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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


112 results found

Return water (wui shui)

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction. Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui. Synonym: 回水

Thats why

Definition: A fancy way of saying 'so' or 'therefore' in Cantonese and to tone down the causal relationship between two items. Usage: E.g. 係喇,你都冇同我講。That’s why我今次冇預到你份。 E.g. 你都冇比錢我。That's why我冇幫你買戲飛。

trip

Definition: A Hong Kong style business trip where one tries to enjoy himself like going on a vacation, in addition to visiting a client for work purposes. Usage: E.g. 老闆:下個星期你要幫我出trip見個客,知道嗎? 你:好呀! E.g. 唔知今次出trip好唔好玩呢?Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

Ga yau

Definition: Derived from 'add oil' in Cantonese, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to express encouragement and support for another person. Usage: Ga yau! You can win this game!Synonym: 加油

yum cha

Definition: An Englishised Cantonese phrase that real ABC Hong Kongers use to refer to going to a traditional Chinese restaurant for dim sum. (飲茶) Usage: E.g. Let's go to yum cha this weekend!Synonym: 飲茶

See you tomorrow

Definition: It's slang for when a person eats something and it's unsuccessfully digested. Resulting in the food being pooped out the next day still intact. Usage: I'll pass on corn or string mushrooms guys. I don't want a "see you tomorrow" situation happening tomorrow morning

movie

Definition: Classified as 'JM tone', this is a code-mixing style adopted by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to represent the upper class.  (Notice that the letter m is a voiced consonant in this word and should be emphasized for extremely proper pronunciation.) Usage: E.g. 我週末得閒既時候會同朋友去睇mmmovie。

lie flat

Definition: Derived from the Chinese internet slang '躺平', this is an Englishised code-mixing term used to describe a lifestyle of doing as little as possible, due to knowing that there is a 'rat race' going on where everyone is competing for jobs such that it is almost impossible to keep up with the societal pressure. Usage: E.g. This exam is so difficult! I am lying flat! E.g. I am not lying flat! I must continue to find a better job!Synonym: 躺平Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-internet-and-texting-slang-to-use-right-now

long time no see

Definition: Pronounced as 'long tie lo see', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots class Hong Kongers for greeting someone they have not seen for a long time. Usage: E.g. 喂!Long tie lo see!Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

dup

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term for 'duplicate'. (verb) Usage: E.g. 呢part好似dup多左次。 E.g. 你dup多份做template,然後再改會好D。