Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary
New!
Most Popular
yo!

52 results found

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/
2024-04-21

project

Definition: A generic code-mixing term that can used for a number of different items in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 你公司近排搞緊D咩project呀？（項目） E.g. 今次呢個project搞成點呀？（研究） E.g. 你諗住下次搞d咩project呀？（計劃） E.g. 小心D呀，唔見寫住project in progress咩？（工程）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
2023-03-02

file

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fi-lo' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that is more generic to be used for a number of different items in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 唔該copy呢個file比我。（電腦檔案） E.g. 買多個file儲住D紀錄。（文件夾） E.g. 警察：我哋會睇返呢單case既file。（檔案）Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf
2023-03-04

native

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to someone who was born or grew up in a particular country, which Hong Kongers find it a lot more convenient to use than the Cantonese equivalent words because it requires much less linguistic effort. Usage: E.g. 你係唔係native speaker黎架？（講本國語既人） E.g. 你Ｄ英文係咪native架？（純正本土口音）Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922
2023-03-04

hea

Definition: (verb) This is an Englishised Cantonese word that refers to slacking off or having nothing to do. Usage: E.g. 哇！今日返工真係好hea呀！E.g.唔洗咁急。Hea下先再做野啦。Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/
2024-04-16

jetso

Definition: This is an Englishised term of the Cantonese words '著數', which refers to advantages that one can offer. Usage: E.g. 如果我幫你，你會比我D咩ｊｅｔｓｏ先？Synonym: 著數Reference: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038083/what-exactly-jetso
2024-04-20

my favit

Definition: A more linguistically efficient code-mixing term that refers to 'my favourite' in English. Originated from Hong Kong actor Ron Ng (吳卓羲). Usage: E.g. 呢到既牛腩河係至正架！簡直係ｍｙ ｆａｖｉｔ！E.g. 吳卓羲：「Tailin, 賣飛佛（泰林，我的最愛）」Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/賣飛佛
2020-03-26

printer

Definition: Often pronounced without the 'r' sounds and with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is an a lot more linguistically efficient way of referring to printer (打印機）in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 內地人:個打印機喺邊呀？ 香港人：咩話？三個字咁累贅。叫返ｐｒｉｎｔｅｒ啦唔該。Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf
2020-05-26

sorry

Definition: A more effortless way of apologising to someone without sounding so formal and serious. Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'sor-li'. Usage: E.g. Sorry呀，踩親你。 E.g. Sorry呀，我遲到左。 E.g.你：對唔住！係我抵死，係我唔岩！朋友：唔洗咁隆重。你:SORRY囉。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers
2020-12-26

appreciate

Definition: A posh way of saying that you admire someone's work or effort, in order to show your high social status or higher education background. Usage: E.g. 我好appreciate你個idea. Well done. E.g. 我好appreciate你做既野。不過，你都唔可以迫我accept你個apology。
2023-02-27
1
2
3
4
5
6