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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


434 results found

join

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to refer to the act of becoming a part of a group or party, but sometimes without the responsibility or effort of attending or participating. Usage: E.g. A: 今晚join唔join個after party? B: Join左喇,不過懶得去囉。(Will you join the after party tonight? B: I have joined already, but I'm too lazy to go.)Synonym: 加入,參加Reference: https://www.threads.com/@harpymill/post/DT0laZJDJNR/video-唔好意思係咪太遲join個party尋秦記-豎琴-harp-香港

size

Definition: Often pronounced with a '屎' (faeces) at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the overall dimensions of something. Usage: E.g. 請問呢件衫有咩size呀?。Synonym: 大小Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

total

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the total amount of something, such as for goods and services. Usage: E.g. 呢到total幾多錢呀?Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

miss

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong girls love to use to ask their boyfriends whether they feel sad or regret about not having their presence at times, as ‘掛住‘ in Cantonese could just be merely thinking about someone without such emotions, which is not enough to satisfy a Hong Kong girl’s demands. Usage: E.g. 呢幾日我地冇見。有冇miss我呀? (We have not seen each other these several days. Do you miss me?)Synonym: 掛住, 想念Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=17173491

nice

Definition: A way to express how nice someone is on the surface. Usage: E.g. 佢個人好nice,但係識耐左先知道原來係虛偽。E.g. 佢個人好nice,不過唔知個人好唔好呢?

level

Definition: Often used as '升le' (呢), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to having made an advancement in something. (升級) Usage: E.g. 哇!今次考試表現好左好多喎。簡直係升呢呀!Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

lai see

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.Synonym: 利是Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/

Gong hei fat choi

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to wish someone prosperous and good fortune during Chinese New Year. Sometimes , it may be mistakened as 'Happy new year' by non-Cantonese speaking expats, even though there is nothing really wrong with saying it to people excessively. (Variant: Kung hei fat choi) Usage: E.g. Happy Chinese New Year! Gong hei fat choi! Gong hei fat choi!Synonym: 恭喜發財Reference: https://www.zalora.com.hk/blog/lifestyle/kung-hei-fat-choi-meaning-how-to-respond-and-common-cantonese-new-year-blessings/

mix

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to a person with a mixed-race descent. Usage: E.g. A:你係唔係mix黎架?B:乜我似mix咩?多謝。E.g. A:你係唔係mix黎架?B:係!當然係啦!我係澳門香港mix呀!

eat c

Definition: A euphemistic way of telling somebody to eat sh*t (食屎). Usage: E.g. 咁巴閉?! Eat c la!