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


916 results found

let you be the government official

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to express disbelief at someone in fulfilling a promise. (比個官你做)

Usage: E.g. You say you will return your money by tomorrow? I let you be the government official!

Synonym: 比個官你做

finish the ritual and ditch the monk

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not show gratitude to those who helped him/her after a goal is reached.

Usage: E.g. I have helped you reach your goal and you complete forget about me? So does that mean you finished the ritual and ditch the monk?

Synonym: 打完齋唔要和尚

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/打完齋唔要和尚

You do the first, I do the fifteenth

Definition: Originated from Ming Dynasty where a husband does the housework for his wife for the latter half of the month, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to retaliate against the wrongdoing of a person, which is like 'eye for an eye' in English.

Usage: E.g. You do the first, I do the fifteenth. If you keep throwing trash in front of my door, then I will do the same to you too! E.g. You do new moon, I do full moon. E.g. You do Lunar New Year, I do Mid-Autumn Festival.

Synonym: 你做初一,我做十五

Reference: https://www.weekendhk.com/weekspecial/你做初一-我做十五-英文-ctb072-jc-1368860/3/

Definition: Originated from meat being very expensive back in the 1950s, this is a Kongish code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers who like to joke about giving birth to a piece of cha siu rather than their children.

Usage: E.g. You are so naughty and never do well in school! I would rather give birth to a cha siu than you!

Synonym: 生舊叉燒好過生你

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-生舊叉燒好過生你-better-to-give-birth-to-char-siu-than-you/#:~:text=Sik6%20caa1%20siu,back%20into%20its%20own%20court.

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to strongly express promise in doing something when the other person does not believe in you. (批個頭比你當凳坐)

Usage: E.g. If I don't return my money back to you by tomorrow, then I cut my head and let you sit on it as a chair!!!

Synonym: 批個頭比你當凳坐

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who refuses to concede despite knowing that they made the mistake in the first place. '死雞撐飯蓋' can also be shortened to '死撐' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. You know you've done wrong! Stop being like a dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid!

Synonym: 死雞撐飯蓋

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Definition: A Kongish expression used to describe someone who is so reckless that he or she is almost getting himself killed or into a big trouble.

Usage: You spent all your money on gambling? Do you know how to write the die character?!

Synonym: 你唔知個死字點寫

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where there is a scene or fight going on between people, and you are just excited to watch what will happen as a bystander. '食住花生等睇戲' can be shortened to '食花生' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. I have never seen people argue like this over Whatsapp! Let's eat peanuts while waiting to watch a film!

Synonym: 食住花生等睇戲

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where you cannot force someone into seeking help if they do not accept it.

Usage: E.g. I offered to help him with his homework but he never sent it over. Oh well... if the cow doesn't drink water, you cannot press the cow's head down.

Synonym: 牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

1999

Definition: Derived from '一舊舊' meaning 'in lumps', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to someone talking in an unclear, broken manner. Sometimes, it can also refer to work being done in a sloppy way.

Usage: E.g. 最後功能就係開會叫晒啲落手做既同business owner黎自己傾,自己就成個文員咁係側邊mark notes,有啲廢pm就連呢part都做到1999要人事後叫佢改 (E.g. The last useful thing they would do is to hold a meeting that lets the workers and business owners to talk to each other, and the project manager would just be like a clerk marking notes at the side. Some crappy project managers would even do this part in a very sloppy way that people needed to tell them to revise it afterwards.)

Synonym: 一舊舊

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-internet-and-texting-slang-to-use-right-now

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