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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


137 results found

OT

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to working overtime. Sometimes, it is used as '冬OT' (winter OT), which means 'don't OT'.

Usage: E.g. A:死喇,咁多野做。唔知今晚要OT到幾時呢?B:冬OT!

Synonym: 加班

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

outlook

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to mean 'outfit'.

Usage: E.g. BB豬,我今日個outlook係咪好靚呀?

Synonym: 外表

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

pkmon

Definition: Often shortened to 'pkm' in textspeak, this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to refer to Pokemon. However, it is not to be confused with 'PK' in Cantonese, which is a vulgar expression meaning to tell someone to go to h*ll.

Usage: E.g 你本身唔中意pkm點爆都唔會開心 (If you don't like Pokemon, you will never be happy ripping open card boosters.)

Synonym: Pokemon

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@plee_0107/post/DakcU7DEg0D/

please

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to making someone happy, satisfied and giving them pleasure, which is really not an easy task for anyone to do, but at least it doesn't always mean to win someone's favour by flattery like '取悦' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 宣萱自揭離開無綫原因:原來可能要刷鞋,要please一啲你唔想please嘅人,咁我問自己得唔得?唔得。(Jessica Hester Hsuan reveals the reason for leaving TVB: It turns out that you may have to make up to people, to please those who you don't want to please, so I ask myself can I? No.)

Synonym: 使滿意, 開心; 取悦

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20260202/bkn-20260202190138911-0202_00862_001.html

point

Definition: A more polite way to refer to a person's standpoint, as the Cantonese equivalent term '點', meaning a dot, can refer to a woman's breast.

Usage: E.g. 男人:喂,我真係好唔明你個point喎!女人:唔緊要。我慢慢解釋比你聽。 E.g. 男人:喂,我真係好唔明你個點喎!女人:你話我邊點呀?唔好性騷擾喎!

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

polly shum

Definition: Transliterated from '玻璃心' meaning 'heart made of glass', this is a code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to someone who can be easily hurt and broken, just like as fragile as glass.

Usage: E.g. He is very manly but he is actually a polly shum when it comes to love.

Synonym: 玻璃心

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

present

Definition: An irreplaceable code-mixing term meaning to deliver a speech, as saying the Cantonese equivalent term '匯報' would sound too old school and non-colloquial.

Usage: E.g. 你幾時要present呀? E.g. 今次份assignment難唔難present呀?

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

qualie

Definition: Pronounced as 'call-lee' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this code-mixing term is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the English word 'qualification'. Often used together with the word 'show' to mean 'show off'.

Usage: E.g. 你冇qualie就唔好係到扮哂野啦。 E.g. 你唔好係到掛住show qualie啦,兄弟。 E.g. 睇唔出你咁有qualie喎。

rat race

Definition: Derived from the Chinese term '內卷' and often translated as 'involution', this is an Englishised code-mixing term that describes an economic situation where excessive competition does not lead to development and innovation. This may lead to people feeling stressed, anxious, and trapped, as the two characters mean 'inside rolling'.

Usage: E.g. I'm stuck in the rat race! I'm so tired of competing with everyone just to climb the career ladder!

Synonym: 內卷

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTg1G8rpVc

sai

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term added to the end of verbs to express the meaning of completely or to a large extent. (晒 - saai3)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you so much!) 唔該晒 E.g. Dor jeh sai! (Thank you very much!) 多謝晒 E.g. Jo sai! (Done everything!) 做晒 E.g. Sik sai! (Eaten everything!) 食晒 E.g. Mo sai! (No more left!) 冇晒

Synonym: 晒

Reference: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/1592/

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