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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


561 results found

siu4

Definition: Derived from ‘笑死’ (laugh die), this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers on the internet when they want to laugh out loud, just like LOL in English.

Usage: E.g. This comedy movie was so funny! Siu4!

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-internet-and-texting-slang-to-use-right-now

ho sick

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy.

Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.

Synonym: 好食

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA

wear a green hat

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a man whose wife is cheating on him.

Usage: E.g. Why did you have to cheat on me and let me wear the green hat for so long?!!

Synonym: 載綠帽

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagra (use mobile version)

water

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to money and lots of different things.

Usage: E.g. Blow water. (吹水 - to chat casually or brag about something) E.g. Measure water. (磅水 - to give money) E.g. Return water. (回水 - to return money) E.g. Clear water. (通水 - to give secret info like a test) E.g. Draw water. (抽水 - to get profit or benefit for free) E.g. One lump of water. (一舊水 - one hundred dollars) E.g. What water? (乜水 - who the heck are you?)

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/679575/%E5%BB%A3%E6%9D%B1%E8%A9%B1%E8%80%83%E8%B5%B7%E4%BD%A0%E3%80%80%E3%80%8C%E6%B0%B4%E3%80%8D%E5%AD%97%E6%9C%89%E5%B9%BE%E5%A4%9A%E7%A8%AE%E6%84%8F%E6%80%9D%EF%BC%9F

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

water fish

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is easily deceived or fooled.

Usage: E.g. Some people say Hong Kong is an international water fish city! (國際水魚都市)

Synonym: 水魚

detail

Definition: (adj.) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to describe the small miniscule parts of something or something as being comprehensive.

Usage: E.g. 因為隻舞係我哋自己編,Sean同大Hugo編,佢哋知道個detail位係邊,佢哋講得好清楚,所以就好快上手啦 (Because the dance was being arranged by us - Sean and Hugo. They knew the detailed parts of it and explained it very well so we could learn it so quickly.) E.g. 洗唔洗咁detail呀? (Does it need to be that detailed / comprehensive?)

Synonym: 細緻; 詳細

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZHDDcIFiMy/?igsh=MW00bDQyZ2ZvdHkwMQ== (use mobile version)

uni

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to sea urchin in a Japanese restaurant.

Usage: E.g. 當你碰上「海膽壽司」時,你可能會說Uni Sushi,但一些餐館會稱「海膽」為Sea Urchin來代替Uni (When you come across "sea urchin sushi", you will probably say Uni Sushi, but some restaurants will still use "sea urchin" to refer to uni.)

Synonym: 海膽; sea urchin

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

fuk

Definition: (textspeak) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a trap or something of an inferior quality, which is comparable to the word 'dodgy' in English.

Usage: E.g. This job is not what I thought! So fuk!

Synonym: 伏

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagra (use mobile version)

primary school chicken

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is dumb, inexperienced, and immature.

Usage: E.g. Pay attention to what the person who is saying during the meeting! Stop acting like a primary school chicken!

Synonym: 小學雞

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagra (use mobile version)

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