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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


258 results found

gimmick

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to '噱頭'. Usage: E.g. 你有沒有留意樓下那家coffee shop最近常做promotion,我覺得滿有gimmickSynonym: 噱頭Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/港人中英夾雜有規律-網友-太神奇-020000181.html

so

Definition: A shortened term for the word 'socialise' in English, which may mean different things in various situations. Usage: E.g. 喂,你so吓人好喎?(to show that you care about others) E.g. 喂,唔好成日掛住soD女仔啦。(to court somebody) E.g. 喂,後生仔要出黎soso吓先得架嘛。(to socialise) E.g. 喂,你最近好似唔係好so-so喎。(being social)

care

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong businessmen to refer to something that they give a damn about, as the equivalent terms '理', '在乎' or '關心' in Cantonese sound too romantic or loving in a professional setting. Usage: E.g. 我唔care你要OT到幾多點,總之要幫我搞掂。 E.g. 其實我都好care我既員工既福利。 E.g. 艾東care! (I don't care!)Synonym: 理; 在乎; 關心

canteen

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a restaurant located inside a school or company. However, it is worth noting that the origin of the word is from Europe and should not to be confused with ‘can-ting’ or ‘can-teng’ in Mandarin or Cantonese (餐廳), which start with the ‘ts’ sound instead of ‘k’ sound in ‘can’. Usage: E.g. 今日好多人呀!快啲落canteen霸位啦!(There are so many people today! Let's go to the canteen to hog the seats first!)Synonym: 飯堂; 食堂 ; 餐廳Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSKkZbOEqPJ/ (use mobile version)

gym

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to exercise done in the gym. Even though it is often used as '做gym' (do gym), it is not to be confused with 'doing the gym' because the gym is actually the place where people do exercise in native English. Usage: E.g. 想唔想一齊做gym? (Want to work out / do exercise in the gym together?)Synonym: 健身; 健身室; 健身室運動Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/做gym

last minute

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to the revision notes that they would read at the last moment before a DSE exam. Usage: E.g. 最後一分鐘(Last minute)系列 - 你點睇? (What do you think of the book series called Last Minute?)Synonym: 最後一分鐘Reference: https://blog.tutorcircle.hk/33397/最後一分鐘-last-minute-有冇用-好唔好/#google_vignette

share

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to using or experiencing something together with others without the meaning of splitting apart, while not guaranteeing enjoyment and happiness. Usage: E.g. 最鍾意share 野! 一餐可以食晒唔同款,正!(I love to share things! Can eat all sorts of food in a meal! Awesome!)Synonym: 分享; 共用Reference: https://www.threads.com/@louisling8/post/DHi7b96TcQP/最鍾意share-野-一餐可以食晒唔同款正

clarify

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to make something clear or to seek clarification from another person. Usage: E.g. 我想clarify一吓呢個task係做咩。(I want to clarify what is to be done in this task.) E.g. 我想clarify一吓,係唔係九點開會?(Just to clarify, are we having a meeting at 9 o'clock?)Synonym: 澄清; 釐清; 講清楚; 問清楚Reference: https://hk.amazingtalker.com/questions/7500

caring

Definition: A more broad and general code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having concern, kindness and empathy towards others but not to the point of being so loving. Usage: E.g. 之前都識左個男仔, 一開始都好nice 好caring, 突然有一日係車鬧左我成個鐘。(I used to know a guy who was very nice and caring at the start, but there came a day where he suddenly scolded me for an hour in the car.)Synonym: 關心別人;有愛心Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3665573/page/28

exposure

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to being able to gain experience of something by being in a particular environment rather than having physical contact with something. However, it is not to be confused with public exposure. Usage: E.g. 學習語言要夠exposure。(Learning a language needs enough exposure.) E.g. 做開大行去細行一定唔慣,exposure 又細啲,資源又小啲。(It must be hard getting used to working in a small company if you came from a large company. There is less exposure and resources are also less.)Synonym: 接觸Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2363704/page/1
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