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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


624 results found

challenge

Definition: An alternative way of referring to someone who's getting on your nerves, as the equivalent term '挑戰' in Cantonese sounds too much like a real duel or battle and hence too provocative to use.

Usage: E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到挑戰我。你:我幾時有挑戰過你呀?! E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到challenge我。你:*silence*

Synonym: 挑戰

champagne

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of drinking champagnes.

Usage: E.g. 今日係禮拜五晚,我地黎支champagne嗱?!

Synonym: 香檳

charge

Definition: 1. A code-mixing term that refers to a payment for goods or services. 2. Often pronounced as '差廚' (caa1 cyu4), this is a code-mixing term that is used by Hong Kongers to refer to being charged for a crime.

Usage: E.g. 呢間餐廳有冇minimum charge? E.g. 今次冇落charge?!真幸運!

cheat

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to any sort of dishonest behaviour by men that is unforgivable.

Usage: E.g. 所以當我上網見到啲人寫嗰啲咩唔願意共咩苦,唔係我唔肯共患難,唔係我唔同甘共苦喎,而家係……佢cheat喎!(So when I saw some people's comments on the internet saying that we were not willing to share our suffering, it's not that I refused to share the hardships, it's not that I didn't share the joys and sorrows. It's that... he cheated!)

Synonym: 欺騙

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60360165/jw剖白被背叛仍硬食拜金標籤真相-痛斥網絡風氣-永遠女仔就係雞?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

check in

Definition: An ultra convenient code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to registering your arrival at a place like a hotel or airport, as the Cantonese equivalent '辦理入住手續' sounds too long and verbose.

Usage: E.g. 快D check in左先啦,至後再慢慢搵野食。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

chee sor hai bin

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to ask where a washroom is.

Usage: E.g. Chee sor hai bin? (廁所喺邊?)

Synonym: 廁所喺邊?

Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

cheese cake

Definition: Often expressed as two separate words ‘cheese’ and ‘cake’, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of going to Starbucks or Pacific Coffee to eat cheesecake.

Usage: E.g. A: 唔該,我想要十個blueberry cheeeeese cake. B: 唔好意思,冇咁多個。(Excuse me, may I have ten blueberry cheesecakes? B: I’m sorry, but there aren’t that many.)

Synonym: 芝士蛋糕

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/760451/page/1

chi ma gun

Definition: Known as Kongish and a much stronger version of 'chi sin' (痴線), this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers describe someone who is crazy, or a situation that is outrageous or unbelievable. (黐孖筋 - ci1 maa1 gan1) Literal meaning: To have your twin wires sticking together, causing short circuit in the brain.

Usage: E.g. Why did you scold me?! Are you chi ma gun??!! E.g. Chi ma gun! Don't dare to drive after drinking alchohol again!!

Synonym: 黐孖筋

chi sin

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is crazy, or a situation that is outrageous or unbelievable. (痴線 - ci1 sin3) Literal meaning: To have your electrical wires touching. Ie. Short circuit in the brain.

Usage: E.g. Chi sin! You used all your money to gamble?! E.g. Chi sin! The restaurant gave me the wrong bill! E.g. Chi sin! You won the lottery?!!

Synonym: 痴線

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

chicken and duck talk

Definition: (idiom) Derived from '雞同鴨講', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe two people who are unable to understand each other due to a difference of language or values. In other words, the conversation just seems to go round and round with each person talking over each other.

Usage: E.g. I think we will never understand each other because we work in different departments. What a chicken and duck talk!

Synonym: 雞同鴨講

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-word-of-the-month-雞同鴨講-chicken-duck-talk/

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