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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


982 results found

effective communication

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers who believe that making use of profanity is only for the sake of communicating effectively because a person can still be good-hearted regardless.

Usage: E.g. 真心 小弟現實真係冇咁爛口 講粗口都係為咗Effective Communication 盡量都對事不對人 認真講句 講粗口唔緊要 最重要係心地善良 (To be honest, I'm really not that much of a bad mouth. Swearing is for effective communication. I always try to focus on the problem and not people. Seriously, it doesn't matter if you swear. The most important thing is to be kind-hearted.)

Synonym: 有效溝通

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAaB6Mq45i/

eight woman

Definition: (vulgar) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe a female person who is nosy and meddles in other people's business. Similar to 'bitch' in English. Literal meaning of 八婆: eight old woman

Usage: E.g. Mind your own business, eight woman! (八婆) E.g. Are you done messing around, die eight woman?! (死八婆) E.g. You are such an eight woman! (正八婆)

Synonym: 八婆

Reference: https://www.secretchina.com/news/b5/2013/11/29/521805.html

elaborate

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local and overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to testify a person's knowledge or believe that the other person can be more eloquent in expressing their ideas.

Usage: E.g. 唔好意思。我唔明你講咩喎。你可以elaborate一吓嗎?(I’m sorry. But I don’t understand what you are talking about. Can you elaborate?)

Synonym: 詳細說明

energy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local celebrity Jo Lam to refer to having the power and ability to have enthuasiasm, curiosity and interest towards other people, in order to improve your quality of life and have what he calls superpower.

Usage: E.g. 林作:如果你想改善你既世界,應該最想追求嗰個quality係嗎?答案就係energy。我唔係一個最係大聲講野,乍乍跳ADHD野既人,但係我可以喺每一個場合帶出嗰種enthusiasm,嗰種curiosity,嗰種interest,係一個會令到個場裡面既人更加被感染,更加對生命係有一種熱誠喺度。你要既係呢樣野,先至係我既所謂Superpower。(E.g. If you want to improve your world, then you would most likely want to pursue that quality of life? The answer is energy. I'm not a person who talks the loudest and hyperactive like ADHD, but I can bring out that enthusiasm, that curiosity, that interest in every setting, which will influence people to have a greater passion for life. This is what you want, which is what I call superpower.)

Synonym: 活力; 能量

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAWrSkepea/

Engrish

Definition: A code-mixing term that Fake ABC Hong Kongers use when they want to challenge another person’s English by stressing the prestigious 'r' sound in English even when there is no r sound in an English word.

Usage: E.g. Do you know Engrish? E.g. I'm sorry I don't speak Chinese. Can you speak Engrish?

Synonym: English

Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Engrish&oldformat=true&variant=zh-hk

enjoy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to taking pleasure from doing something. Sometimes, it can also be used intransitively as a verb to describe a state of mind where one is having a good time.

Usage: E.g. 每次暴雨或者打風,唔知點解我都好enjoy。(Whenever there is heavy rain or typhoon, I don't know why I really enjoy it.)

Synonym: 享受

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3973322/page/1

exact7ly

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students when they absol-f***ing-lutely agree with what the other person is saying. In other cases, it can be used as an adverb to describe something resembles the appearance or description of another thing.

Usage: E.g. A: 你老友今日病左所以唔食buffet? B: Exact7ly. (A: Your friend couldn't eat buffet today because he is sick? B: E-f***ing-xactly. E.g. 你同你弟弟個樣exact7ly一模一樣。(You and your brother look exactly the f***ing same.)

Synonym: 正柒是

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100069834671890/posts/9250444321648514/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Excellent

Definition: Used in a famous quote in the movie of Night King, this is a code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity Dayo Wong (黃子華) to emphasize that nothing can beat something that is truly excellent.

Usage: E.g. 乜能都唔及Excellent. (Nothing can compare to Excellent.)

Synonym: 頂級

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM1q2CIepLQ

expected salary

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the amount of money that a candidate hopes for a job but often never receives.

Usage: E.g. 致hr. 如果expected salary 你比唔到,請你唔好call人去interview (To Human Resources Department: If you can't pay the expected salary, please don't call someone for an interview)

Synonym: 期望薪金

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BATTJ3hLeN/

experience

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers often use when they are excited to hear about another person's experience(s) in something, as the term is also countable as opposed to the Cantonese equivalent term.

Usage: E.g. 可以同大家share吓你既travelling experiences嗎? (Could you share your travelling experiences with all of us?)

Synonym: 經驗

Reference: https://urbanpixxels.com/best-things-to-do-in-hong-kong/

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