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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


204 results found

grammar

Definition: Often pronounced as 'grandma', this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the set of rules that define the structure of a language, which can be difficult and annoying sometimes like a grandma.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試要考埋英文grammar。真係好麻煩呀!(The exam will also cover English grammar this time. So frigging annoying!)

Synonym: 語法

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3389792/page/1

group

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a relatively small number of people or things being put together but probably not big enough to be an organisation or entity.

Usage: E.g. 我地間公司係一個group,不如加入我地既whatsapp group再傾吓我地可以點合作?(Our company is a group. What about joining our Whatsapp group so we can talk about how we can work together?)

Synonym: 組, 組織, 集團

Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/23487/職場熱話-被迫加入廿個公司group-員工-不停彈訊息-連apple-watch都壞埋

guarantee

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer more specifically to the legal promises made by a company, especially in a contract or agreement.

Usage: E.g. bonus guarantee 有3個月?有d 公司好仆街係咪都話生意唔好減咁d 架wor (Is it guaranteed to have 3 months of bonus? Some companies are really an epic fail and say their business is not doing good then lower your salary.)

Synonym: 保證

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2863234/page/3

hello

Definition: Often pronounced as 'ha-lo', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to greet somebody instead of '你好', which sounds too formal sometimes.

Usage: E.g. Ha-lo,我叫Peter。你叫咩名?

Synonym: 哈佬

high tech

Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is advanced in technology.  There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野,Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition.

Usage: E.g. 哇,張枱有自動升降好high tech呀。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

hit

Definition: Pronounced as 'heet' (long vowel), this is a code-mixing term that refers to something being very successful or popular.

Usage: E.g. 呢套戲好hit呀。快D睇啦。 E.g. 呢首歌又好似hit返喇喎。

Holland Bank Cheque

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they don’t want to tell somebody directly that they are really f***ing stupid. Even though it looks like a westernised expression, it has a similar pronunciation as '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which means 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: A: 有人話我係"荷蘭銀行支票", 何解??? B: HOLLAND BANK CHEQUE~自己讀~

Synonym: 好撚笨柒

Reference: https://m.discuss.com.hk/index.php?action=thread&tid=9184515

idea

Definition: A code-mixing term that is more generic and appropriate to use in a number of different situations.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得你個idea好好呀!(主意) E.g. 你唔係一D idea都冇呀?(想法) E.g. 呢隻遊戲既idea算唔錯。(概念) E.g. 你提出既idea同我好唔同。(觀點) E.g. 廣告既idea就係要人買野。(目的)

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

jo sun

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say good morning because they cannot pronounce the Cantonese equivalent words '早晨' properly.

Usage: E.g. ABC:Jo sun! 本土香港人:吓?你講咩話? ABC:Good morning!

Synonym: 早晨

judgemental

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong doctors to refer to acting professionally when dealing with the family of a child diagnosed with cancer.

Usage: E.g. 醫生:之前有一個兒童癌症個案係醫到, 但家人唔想醫, 我唔想judgemental , 但覺得可惜 (Doctor: There was a case of cancer in a child that could be treated, but the family didn't want to continue treatment. I didn't want to be judgmental, but I felt it was a pity.)

Synonym: 批判性

Reference: https://ccf.org.hk/zh-hant/services/services_faq/?id=5)的專業團隊、醫院遊戲師,會介入向家長及病童解說療程,用柔性方式減輕恐懼

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