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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 783 results

file

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fi-lo' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that is more generic to be used for a number of different items in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 唔該copy呢個file比我。(電腦檔案) E.g. 買多個file儲住D紀錄。(文件夾) E.g. 警察:我哋會睇返呢單case既file。(檔案)Synonym: 文件夾; 檔案Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

invite

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers often use to ask someone to go to an event in a polite and semi-formal manner. Usage: E.g. A: 可唔可以叫埋我個friend黎?B: 好呀,等我invite埋佢啦。(A: Can you get my friend to come as well? B: Sure, let me invite him.)Synonym: 邀請Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2051830/page/2

eat dead cat

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone being a scapegoat or taking the blame for something that they did not do. Usage: E.g. I did not cheat in the exam and you made me eat dead cat??!Synonym: 食死貓Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

end up

Definition: A euphemistic way of refering to the end of something, as saying something is at a final stage is considered bad luck in Cantonese sometimes. Usage: E.g. 唔知佢end up會做D咩呢? E.g. 上次個project end up成點呀? E.g. 佢上個暑假end up左去台灣。

poisonous guy

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is extremely introverted and prefers being alone all the time. Usage: E.g. Get yourself out and meet some people! Stop being such a poisonous guy!Synonym: 毒男Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-quick-lesson-must-know-hong-kong-slang

kau

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term. Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)Synonym: 溝Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

struggle

Definition: (verb/adj.) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a less intense emotional state due to trivial matters. Usage: E.g. 好Struggle買唔買ps5。 (Really struggling on whether to buy Playstation 5.) E.g. 我仲struggle緊今晚食D咩好。(I'm still struggling on what to eat tonight.)Synonym: 掙扎Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3519800/page/1

I mean

Definition: A tag-switching phrase often used by Native Hong Kongers for clarifying on matters. However, it can sometimes be overused by Fake ABC's to strike a western impression on others. Usage: E.g. 份project未搞掂呀。I mean,我岩岩做完要check吓先。 E.g. 港女:你應該食少D野。I mean,你應該減吓肥至岩。 E.g. 香港人:你講咩話?偽ABC:I mean,well... I mean,我覺得你身材唔係好fit囉I mean。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

assess

Definition: Originated from ‘access’, this is a code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the means through which one can enter a system or having the permission to retrieve data from a system. Usage: E.g. 唔該可唔可以比個database既assess比我? (Could you give me the access to the database?) E.g. 我assess唔到個system。可唔可以比密碼我?(I cannot access the system. Can you give me the password?)Synonym: access, 讀取Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/CjZh3wSpu4l/ (use mobile version)

gym

Definition: Often used as 'doing the gym' (做gym) in Cantonese, this refers to doing exercise in the gym.  Sometimes, it is used as 'gym room', which people may mistaken as '健身室室'. Usage: E.g. 一唔一齊去做gym呀? E.g. 我仲喺gym room呀,遲D再call你啦。Synonym: 健身室
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