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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


210 results found

warm

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone as kind and friendly, even though it can just be a good manner posture sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 跟住呢個係我自身經歷左warm嘅事: 一個人去食譚仔點知叫得太辣流晒鼻水但搵唔到紙巾, 同枱隔離有個人遞左紙巾俾小妹 (Then this is my own experience of a warm thing: I went to Tam Jai restaurant to eat by myself and I somehow ordered too spicy so I got a running nose but could not find tissue. Then someone from another table handed me tissue.)

Synonym: 温暖; 熱心; 熱情

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2513918/page/3

whatever

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to express their dissatisfaction towards someone or something when they are running out of patience. Also, a 'la' particle is usually added to the end of it to emphasize the casual tone.

Usage: E.g. A:個客講左D咩? B:咪話過要呢樣又嗰樣囉,總之whatever啦。(A: What did the client say? B: Said they wanted this and that, just... whatever la.) E.g. A:今餐想食D咩? B:Whatever啦。(A: What do you want to eat for this meal? B: Whatever la.)

Synonym: 咩都好啦

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1505250505201422336.html

wuddud

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '核突', which refers to something that is aesthetically unpleasant or ugly.

Usage: E.g. 港女:Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone but then I realize the place is too dirty and updup and ppl ard me dou ho dirty and wuddud...

Synonym: 核突

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud=核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

zero chicken egg

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to emphasize the zero mark they got in a test or exam, which they like to honour themselves with because not only a chicken egg has the shape of the zero number, but also it has become a friendly treat that they are used to eating all the time.

Usage: E.g. Oh no! I got a zero chicken egg in my exam again!

Synonym: 零雞蛋

Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/零雞蛋

去Ball

Definition: Ball是指舞會,通常在酒店或大酒樓舉行既宴會,禮貌上是要盛裝出席,我們畢業禮上的prom也可以叫Ball,傳統上同學都會穿著tuxedo或禮服以示尊重。隨時代變遷,宴會的內容簡單化了,穿著隨便些也不是大問題,反正現在的人都轉投去了移民講座,重Ball乜鬼?(Ball refers to dance party, held in a hotel or large restaurant banquet, which we politely attend dressed. A graduation prom can be called Ball, and students wear tuxedo or dress to show respect. As times change, the banquet has simplified, and dressing casually is not a big problem. Anyway, people nowadays have switched to immigration lectures, why go to a ball?)

Usage: 我今晚去Ball, 下午去Révére set頭。(I'm going to a ball tonight, so I'm going to Révére this afternoon to get my hair styled.)

Synonym: 說晚會嫌煩,直接說去Ball好了。(I just don't bother saying 'night party', so it's better to say 'ball'.)

6 7

Definition: (textspeak) Originated from the numbers 6 and 7 sounding similar to '碌柒' meaning 'a stick of dick', this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to describe someone as very dumb and brainless, like a dickhead.

Usage: E.g. 唔好成個6 7咁樣企喺到啦!(Don't be like a dickhead just standing there!)

Synonym: 碌柒

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DR_ewS2k4Yy/ (use mobile version)

act like a crab

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is bragging about their achievements. (扮哂蟹 - baan6 saai3 haai5)

Usage: E.g. A: Stop acting like a crab! You think you are better than me?!

Synonym: 扮哂蟹

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/

awesome

Definition: An overused code-mixing term by real ABC's in Hong Kong when they want to give praise or compliment to something, just like the word '正' in Cantonese but stronger.

Usage: E.g. 哇,今次個concert真係awesome! E.g. Woah! Awesome!

Synonym: 正

Bearing, Barrack

Definition: 許多香港人的廣東話是直接由英文翻譯過來,譬如Bearing,Barrack。平時口語叫「啤1令2」及「1巴1叻」(讀力第1聲),比起說「輪軸」及「儲物房」在交流上更加方便易明。(Many Hong Kongers translate Cantonese directly from English, such as Bearing and Barrack. Said as "啤1令2" and "1巴1叻" (pronounced 1st tone), it is more convenient and understandable than saying "wheel shaft" and "storage room".)

Usage: 車輪啤令鬆脫,電動車在行車時發出了雜聲 (The wheel bearing came loose, causing the electric vehicle to make abnormal noises while driving.)

Synonym: 啤令,巴叻; 士巴拿spanner

big head shrimp

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone being forgetful and careless, such as forgetting their keys or where they put their phone. (大頭蝦 - daai6 tau4 haa1)

Usage: E.g. A: You forgot to bring your wallet? Such a big head shrimp!

Synonym: 大頭蝦

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/

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