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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


276 results found

dank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' and often pronounced as '釘橋' meaning nail bridge in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express their gratitude towards someone.

Usage: E.g. Dank you哂你幫我手呀。不如我今日請你食lunch好嗎?(Thank you for helping me out. What about I treat you lunch today?)

Synonym: thank you, 釘橋

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLR0QEuMT7j/ (use mobile version)

database

Definition: A code-mixing word that working class Hong Kongers love to use instead of the Cantonese equivalent '資料庫' in the IT sector. Also see 'db'.

Usage: E.g. Con唔connect得到個database呀? E.g. 內地人:你能夠連接得到個資料庫嗎? 香港人:你指個database?

Synonym: 資料庫

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who refuses to concede despite knowing that they made the mistake in the first place. '死雞撐飯蓋' can also be shortened to '死撐' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. You know you've done wrong! Stop being like a dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid!

Synonym: 死雞撐飯蓋

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

deadline

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong teachers to make it clear and explicit that their students are essentially dead if they hand in their homework or assignment late, as the Cantonese equivalent phrase ‘截止日期’ does not denote the meaning of death at all.

Usage: E.g. 聽日就係deadline, 唔交功課就零雞蛋!(Tomorrow is deadline. If you do not hand in your homework, you will get a zero mark!)

Synonym: 截止日期

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/809281/page/1

deep talk

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use as a more socially appealing way to refer to a conversation that goes beneath the surface to explore a person's inner thoughts, which everyone knows it can be hard to initiate with someone or even mention.

Usage: E.g. 但每個人對deep talk既定義都唔同。我本身覺得deep talk應該係d要用下腦既話題 (But everyone's definition of deep talk is different. I actually think deep talk should refer to topics that require us to think a little bit.)

Synonym: 深度對話

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3598156/page/1

Ding Ding

Definition: Originated from the warning sounds of the bells when a tram is driving in Hong Kong, this is an Englishised code-mixing term which refers to the tram that can be taken in the Hong Kong Tramways on Hong Kong Island.

Usage: Let's take a tour of Hong Kong Island by taking the Ding Ding!

Synonym: 叮叮, 電車

Reference: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/attractions/hong-kong-tramways.html

Dinner / din

Definition: A fashionable, elegant way of referring to dinner in Cantonese.

Usage: Eg. 去邊到食dinner好呢? Eg. 你想去邊到吃din呀?

Synonym: 晚餐

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

discount

Definition: A more appealing code-mixing term than the Cantonese equivalent word '折扣', which shopkeepers like to use to attract customers.

Usage: E.g. 今個月清貨大discount。快D入黎慢慢揀啦!

Synonym: 折扣

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

dor jeh

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that foreigners use to utter the phrase 'thank you' in Cantonese when they receive a red packet during Chinese New Year.

Usage: E.g. Dor jeh! Gung hei fat choi!

Synonym: 多謝

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

dude

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'.

Usage: E.g. Dude,你係到搞D咩呀? E.g. Dude,你好還錢喇喎? E.g. Dude,你以為你自己好型呀?

Synonym: 大佬

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