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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


779 results found

preference

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to express a choice in something without stating their favour or to avoid sounding picky. Usage: E.g. 我今晚既preference係食西餐,但係又唔代表我成日都鍾意。(My preference is western cuisine tonight, but that doesn't mean I like it all the time.)Synonym: 偏愛; 偏好; 優先選擇Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3316788/page/27

struggle

Definition: (verb/adj.) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a less intense emotional state due to trivial matters. Usage: E.g. 好Struggle買唔買ps5。 (Really struggling on whether to buy Playstation 5.) E.g. 我仲struggle緊今晚食D咩好。(I'm still struggling on what to eat tonight.)Synonym: 掙扎Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3519800/page/1

plan

Definition: A more positive-sounding code-mixing term compared to the same item (計劃) in Cantonese.  Often pronounced as 'pan'. Usage: E.g. 做D咩都要plan定先得架麻。 E.g. 做D咩都要計劃好先得架麻。(you may sound like a schemer in this one! XD)Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

hesitate

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having a brief pause before acting rather than being so indecisive and not knowing what to do. Usage: E.g. 我都覺小貴,所以hesitate緊。不過真係好靚。(I think it's a bit expensive so I am hesitating. But it's really beautiful.)Synonym: 猶豫Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3167329/page/27

pork chop

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe a fat or ugly woman. (豬扒) Usage: E.g. I think this girl is such a pork chop! I have no interest in her at all! (豬扒)Synonym: 豬扒Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/16131/

Fan Tai Sui

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others. Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!Synonym: 犯太歲Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/

sell

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an exchange of goods or services for money, but often with an extra service of persuading and pushing the customer to buy something they don't want to buy at all. Usage: E.g. 個sales明明係sell野但係又講到唔係。(The salesperson was actually selling and pitching his product but he said he wasn't.)Synonym: 賣野; 推廣 Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=27464402

build chicken shed

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak. Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!Synonym: 搭雞棚Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam

enjoy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to taking pleasure from doing something. Sometimes, it can also be used intransitively as a verb to describe a state of mind where one is having a good time. Usage: E.g. 每次暴雨或者打風,唔知點解我都好enjoy。(Whenever there is heavy rain or typhoon, I don't know why I really enjoy it.)Synonym: 享受Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3973322/page/1

schedule

Definition: A code-mixing term that can hardly be replaced by the equivalent item in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 個project下個月deadline,記住mark低個schedule呀。 E.g. 請問你平時個schedule點架?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
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