blame for someone) E.g. Slip a wok. (跣一鑊 - To set somebody up for some trouble) E.g. To make you a wok. (整你一鑊 - To give someone a trouble) E.g. Let's be cooked together in a wok! (同你一鑊熟 - To get someone else into the same trouble as you)

Synonym: 鑊

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-big-wok-%E5%A4%A7%E9%91%8A-language/

去Ball

Definition: Ball是指舞會,通常在酒店或大酒樓舉行既宴會,禮貌上是要盛裝出席,我們畢業禮上的prom也可以叫Ball,傳統上同學都會穿著tuxedo或禮服以示尊重。隨時代變遷,宴會的內容簡單化了,穿著隨便些也不是大問題,反正現在的人都轉投去了移民講座,重Ball乜鬼?(Ball refers to dance party, held in a hotel or large restaurant banquet, which we politely attend dressed. A graduation prom can be called Ball, and students wear tuxedo or dress to show respect. As times change, the banquet has simplified, and dressing casually is not a big problem. Anyway, people nowadays have switched to immigration lectures, why go to a ball?)

Usage: 我今晚去Ball, 下午去Révére set頭。(I'm going to a ball tonight, so I'm going to Révére this afternoon to get my hair styled.)

Synonym: 說晚會嫌煩,直接說去Ball好了。(I just don't bother saying 'night party', so it's better to say 'ball'.)

all day breakfast

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to the breakfast set that is served all day long, but don't actually eat that often except during breakfast hours.

Usage: E.g. 食all day breakfast? 唔好喇掛,就黎六點,食返晚餐好過啦。(Eat all day breakfast? I don't think so since it's about 6 o'clock. I think it's better to eat dinner.)

Synonym: 全日早餐

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/教煮/93368/all-day-breakfast-麵包雞蛋炸薯花款多-一張圖鑒辨清楚

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