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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


517 results found

hold

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to holding something physically (揸), but with the meaning of waiting for the return of something as well.

Usage: E.g. Hold住個電話先。 E.g. 個project兒家hold住左,因為要同個客傾返好先。

Synonym: 揸

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

hygiene

Definition: A code-mixing term that a "Jayden Mami" likes to use to refer more specifically to a person's habit in keeping clean, rather than the broader sense of cleanliness and sanitary conditions that the Cantonese equivalent term "衛生" denotes.

Usage: E.g. Jayden,你攞人啲嘢食之前有冇做好hygiene呀?(Jayden, did you have good hygiene before grabbing somebody else's food?)

Synonym: 衛生

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/4112744/Jayden之亂|KOL拍片諷刺「Jayden媽」偽ABC育兒法%E3%80%80揭爆紅現象時間線-港媽式教仔金句

I have no time

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local Hong Kong students to refer to having no time for activities such as dinner or party, which doesn't necessarily mean they have no more time left in their lives such as due to a terminal illness.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to join the party tonight? B: I have no time.

Synonym: 我冇時間

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj7SHv4Jhw4

IKEA

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers sometimes use to refer to the Swedish furniture store.

Usage: E.g. A: 咁你係叫 IKEA 定宜家家居?B: 姨媽傢俬 C: 宜家傢俬 (A: So do you say IKEA or Yee-Ga Furniture? B: Auntie Furniture. C: Yee-Ga Furniture)

Synonym: 宜家傢俬

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/FAxWjYYL-/

invitation

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to a meeting invitation sent out by the MS Outlook software.

Usage: E.g. 係咪聽日想開會傾呢樣野?唔該send個invitation黎先。

Synonym: 邀請

invite

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to treating someone a meal, such as lunch or dinner.

Usage: E.g. Can you invite you to dinner today?

Synonym: 請

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkP4AAqaKTk

invoice

Definition: The Hong Kong way of referring to the invoice sent to customers, as '發票' is rarely used.

Usage: E.g. 張invoice send左比個客未呀? E.g. 喂,你咁快send左invoice黎係咪想追我數呀?

Synonym: 發票

IT

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the information technology sector, which tends to be associated with the result of many wrongdoings and unfortunate happenings such as being laid off.

Usage: E.g. 上世做錯事 今世做it (My past life was filled with wrongdoings; This life got me into IT sector.) E.g. 少時讀IT,大個唔見天,裁員就你先。(If we choose to study IT when we were young, we will grow up not seeing the daylight. Company lay offs will also happen to us first.

Synonym: 資訊科技

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAYf1twTSF/

jam

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to paper being stuck in a printer.

Usage: E.g. 個printer又jam紙?唔係掛?

Synonym: 卡住紙

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

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)

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