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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary
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237 results found

eat bowl face turn bowl down

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to betraying someone after receiving some offer or advantage from them. (食碗面反碗底) Usage: E.g. I gave you so many benefits and you eat bowl face turn bowl down?!!Synonym: 食碗面反碗底Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn
2024-04-21

stir-fried squid

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2) Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!Synonym: 炒魷魚Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/
2024-04-21

enough ginger

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to having enough guts to do something. (夠薑) Usage: E.g. If you have enough ginger, then fight me!Synonym: 夠薑Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575
2024-04-21

yum cha

Definition: An Englishised Cantonese phrase that real ABC Hong Kongers use to refer to going to a traditional Chinese restaurant for dim sum. (飲茶) Usage: E.g. Let's go to yum cha this weekend!Synonym: 飲茶
2024-04-21

worse

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to something of bad quality. Usage: E.g. 個湯凍嘅，真係好worse囉。Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字
2023-03-02

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
2023-03-02

m

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to 'menstruation' in English.  However, it is also used as 'M記' to refer to McDonald\'s. Usage: E.g. 唔好話我聽兒家先黎M麻？ E.g. 今次真係M到阿媽都唔認得喇！E.g. 今日又食M記？唔好喇掛！
2023-03-02

toilet

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to the same item ‘廁所’ in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 老師，唔該可唔可以去toilet呀？ E.g. 咁多位，我去一去toilet先。Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/hongkonglinguistics/Downhome/language-contact-in-hong-kong/cantonese-englishintra-sententialcode-switchinginhongkong
2023-03-02

mix

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to a person with a mixed-race descent. Usage: E.g. Ａ：你係唔係mix黎架？Ｂ：乜我似mix咩？多謝。 E.g. Ａ：你係唔係mix黎架？Ｂ：係！當然係啦！我係澳門香港mix呀！
2023-03-02

chemistry

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to the attraction between two people. Usage: E.g. Ａ：你話佢地兩個有冇chemistry呢？Ｂ：你係指work定係sexual chemistry呢？ＬＯＬ。
2023-03-02
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