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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


742 results found

small potato

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers who want to sound humble yet not so insignificant when they are being asked what position they work in a company. Usage: E.g. A: 哇!你間公司好出名喎。 B: 係呀,不過我只係small potato。(A: Wow! Your company is very famous. B: Yes, but I am just a small potato.)Synonym: 小角色Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/4063839/page/1

jo sun

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say good morning because they cannot pronounce the Cantonese equivalent words '早晨' properly. Usage: E.g. ABC:Jo sun! 本土香港人:吓?你講咩話? ABC:Good morning!Synonym: 早晨

tick

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to marking something in order to show that it is chosen or correct. Usage: E.g. 快D tick點心紙啦。我好餓呀。(Tick the dim sum order form quickly. I'm so hungry.)Synonym: 剔Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWL_RQQysfH/ (use mobile version)

cheung fun

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to steamed rice noodle rolls, which is a popular snack at street food vendors. However, this is not to be confused with ‘fun cheung’, which means ‘dick face’ in English. Usage: E.g. Let‘s eat some fun cheung at a Chinese restaurant! Sorry, I mean cheung fun!Synonym: 腸粉Reference: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3318414/what-cheung-fun-different-types-chinese-rice-noodle-rolls-and-how-make-them

mm goi

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say 'please', 'excuse me' or 'thank you', depending on the situation. (唔該) Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (To call the waiter at a restaurant) E.g. Mm goi jeh jeh (Excuse me, please let me through) E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you very much!) E.g. Set A lunch, mm goi. (Set A lunch, please) E.g. Mm goi, where is the MTR? (May I ask where is the MTR?)Synonym: 唔該Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520%E2%80%9Chou%2520ging,jeng%E2%80%9D%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

leng

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that Hong Kong expats use to describe a female who is pretty, or a male who is handsome, or an object that is good-looking. Usage: E.g. You look very leng today! (你今日好靚呀!) E.g. Wa! This dress ho leng ah! (哇!呢條裙好靚呀!) E.g. You are so leng jai! (你好靚仔呀!)Synonym: 靚Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,91

on9

Definition: (vulgar, textspeak) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who's idiotic and stupid. It originated from the Cantonese words '憨鳩' because the '鳩' (penis) has a similar pronunciation as the number 9 in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Why did you piss on me? Are you on9? (憨鳩) E.g. Don't be so on99 and watch where you're going! (憨鳩鳩)Synonym: 憨鳩Reference: https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=28512

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)Synonym: 查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

dank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' and often pronounced as '釘橋' meaning nail bridge in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express their gratitude towards someone. Usage: E.g. Dank you哂你幫我手呀。不如我今日請你食lunch好嗎?(Thank you for helping me out. What about I treat you lunch today?)Synonym: thank you, 釘橋Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLR0QEuMT7j/ (use mobile version)

mo lei tau

Definition: Transliterated from '冇厘頭' meaning 'with no source', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is used to describe something that makes no sense. It originated from a type of slapstick humour associated with Hong Kong popular culture in the late 20th century, most notably in Steven Chow's (周星馳) movies. Usage: E.g. I think this story is mo lei tau! But it gives me a very good laugh! (我覺得呢個故事簡直係冇厘頭!不過真係好搞笑!)Synonym: 冇厘頭Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_lei_tau
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