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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


48 results found

Sure

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show that they are always glad to do a favour for someone. Usage: E.g. Sure!No problem!拜托喺我身上啦。 E.g. Sure!我同你去Starbucks買杯咖啡啦。 E.g. Sure!我幫你比住錢先啦。

very delicious

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that is often mistakened as grammatically incorrect due to the word 'very' being considered redundant, as 'delicious' already denotes the meaning of very yummy. However, it originates from '好好味' in Cantonese, which means 'very very tasty'. Usage: E.g. 哇,D野食真係very delicious呀。Synonym: 好好味

quota

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to one's limit of something, such as how much food one can eat. Usage: E.g. 食野要有quota,尤其係生野。 E.g. 我望手機有quota,因為我始終年紀大。Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

gay dor cheen

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask a shopkeeper how much something costs, which is extremely effective when bargaining for a lower price at wet markets. It can also be shortened to 'gay cheen' (幾錢). Usage: E.g. Gay dor cheen? (幾多錢?) E.g. Gay cheen? (幾錢?)Synonym: 幾多錢?Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

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?

close

Definition: A more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ (intimate). Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架?E.g. 你有幾多個close friend?

give you some color see see

Definition: A euphemistic way of saying to somebody that you want to teach them a lesson or show them what you've got. (比D顏色你睇) Usage: E.g. 咁寸?! Let me give you some color see see!Synonym: 比D顏色你睇

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。

charm

Definition: A noun-turned-adjective code-mixing term used to describe how charming or attractive a person is. Usage: E.g. 喂,你覺得佢好charm嗎? E.g. 你今日著得好charm喎。

claim

Definition: This is a code-mixing term used to refer to claiming money.  However, it is often pronounced as 'kam' by grassroot class Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. 請問讀完個course有冇得kam返d錢架? E.g. 請問d飯錢可唔可以問返公司kam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