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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


480 results found

check

Definition: A word that seems to have originated from a Chinese emperor, due to it being mistakenly aired from a TVB episode. Usage: 同朕check吓!(By TVB actor 陳豪)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

somehow

Definition: A way to avoid losing face or embarassment when you do not know how to answer the boss's question. However, it can be considered unprofessional if used too much at a workplace. Usage: E.g. 你:我搵過好多次,但係somehow條數搵唔到。老細:哦,係呀?(你:我搵過好多次,但係唔知點解條數搵唔到。老細:咁實有原因架喎?) E.g. 你:個printer somehow壞左呀。老細:哦。(你:個printer唔知點解壞左呀。老細:我唔想聽到唔知點解!)

start film

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to starting a fight. Usage: E.g. This is a school! Don't start a film here!Synonym: 開片

one man band

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a job position that covers almost all the duties that an entire department has. Usage: E.g. 我份工係one man band,所以都幾忙架。Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/一腳踢

finish

Definition: Often added with a ‘咗’ like the ‘-ed’ form in English for past tense, this is a code-mixing term that is used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to having completed something, such as an event or project. Usage: E.g. 你地finish咗個project未呀? E.g. 終於finish咗個event!Synonym: 完成Reference: https://www.businesstimes.com.hk/articles/157451/創新科技獎學金2024-挑選25位傑出大學生-每人最高15萬港元獎學金/

jor

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘咗’, which is equivalent to the ‘-ed’ particle for past tense in English. Usage: E.g. Jo jor gong for mei ar? (做咗功課未呀?) E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食咗飯未呀?)Synonym: 咗Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

cls

Definition: (textspeak, vulgar) A Kongish code-mixing term derived from '痴撚線', which is used to describe someone who has gone crazy or insane. (Also see 'chi sin'.) Usage: E.g. CLS公司俾得果幾千蚊人工仲要人日日OT..Synonym: 痴撚線Reference: https://hkdic.my-helper.com/CLS/

BB

Definition: Often used as 'baby pig' (BB豬) in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to call their lovers. Usage: E.g. BB豬,你買D咩生日禮物比我呀?

Key

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used with “啱key”, which refers to whether you get along well with somebody. Explanation: like the key in a piece of music. Usage: Eg. 你同你朋友啱唔啱key呀?Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/啱key

rrrrr

Definition: An ultra rhotic expression that is added onto the ending of Cantonese characters, which is adopted by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to create an ABC accent. Also known as 'JM tone'. Usage: E.g. 呢一區我淨係試過兩rrrrrrn間餐廳。E.g. 有時候我都幾想rrrrrn去吓旅行。Reference: https://medium.com/@atsunakai/jm-tone-%E5%8D%B3%E4%BF%82-94e3532186e1