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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


926 results found

polly shum

Definition: Transliterated from '玻璃心' meaning 'heart made of glass', this is a code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to someone who can be easily hurt and broken, just like as fragile as glass.

Usage: E.g. He is very manly but he is actually a polly shum when it comes to love.

Synonym: 玻璃心

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

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

restaurant

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami as a broad umbrella term for a variety of different places that serve food in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Hailey, Mami頭先同你講去restaurant之前去定toilet。我一早估到你會急架。你兒家睇吓條queue幾long?又要等又要wait喇!(Hailey, Mami just told you to go to the toilet before going to the restaurant. And I have expected that you want to go to the toilet now. But can you see how long the queue is right now? We have to wait and wait again!)

Synonym: 餐廳; 酒家; 飯店; 餐館; 食店

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

Thank you你

Definition: 完全是香港人的特色,明明已經Thank you咗,又要加個你字在後面,表明我正在說廣東話的立場。大家在想,若然是心照不宣,對中國人來說,要說出來的多謝或是唔該是有多麽的尷尬,所以用外語來戥戥腳。「Thank you你」(讀Thank橋你), 通常是 回應人 唔該你的意思。(This is completely characteristic of Hong Kong people. Though we have said 'thank you', we add the word "你" to indicate we are speaking in Cantonese. We just think if it is already understood, how awkward would it be for a Chinese person to say thank you, so we use a foreign language ​​​​to help us.)

Usage: 老陳幫老二替更,老二向老陳說「Thank you你 」(Old Chen helped Old Two take over the shift, and Old Two said "Thank you you" to Old Chen.)

Synonym: 唔該你

bitchuation

Definition: Originated from 'bitch' and 'situation', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a situation where a person's patience runs out and starts being bitchy.

Usage: E.g. 意思:喺無可奈何既情況下,只能做個bitch。(Meaning: In a situation where one feels helpless, the only way out is to be a bitch.)

Synonym: 逼人太甚的處境

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdED72bCcze/?img_index=1&stkn=MjRibnk3MnBmYjFl (use mobile version)

buddha-type

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing term used to describe someone who is so calm and relaxed like the almighty Buddha such that he or she does not have time to chase the opposite sex, but focuses on work and personal interests only. Sometimes, it is also used to describe someone who does not get angry easily when things happened.

Usage: E.g. Why don't you find a girlfriend? Are you the buddha-type person? E.g. *bump* That hurt when you bumped into me! But I'm okay, my friend!

Synonym: 佛系

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-buddha-type

chicken out

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to refer to someone deciding not to do something because they are too frightened.

Usage: E.g. 我地講吓飲啤酒咋喎。你唔係咁快就chicken out嘛?

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1368997059457323008.html

Eat Cha SIU

Definition: This is a Cantonese slang that refers to a situation where a player has a clear opportunity to score a point. The slangs origin comes from a volleyball game where a sports announcer said "Cha SIU" instead of the word "chance". Although the word came from a volleyball game initially, it's more widely used in badminton games.

Usage: That was a total set up for a smash, total Cha SIU!

Synonym: 食叉燒

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-生舊叉燒好過生你-better-to-give-birth-to-char-siu-than-you/#:~:text=Sik6%20caa1%20siu,back%20into%20its%20own%20court.

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/

first round

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the initial stage in a process, such as an interview. At other times, it is also used for the describing the first in a set of social events, such as drinks and dinner.

Usage: E.g. First round既interview會幾簡單。Second round先會問你深入D既問題。(The first round interview will be very simple. The second round will be more in-depth.) E.g. 我今晚唔join first round喇。Second round先再join你地。(I am not going to join first round tonight. But I will join the second round.)

Synonym: 第一輪

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@hkcareerstory/post/C97oprFSuDw

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