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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


48 results found

finish

Definition: Often added with a ‘咗’ like the ‘-ed’ form in English for past tense, this is a code-mixing term that is used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to having completed something, such as an event or project. Usage: E.g. 你地finish咗個project未呀? E.g. 終於finish咗個event!Synonym: 完成Reference: https://www.businesstimes.com.hk/articles/157451/創新科技獎學金2024-挑選25位傑出大學生-每人最高15萬港元獎學金/

for

Definition: A code-mixing term often used by working class Hong Kongers to indicate the purpose of a product, in order to pitch and sell it to a customer. Usage: E.g. 呢個app係for你地客戶用架,令到你地方便好多。 E.g. 呢樣產品係for女士用架,尤其係貪靚嗰D。Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/for#w100337

do

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to gestures and customs that an employee must do or learn when they work in a company. Usage: E.g. 老細黎到仲唔識DO? 快D讓座同沖杯咖啡比佢啦! E.g. 打工仔要識DO先得,如果咪好快冇得撈。Reference: https://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/lifestyle/archive/goodjob/23372

one man band

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job position that covers almost all the duties that an entire department has. Usage: E.g. 我份工係one man band,所以都幾忙架。Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/一腳踢

high tea

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to ‘下午茶’, which is afternoon tea. Usage: E.g. 今日下晝有冇時間high tea呀? E.g. High唔high tea呀你? (下午茶)Synonym: 下午茶

ferragamo

Definition: A code-mixing term used by the upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the Italian luxury brand. However, the grassroots Hong Kongers pronounce it as '飛甩雞毛', which means the chicken dropping its feathers. Usage: E.g. A:你著緊咩牌子?飛甩雞毛?B:係Ferragamo呀。Synonym: 飛甩雞毛

cappacino

Definition: A code-mixing term used by the upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the espresso-based coffee made with steamed milk because the Cantonese equivalent '意大利泡沫咖啡' is too sophisticated to say. Usage: E.g. A:我平時最鍾意飲意大利泡沫咖啡。香港人:你指cappucino?Synonym: 意大利泡沫咖啡

load

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to putting information into a computer. (載入) Usage: E.g. 點解個website load咁耐都load唔到架?Load得咁慢真係GG喇。Synonym: 載入

invitation

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to a meeting invitation sent out by the MS Outlook software. Usage: E.g. 係咪聽日想開會傾呢樣野?唔該send個invitation黎先。Synonym: 邀請

discuss

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to talk about a topic with someone or a group of people and have them share their ideas and opinions. Usage: E.g. 不如一齊discuss吓個project點樣做? E.g. 我地discuss吓個問題,然後再結論。可以嗎?Synonym: 討論