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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


985 results found

bend machine

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to describe having an overly powerful ability to do something, such as winning a game.

Usage: E.g. I can't believe you are winning every game! Are you bending machine?!

Synonym: 屈機

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-cantonese-slang-internet

Best

Definition: Often expressed as ‘老best’ meaning 'old best', this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to refer to a best friend that a person has known for a long time. (呢個好大部分時候係攞嚟應用自己啲friend呀樣表達自己個friend係好老友囉咁樣)

Usage: E.g. 你哋睇下呢個係我老best。(Let me show all of you. This is my old best friend.)

Synonym: 睇下呢個係我個好朋友, 老友, old best friend

Reference: https://mingpaomonthly.com/article/details/語文.書話/2025-02/1737624129007/老best、bestie有咩分別?%20(歐陽偉豪)

best friend

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a friend who gets along with you very well, even though it does not always mean it is someone who you can have a deep talk with, unlike '老best' in Cantonese meaning old best friend.

Usage: E.g. 我同我“Best Friend”玩咗好多年,但實際上我從來都無同過佢講我嘅心事,心入面仲會成日妒忌佢,成日當佢係我競爭對手,究竟咁樣仲叫唔叫best friend 呢.... (E.g. I played with my "Best Friend" for years, but in fact I have never shared what is in my heart with him, and would often be jealous of him and treat him as my competitor Is that still called a best friend?)

Synonym: 最好朋友

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/705900/page/1

BiLiBaLa

Definition: Pronounced as 'bee-lee-bah-la', this is a code-mixing onomatopoepic phrase used by native Hong Kongers in a 90's limerick to describe someone talking a lot, loudly or fast.

Usage: E.g. XXX(人名)未夠18歲學人揸飛機,跌落屎坑執玻璃,返到屋企唔忿氣,BiLiBaLa放臭屁,阿媽以為漏煤氣,原來衰仔放緊屁。(E.g. XXX (name) learned to drive a plane under 18 years old, and fell into the toilet to pick up the glass. He returned home feeling resentful, then kept talking a lot and made a stinky fart. His mother thought there was a gas leak, but it turned out that the bad boy was farting.)

Synonym: 嗶哩叭啦

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/830396/i-don-t-know-食鬆糕下句-香港人20首小學雞打油詩-你識幾多首?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

binder

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '大文件夾' to refer to a large-sized folder for keeping documents.

Usage: E.g. 如果folder唔夠大,搵個binder再放哂D文件入去。

Synonym: 大文件夾

bitchuation

Definition: Originated from 'bitch' and 'situation', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a situation where a person's patience runs out and starts being bitchy.

Usage: E.g. 意思:喺無可奈何既情況下,只能做個bitch。(Meaning: In a situation where one feels helpless, the only way out is to be a bitch.)

Synonym: 逼人太甚的處境

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdED72bCcze/?img_index=1&stkn=MjRibnk3MnBmYjFl (use mobile version)

black son

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to being very unlucky or unfortunate. (黑仔)

Usage: E.g. Today I forgot to bring my homework and give teacher scold. Very black son! (好黑仔)

Synonym: 黑仔

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

blow water

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.

Usage: E.g. 收皮啦!唔好再blow water!

Synonym: 吹水

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

body

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the visually appealing exterior of something, such as the figure of a person.

Usage: E.g. 2023年落選港姐郭珮文,參選時憑著驕人的35C身材獲封「最強Body」(Juliana Kwok, a Miss Hong Kong contestant in 2023, was dubbed the "Ultimate Body" during the competition thanks to her impressive 35C figure.)

Synonym: 身體

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3585362

bok choy

Definition: Originated from ''白菜' (baak6 choi3), this is a romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to refer to a popular kind of cabbage served in Chinese restaurants. (Also bak choi, pak choi, pak choy.)

Usage: E.g. There are also rich choices of vegetables, e.g. choy sum, spinach, bok choy...

Synonym: 白菜

Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316181429_A_dictionary_of_Hong_Kong_English_words_from_the_fragrant_harbor

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