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


10 random words out of 910 results

Mommy told you

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong KOL Janice (janicewanwan) who is known for playing "Jayden’s mother" to emphasize the correctness of her teachings as a typical modern mom, which she says must be correct.

Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜有助 children 盡快 pick up English。Mommy told you 嘅一定是 correct 的. (Chinese-English code-mixing aids children in picking up English more quickly. Whatever Mommy told you must be correct.)

Synonym: 媽媽告訴你

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60339385/jayden之亂-中英夾雜潮文橫掃社交平台-諷刺港媽真實育兒方式?utm_campaign=native&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01webshare#google_vignette

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

diu

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers in place of the expletive f-word in English when one is angry and wants to curse. However, the usage of this term may actually only refer to scolding someone and nothing to do with cursing or having sexual intercourse at all. Sometimes, ‘ed’ or ‘ing’ is added to the verb to indicate tense in case the listener finds it ungrammatical.

Usage: E.g. Diu! I lost the game again! E.g. My teacher diu'ed me for talking in class today. E.g. Stop diuing me! It wasn’t my fault. Are you crazy?!

Synonym: 屌

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Y2vjEzbU/?img_index=2&igsh=MWlxaDBhbHJlYTR6aA== (use mobile version)

Rest in piece

Definition: Purportedly to have been a typo, this is a code-mixing term used by Hong Kong actress singer Shiga Lin to tell someone to rest in peace.

Usage: E.g. Fast & Furious has always been one of my favourite movies. A great actor, may Paul Walker Rest in Piece.

Synonym: 安息

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5bBdbn4A8

locker

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '儲物櫃'.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀。我唔記得左我D野放左喺locker到。

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

That's why

Definition: A fancy way of saying 'so' or 'therefore' in Cantonese and to tone down the causal relationship between two items.

Usage: E.g. 係喇,你都冇同我講。That’s why我今次冇預到你份。 E.g. 你都冇比錢我。That's why我冇幫你買戲飛。

Sor

Definition: Often added with a ‘lor’ (囉) denoting a tone of reluctance, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to say sorry or apologize to someone.

Usage: E.g. A: 喂,你踩到我隻腳喎!B:SOR囉。(A: Hey, you stepped on my foot! B: SOR LOR.)

Synonym: 對唔住,sorry

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DScomA6EVMW/?img_index=1&igsh=MWNwaWNrd2tkM3JtYg== (use mobile version)

main

Definition: Derived from the noun ‘maintenance’, this is a code-mixing verb used to refer to carrying out maintenance work on something in order to keep it running without errors and issues.

Usage: E.g. D code寫簡短啲,main就容易做啲啦。(Write simpler code so you can carry out maintenance more easily.)

Synonym: Maintenance,維護

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2545265/page/1

dress code

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the rules being set on how you should wear for a situation or event.

Usage: E.g. 聽晚要去公司function?有冇話咩dress code呀?

Synonym: 服裝規範

Reference: https://www.englishok.com.tw/toeic/toeic-issue/crystal_lee_english_speaking

on and off

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe having a habit of joining events sometimes or occasionally without sounding they like to quit and join again all the time.

Usage: E.g. 我最近好忙呀,所以on and off咁樣join啲events囉。(I have been very busy, so I joined events on and off.)

Synonym: 斷斷續續

Reference: https://blog.english4u.net/blog2.aspx?id=1830

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