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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


461 results found

fade out

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to withdrawing from a relationship gradually. However, it can also be comparable to 'ghosting' if the withdrawal is sudden enough.

Usage: E.g. 可以點樣fade out想追我既人 (How can I fade out from someone who is chasing me?)

Synonym: 淡出

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2975441/page/1

fake

Definition: Originated from sports and often used with a ‘咗’ in Cantonese denoting past tense, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to deceiving someone with a posture or misinformation rather than something like a fraud or scam, even though it can be serious at times causing real inconvenience to people.

Usage: E.g. 俾 "轉工要趁後生" 呢句嘢fake咗 (I got misled by the saying "Take the opportunity to change jobs while we are young".)

Synonym: fake咗

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3004954/page/2

family time

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the all sorts of time spent with one's family, which aren't necessarily quality time but rather for the purposes of occasion.

Usage: E.g. 節日就黎到,記住唔好去旅行,留返啲時間一齊食飯同family time。(Holiday is coming. Remember not to go travelling but spare some time eating a meal together and having family time.)

Synonym: 家庭時間

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3704109/page/10

Fan Tai Sui

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others.

Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!

Synonym: 犯太歲

Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/

fans

Definition: Pronounced as 'fan-see' with a rising intonation on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to admirers of a person, such as a celebrity.  Sometimes, the transliteration of the word '粉絲' is used instead.

Usage: E.g. 我係你既忠心fans黎架。同我影張相好嗎?

Synonym: 粉絲

fashion sense

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having an instinct for what is stylish, which they believe can be developed through nurture.

Usage: E.g. 培養fashion sense前 買衫望多啲款襯下色 除左黑色,唔好由頭到腳都同一隻色 仲要諗下有咩鞋襯到衫 手袋都要襯 (To nurture fashion sense, have a look at more styles and matching colours when buying clothes. Do not choose the same color from head to toe except black. Also think about what shoes match the outfit. Handbags must also match.)

Synonym: 時尚感

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2725538/page/1

fax

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to the fax machine (傳真機). Often used as 'fax機' or 'fax屎機'.

Usage: E.g. 部fax機work唔work呀? E.g. 唔該幫我fax呢張野過去呀? E.g. 請問收唔收到我張fax屎呀?

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

feel

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe an experience as pleasurable. However, it can also be used to refer to having romantic feelings towards a person.

Usage: E.g. 呢間bar好有feel。(This bar has a good vibe.) E.g. 唔好意思,我對你冇feel。(Sorry, but I don’t have any feelings for you.)

Synonym: 感覺; 氣氛; 心情

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNvk8qHZBN-/ (use mobile version)

ferragamo

Definition: A code-mixing term used by the upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the Italian luxury brand. However, the grassroots Hong Kongers pronounce it as '飛甩雞毛', which means the chicken dropping its feathers.

Usage: E.g. A:你著緊咩牌子?飛甩雞毛?B:係Ferragamo呀。

Synonym: 飛甩雞毛

FF

Definition: (verb) Derived from the game "final fantasy", this is a Cantonese slang to refer to someone who fantasizes too much.

Usage: Be realistic! Don't FF too much la.

Synonym: Fantasize

Reference: https://www.cantoneseclass101.com/blog/2019/07/23/cantonese-text-slang/

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