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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


282 results found

dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid

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

chicken out

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to refer to someone deciding not to do something because they are too frightened. Usage: E.g. 我地講吓飲啤酒咋喎。你唔係咁快就chicken out嘛?Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1368997059457323008.html

no need to ask Ah Gui

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something that is so obvious that there is no need to ask anyone about it, especially after finding out the wrong of somebody. 'Ah Gui' is a name that originated from an infamous official (李世桂) in the Qing Dynasty. Usage: E.g. It must be him who let out the secrets! No need to ask Ah Gui!Synonym: 唔洗問阿貴Reference: https://www.kamadelivery.com/blog/posts/香港10大俗語-地道文化背景大解構/

slow ton ton eat wonton

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does things very slowly. Usage: E.g. Get work done quickly! Stop slow ton ton eat wonton!Synonym: 慢吞吞食雲吞

lang

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to '靚', which describes something as beautiful or good-looking. Usage: E.g. No, but seriously it’s really lang, you are the one who said hou ce right?Reference: http://www.lingref.com/isb/4/039ISB4.PDF

shopping

Definition: A more neutral-sounding term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to '購物' or '買野', which signify the commitment to buying things. Usage: E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去商場啦。男朋友:吓?又買野?!女朋友:唔係呀。去shopping咋嘛。 E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去shopping啦。男朋友:又買野?!女朋友:去window shopping咋嘛。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/1177618/Cantonese_English_code_switching_research_in_Hong_Kong_A_survey_of_recent_research

show off

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use instead of '炫耀', which sounds too formal to be used in conversation.  Also used as 'show qualie' sometimes. Usage: E.g. 唔好成日係到show off啦。知道你勁喇。E.g. 成日講野都夾雜英文。你喺到show qualie呀?

boss

Definition: Often pronounced as '波士', this is a more polite sounding code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to '老闆', especially when working in a corporate company. Usage: E.g. 做波士就好啦。我地呢班打工仔一世做奴隸。Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

leng

Definition: A romanised Cantonese term that westernised Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is pretty or good-looking, who is usually a female. Usage: E.g. Your look very leng today! (靚) E.g. Wa! This dress ho leng ah! (好靚呀)Synonym: 靚

vely good

Definition: Often pronounced as 'vely gud', this is a code-mixing expression that grassroots Hong Kongers like to use when they cannot think of any other way to complement or give praise to something.  'Vely' (very) can also be used with other words such as 'delicious', even though delicious already denotes the meaning of excellence in food quality. Usage: E.g. 哇,今次做得好。Vely gud! E.g. 哇,D牛扒真係vely delicious呀!