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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


716 results found

proud of

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to express admiration and honour towards a child without sounding too arrogant, self-important or dramatic as the Cantonese equivalent terms denote.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,你今次考試一百分呀?Mami好proud of你呀。(Jayden, you got 100 marks in this exam? Mami is so proud of you!)

Synonym: 驕傲;以你為榮;自豪

Reference: https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/32423/does-the-usage-of-the-word-proud-骄傲-自豪-or-而荣-in-chinese-differ-from-that-i

act like a crab

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is bragging about their achievements. (扮哂蟹 - baan6 saai3 haai5)

Usage: E.g. A: Stop acting like a crab! You think you are better than me?!

Synonym: 扮哂蟹

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/

pineapple chicken

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who likes leeching off others. (菠羅雞 - bo1 lo4 gai1)

Usage: E.g. That girl is such a pineapple chicken! She just comes every time for the benefits and does not share or contribute.

Synonym: 菠羅雞

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/60017/

no thank

Definition: Often mistaken as 'no thanks' or refusal to an offer, this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to acknowledge someone's gratitude, which is comparable to 'You are welcome'.

Usage: E.g. 岩岩做野果時幫佢手 佢同我講Thanks。我諗唔到除左No Thanks/ It’s Fine之外仲有咩回應。(When I started working for him at that time, he used to say 'thanks'. But I could not think of any phrases other than 'No Thanks/It's fine' as a response.)

Synonym: 唔洗唔該

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/599066/page/1

worse

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to something of bad quality.

Usage: E.g. 個湯凍嘅,真係好worse囉。

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

exposure

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to being able to gain experience of something by being in a particular environment rather than having physical contact with something. However, it is not to be confused with public exposure.

Usage: E.g. 學習語言要夠exposure。(Learning a language needs enough exposure.) E.g. 做開大行去細行一定唔慣,exposure 又細啲,資源又小啲。(It must be hard getting used to working in a small company if you came from a large company. There is less exposure and resources are also less.)

Synonym: 接觸

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2363704/page/1

ying

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is cool, handsome, or stylish. (型 - ying4)

Usage: E.g. Wa! You look so ying today! (型)

Synonym: 型

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

eat banana

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to tell someone to eat sh*t or cock. (食蕉)

Usage: E.g. Hahaha! You lose this game! Eat banana la!

Synonym: 食蕉

Reference: https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/16113/what-does-蕉-mean-in-cantonese

eat dead cat

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone being a scapegoat or taking the blame for something that they did not do.

Usage: E.g. I did not cheat in the exam and you made me eat dead cat??!

Synonym: 食死貓

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

eat wet rice

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is useless and is a waste of money to raise him or her up. (食濕米 or 食塞米)

Usage: E.g. You cannot get anything done at all today? Do you eat wet rice? (你係咪食塞米?)

Synonym: 食濕米, 食塞米

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/%E9%A3%9F%E5%A1%9E%E7%B1%B3

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