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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 783 results

hurt

Definition: (adj.) An irreplaceable code-mixing term used to describe an unhappy state, especially when a person has been devastated by someone. Usage: E.g. 喂,你知唔知人地係會好hurt架? E.g. 喂,你咁講野人地係會好hurt架。 E.g. 點都好,你應該唔好hurt到人先岩。Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

binder

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '大文件夾' to refer to a large-sized folder for keeping documents. Usage: E.g. 如果folder唔夠大,搵個binder再放哂D文件入去。Synonym: 大文件夾

big wok

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where they are in some serious trouble. Sometimes, '大鑊' can be emphasized to a vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which literally translates to 'big penis wok' and means the person is in rather deep sh*t. Usage: E.g. I forgot to bring my wallet! Big wok! (大鑊) E.g. Omg I lost all my money! This time is really big penis wok! (今次真係大撚鑊)Synonym: 大鑊Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/03/30/ED1103300032.htm

scare die me

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use when they are scared and freaked out by something. Usage: E.g. Scare die me! You are so early in office today?!Synonym: 嚇死我Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/20239/2025職場英語-別再說-LIST-OUT-10大常見港式英語錯誤-外國人都聽唔明-4個戒掉港式英語必學的商業用語及常用英式廣東話一覽

mother school

Definition: Derived from '母校', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a school that a person has graduated from. ie. Alma mater. Usage: Well I’m a Catholic. I believe in what I have been taught when I was in my mother secondary school, Wah Yan Kowloon.Synonym: 母校Reference: https://www.inmediahk.net/node/政經/李家超透露是天主教徒-感謝「mother-secondary-school」教誨

canteen

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students prefer to use over 'cafeteria' from American English, which is not only due to Hong Kong having a British colonial history, but also it is closer to the equivalent term '餐廳' pronounced as 'can-ting' in Mandarin. Usage: E.g. 快啲落canteen霸位食飯啦!(Let's head down to hog the seats at the canteen to have a meal!)Synonym: 餐廳, 飯堂Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/m1ytyg/question_etymology_of_canteen_from_french_italian/

pineapple chicken

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who likes leeching off others. (菠羅雞 - bo1 lo4 gai1) Usage: E.g. That girl is such a pineapple chicken! She just comes every time for the benefits and does not share or contribute.Synonym: 菠羅雞Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/60017/

la la lum

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to get someone to hurry up, which is similar to the phrase 'chop chop' in English. (Also see 'ja ja lum'.) Usage: E.g. La la lum get your homework done! E.g. Leave now or you'll miss the train! La la lum la!Synonym: 嗱嗱臨

puppy love

Definition: An irreplaceable code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of love relationship that one can get while being a teenager or kid. Usage: E.g. 咁細個就談戀愛?Puppy love呀? E.g. 唔好成日掛住puppy love啦。讀好D書先啦。Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

gemgem

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to Gemini AI. Usage: E.g. 中四中五,兩班都係入到課室嗰刻先知「全錯」,臨時叫gemgem用10秒整理一個ppt,我依然繼續上堂。(For two classes of Form 4 and 5, I only knew that the powerpoint slides were "all wrong" the moment I entered the classroom. Then I quickly asked Gemini to organize a ppt in 10 seconds, and I still managed to teach the classes.)Synonym: GeminiReference: facebook.com/612468728/posts/10164582559278729/?rdid=djANzUPXcw6SopFY&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F17nv7x2uZC%2F#
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