Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Lecture Slides
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


381 results found

very delicious

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that is often mistakened as grammatically incorrect due to the word 'very' being considered redundant, as 'delicious' already denotes the meaning of very yummy. However, it originates from '好好味' in Cantonese, which means 'very very tasty'. Usage: E.g. 哇,D野食真係very delicious呀。Synonym: 好好味

database

Definition: A code-mixing word that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to '資料庫' in the IT sector. Usage: E.g. 連得到個database未? 定係connect唔到呢?Synonym: 資料庫

show me your love rice

Definition: Translated from the punning of ‘粟米肉粒飯’ (shuk mai yuk lup fan), this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a rice dish with creamed corn and pork served in Hong Kong Cha Chaan Tang restaurants. Usage: E.g. Excuse me, may I have a ‘show me your love rice’?Synonym: 粟米肉粒飯Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/12/kongish-a-new-language-of-hong-kongers/

pool

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to getting out of the singles' pool so that you are finally dating someone! Usage: E.g. 我平時咁宅,估唔到有一日會出pool。

reg

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the word 'register', such as registering for an account in an app to become a member. Usage: E.g. 快D download個app再reg個account成為會員啦!Synonym: 申請

collect skin

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to tell somebody to shut the f**k up. It is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '收皮' in order to tone down the directness of this very rude phrase. It originates from street vendors who used to pack their things up on wooden mats when police arrived back in those days of Hong Kong. Usage: E.g. 喂,講完未呀?Collect skin啦。E.g. 真係頂你唔順呀,快D collect skin啦。Synonym: 收皮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.instagram.com/p/Cy8AD_WtaxO/

last order

Definition: A code-mixing term that waiters love to use to refer to the last order that customers can make in a restaurant before it closes. (最後訂單) Usage: E.g. 今次last order,有D咩想落就好落喇。 E.g. Waiter: 今次最後訂單。 Customer: 吓?咩訂單話?Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

A0

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish codemixing term that refers to a person who has never been in a relationship before. I.e. Available = 0. Usage: E.g. Nei dou year 4 lah, ng hai lum ju a0 grad har wah. (你都Year 4啦,唔係諗住A0 grad吓話。)Reference: https://www.hk01.com/article/283411?utm_source=01appshare&utm_medium=referral

zhen garn

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term that is derived from '陣間', which means a while later. Usage: E.g. Zhen garn lunch go ng go sing K?Synonym: 陣間Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

database

Definition: A code-mixing word that working class Hong Kongers love to use instead of the Cantonese equivalent '資料庫' in the IT sector. Also see 'db'. Usage: E.g. Con唔connect得到個database呀? E.g. 內地人:你能夠連接得到個資料庫嗎? 香港人:你指個database?Synonym: 資料庫