Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Downloads | Lectures | Videos |
Instagram Instagram
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


766 results found

sodiasm

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to a female janitor or cleaner.

Usage: E.g. My aunt is a sodiasm in Queen Elizabeth hospital.

Synonym: 掃地阿嬸

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.instagra (use mobile version)

solo trip

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to describe going on a trip by oneself without sounding so alone or single.

Usage: E.g. 放假時我比較鍾意solo trip,因為咩都唔洗煩。(I like going on solo trips during holiday because I don't need to bother with anything else.)

Synonym: 單獨旅行, 獨旅

Reference: https://www.elle.com.hk/life/solo-trip

sophisticated

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to avoid describing a problem as complicated because they have the intelligence to solve it. At other times, there is just not a word that covers all the meanings of intelligent, complicated and even elegant sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係復雜,只係太過sophisticated。如果你識將個問題分拆,你就會解答得到。 (This problem is not complicated, but just too sophisticated. If you know how to break down the problem, you will be able to solve it.)

Synonym: 複習

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/okiokifamily/posts/有人在影片留言反映-為什麼我們有時會中英夾雜-我們一早有注意到這個問題問所以上字幕的時候全部改成為中文只有極少數情況例外例如英文字-sophisticated-/1187675216048224/

standby

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to tell somebody to be ready to do something anytime without making them feel ordered to do the task.

Usage: E.g. 聽日放工記住隨時standby,有可能有客搵你。(Remember to standby tomorrow after work, as there may be customers who need you.)

Synonym: 待命;候命

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3476706/page/1

start film

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to starting a fight.

Usage: E.g. This is a school! Don't start a film here!

Synonym: 開片

stay

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐?(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月?(May I stay at your home for several months?)

Synonym: 逗留

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sammy.goew/post/DSP4G9Zkqqb/請問有冇香港人會喺曼谷stay多幾日是咁的我開場前寄存咗我部dji同腳架但係我走咗先醒起而寄存點依家已經閂咗-我又今晚機走求好心人幫我取回薄酬

suppose

Definition: A generic term for a number of equivalent Cantonese words used to avoid absolute certainty.

Usage: E.g. 件貨suppose今日到。(預期-expectedly/predictably) E.g. 我suppose你係岩既。 (假設-guess) E.g. 警察係suppose要保護市民。 (應該-should)

take

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Konger girls to refer to having the strength or resilience to handle something emotionally, as in "I can take it", which they can sometimes do to a certain extent.

Usage: E.g. 出到嚟網上有咁多言論一路話我,我就覺得算啦,我係做呢行,我take(接受)咗佢啦,唔緊要啦。但take下take下,都take咗年幾兩年 (When I started working in this industry, there were so many discussions on the Internet talking about me, I thought it was okay because I knew I was in this industry, so I took it, it doesn't matter. But as I kept taking this and taking that, I realised that I had already been taking things in for a few years)

Synonym: 承受; 承受壓力

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359289/jw王灝兒分手後啞忍兩年-眼濕濕平反拜金論-我仲使乜入tvb拍劇?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

take two

Definition: Originated from a Hong Kong TV advertisement in the 90's, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a second chance, which is most known for warning someone that there is no second chance in life.

Usage: E.g. 香港的公益廣告曾有一句廣告詞「生命無『Take two』」很深入人心,意思是說「生命沒有第二次機會,要珍惜生命」(Hong Kong's public service advertisements once had a well-known slogan "There is no 'Take two' in life", which means "there is no second chance in life, we must cherish life".)

Synonym: 第二次機會

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1674492649207500800.html

toilet

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to refer to a washroom or restroom in a direct manner without sounding too blunt.

Usage: E.g. Jessie, 你宜家好去定toilet呀, 如果陣間watching, Mami唔想stand up disturb到人呀。(Jessie, you should go to the toilet now. Later while watching movie, Mami doesn't want to stand up and disturb anybody.)

Synonym: 廁所

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZmrL7QghVL/?igsh=dHAyMGZjMG95aHNz (use mobile version)

Define Your Term | Learn More
Feel free to send your comments and suggestions to info@megaexplorer.net.