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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


892 results found

adhoc

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to tasks that have not been planned and must be done at the time as they were assigned.

Usage: E.g. 今日公司唔係好忙,不過有好多adhoc野做。

Synonym: 臨時工作

afford

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having enough money to buy something without indicating one's ability to cope with such burden.

Usage: E.g. 點解要鍾意自己 afford 唔起嘅 luxury? (Why love luxury that you can't afford?)

Synonym: 負擔得起; 買得起

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3vop4Epm7/ (use mobile version)

airport

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers when they want to describe a girl with flat chest but don't want to get slapped.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you like this girl? B: No, I think she is an airport!

Synonym: 飛機場

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

Aiya

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used as an interjection to express frustration or annoyance when something surprising occurs. (哎呀)

Usage: E.g. Aiya! I missed the bus! E.g. Aiya! I dropped the cake! E.g. Aiya! I just needed one more mark to pass the test!

Synonym: 哎呀

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/seven-cantonese-phrases-that-should-be-in-the-oed

all day breakfast

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to the breakfast set that is served all day long, but don't actually eat that often except during breakfast hours.

Usage: E.g. 食all day breakfast? 唔好喇掛,就黎六點,食返晚餐好過啦。(Eat all day breakfast? I don't think so since it's about 6 o'clock. I think it's better to eat dinner.)

Synonym: 全日早餐

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/教煮/93368/all-day-breakfast-麵包雞蛋炸薯花款多-一張圖鑒辨清楚

alma mater

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the school that a person had graduated from. However, working class and grassroots Hong Kongers may know this term but not use it because it sounds too Latin than English. Hence, they find ‘mother school’ is more sensible and practical to use.

Usage: E.g. 你既alma mater係邊間學校?

Synonym: 母校, mother school

Reference: https://youtube.com/shorts/Br8CWgYQNak?si=aFaIMvdv2YSnCxvh

anyhow

Definition: Usually placed at the start of a clause or sentence, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to replace the phrase '無論如何', meaning 'no matter what' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 我知你好忙,但anyhow,你一定要幫我。

Synonym: 點都好

anyway

Definition: A term used by native Hong Kongers to divert one topic to another in a polite manner.

Usage: E.g. 係呀,個proposal已經搞掂了。Anyway, 我兒家要去開meeting。 E.g. 份proposal仲未搞掂?Anyways, 我兒家要食lunch喇。

Synonym: 點都好; 無論如何

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

appetizer

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to a dish of food that is eaten before a meal to stimulate or whet one's appetite.

Usage: E.g. D人未到,不如食個appetizer等住先啦?(People have not arrived yet. What about eating an appetizer while we wait?)

Synonym: 前菜

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2723472/page/2

Apple care

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers who rely on Apple company completely for their phone warranty service.

Usage: E.g. Q: 點解你個IPhone唔用case? A: 因為我有Apple care. Apple幫我care. 我唔洗care. I don’t care! (Q: Why don't you have a case for your IPhone? A: Because I have Apple Care. Apple helps me take care of my phone, which means I don't need to care. I don't care!)

Synonym: 蘋果保養

Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=30600166

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