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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


753 results found

puppy love

Definition: An irreplaceable code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of love relationship that one can get while being a teenager or kid. Usage: E.g. 咁細個就談戀愛?Puppy love呀? E.g. 唔好成日掛住puppy love啦。讀好D書先啦。Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

list out

Definition: Often mistakened as grammatically incorrect and seen as redundant with ‘out’ conforming to ‘列出‘ in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to jotting down a number of items on a piece of paper or device. Usage: E.g. 你可以先list out所有項目,然後研究每一個點樣做。(You may first list out all the items, then study how each one can be done.)Synonym: 列出Reference: https://ludwig.guru/s/list+out

count down

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese. Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)Synonym: 倒數Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party

Nei g ng ng ngo kong mut?

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers when they want to ask whether someone understands what they are talking about. Usage: E.g. Nei g ng g ngo kong mut? (Do you know what I am saying?)Synonym: 你知唔知我講乜?Reference: https://www.socialcareer.org/blogs/do-you-really-know-cantonese

You big me?

Definition: Derived from '你大我?‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they feel that someone is bluffing them by a display of confidence. Usage: E.g. You big me? 我big返你and give you some color you see呀!(你大我?我大返你再比D顏色你睇呀!)Synonym: 你大我?

dude

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'. Usage: E.g. Dude,你係到搞D咩呀? E.g. Dude,你好還錢喇喎? E.g. Dude,你以為你自己好型呀?Synonym: 大佬

Jayden Mami

Definition: A code-mixing term created by Hong Kong KOL Matthew (matthewpwj_) and Janice (janicewanwan) to refer a typical Hong Kong mother whose teaching style towards children often includes many English words mixed into their Cantonese dialogue. Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,如果你兒家唔食野,下次Mami就唔帶你黎呢D restaurant,去返樓下茶餐廳食算喇。(Jayden, if you don't eat, Mami will not bring you to this kind of restaurant again, we will go back to the Cha Chan Teng downstairs next time.) E.g. Elaine,你係咪講粗口呀,Mami好shocked呀。你平時唔係咁架喎,你係邊度學壞呀? (Elaine, did you swear? Mami is so shocked. You were never like this before. Where did you learn this? E.g. Esmond,陣間uncle auntie黎記住嗌人呀。大聲D呀。(Esmond, when Uncle and Auntie arrives, remember to address them. Loudly.)Synonym: Jayden阿媽Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWqgOP1Dyfq/ (use mobile version)

take

Definition: Made popular by an anti-drug advertisement featuring Hong Kong celebrity Aaron Kwok, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use with the Cantonese word '嘢', which means 'take drugs' altogether, even though 'take嘢' literally means 'take thing'. Usage: E.g. 保安局禁毒宣傳品出現「公關災難」,令「一齊企硬 唔take嘢」標語,在柱面上呈現「齊企硬 Take嘢」。There was a "PR disaster" in the Security Bureau's anti-drug promotional materials, which caused the slogan "Stand firm together, don't take any drugs" to be presented as ""Stand firm together and Take Drugs".Synonym: take嘢, take drugsReference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWGb-PriJLK/?igsh=b3Vwa2xmNHFuZ2Qz (use mobile version)

hold gap see

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'very urgent faeces', this is an Englishised code-mixing phrase that is used by native Hong Kongers when one urgently needs to poop. He or she is just so desperate to go to the washroom that the sh*t may already be coming out of the a**hole. Usage: E.g. Hold gap see! Please excuse me for a minute!Synonym: 好急屎Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100063638007113/posts/1372326404898613/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

light light dick

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that is likely to have derived from '輕輕地', which is an adverb that means 'gently'. Even though the 'dick' in the expression seems to refer to the male's penis, it is most likely a typo according to some native Hong Kongers and the AI. However, it is also purported to be the transliteration of ‘的’, which translates to ‘輕輕的‘, an expression that is often used by the Taiwanese poet Hamilton Hsu (徐志摩). Usage: E.g. Let me light light dick remind you... E.g. Light light dick push har.Synonym: 輕輕地Reference: https://www.facebook.com/KongishDaily/posts/light-light-dick-push-har-supportkongish/2052444074897500/?locale=sw_KE
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