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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


763 results found

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

See you tomorrow

Definition: It's slang for when a person eats something and it's unsuccessfully digested. Resulting in the food being pooped out the next day still intact. Usage: I'll pass on corn or string mushrooms guys. I don't want a "see you tomorrow" situation happening tomorrow morning

bonus

Definition: A chic-sounding code-mixing term that refers to year-end bonus (花紅) in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 你間公司今個年尾有bonus嗎?Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

struggle

Definition: (verb/adj.) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a less intense emotional state due to trivial matters. Usage: E.g. 好Struggle買唔買ps5。 (Really struggling on whether to buy Playstation 5.) E.g. 我仲struggle緊今晚食D咩好。(I'm still struggling on what to eat tonight.)Synonym: 掙扎Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3519800/page/1

you know

Definition: A tag-switching phrase overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to create a western appeal. Usage: E.g. You know, 我成日去做gym緊係fit啦, you know。 E.g. 我係上等人咁緊係成日夾雜英文啦, you know?Reference: https://travel.ulifestyle.com.hk/news/detail/12179/明明無r音都要捲舌-5大令人頂唔順的偽abc特徵/1

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/

build chicken shed

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak. Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!Synonym: 搭雞棚Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam

schedule

Definition: A code-mixing term that can hardly be replaced by the equivalent item in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 個project下個月deadline,記住mark低個schedule呀。 E.g. 請問你平時個schedule點架?Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

double click

Definition: A trendy-sounding code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to pressing twice on a mouse or touchpad quickly and gently. Usage: E.g. 我點樣 fix 我嘅滑鼠每次想 click 一下嘅時候,都會 double click 呢?(How can I fix my mouse? Whenever I click it, it clicks twice?)Synonym: 雙擊Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/u21xlf/how_do_i_fix_my_mouse_double_clicking_whenever_i/?tl=zh-hant

guarantee

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer more specifically to the legal promises made by a company, especially in a contract or agreement. Usage: E.g. bonus guarantee 有3個月?有d 公司好仆街係咪都話生意唔好減咁d 架wor (Is it guaranteed to have 3 months of bonus? Some companies are really an epic fail and say their business is not doing good then lower your salary.)Synonym: 保證Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2863234/page/3
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