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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


192 results found

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

kam

Definition: Pronounced as the fifth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something or someone that is strange or embarrassing.

Usage: E.g. 下次唔好入錯課室咁kam喇。 E.g. 佢份人真係好kam!

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/culture/3230860/香港潮語2023香港40個最新潮語結集-壞過婉婷升級版係咩啱呀唔係附和你

Kong girl

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a Hong Kong girl with negative characteristics such as being materialistic, demanding, narcissistic, and suffering from 'princess sickness', and so on. The list of negative things can probably go on and on so it is better for the person reading this to search the internet themselves.

Usage: E.g. I am sick of my girlfriend! She is a Kong girl! E.g. Can you stop being a Kong girl for a day? I need some freedom. E.g. Kong girl: Will you buy me an LV handbag?

Synonym: 港女

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/7-signs-to-tell-if-youre-a-real-kong-girl

lag

Definition: Pronounced as 'lig', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to computer lag.

Usage: E.g. 部機好似唔夠RAM,好lag機呀。

lai see

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.

Synonym: 利是

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/

lecture

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong university students love to use instead of '講座', which means a formal talk on a subject by a professor.

Usage: E.g. 其實上lecture根本浪費時間。

Synonym: 講座

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/475538/page/2

let you be the government official

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to express disbelief at someone in fulfilling a promise. (比個官你做)

Usage: E.g. You say you will return your money by tomorrow? I let you be the government official!

Synonym: 比個官你做

LGTM

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to making the remark "looks good to me" after doing a code review for a programmer, which means the work has been done properly.

Usage: E.g. Review完喇,LGTM!ϵ( 'Θ' )϶

Synonym: 睇落唔錯

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3878537/page/24

lift

Definition: Pronounced as 'leeb' (long vowel), this is an a lot more linguistically efficient way of referring to '升降機' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 等陣呀。我兒家搭緊lift上黎。

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

locker

Definition: Pronounced with a rising intonation on the second syllable and with a non-rhotic 'r' sound at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a small lockable compartment used in a gym or school. As for the reason why the Cantonese equivalent '儲物櫃' is not used, it could be that it makes it sound like it is made in China.

Usage: E.g. Locker好似好少人會講儲物櫃咁。

Synonym: 儲物櫃

Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/2169173/網民嚴選-10-個用英文多過中文表達的生字-網民-同朕-check-下

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