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

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


418 results found

security

Definition: Pronounced as 'sik-q', this is a code-mixing term used to refer to the security staff of a building. Usage: E.g. 同我快D叫'食Q'黎!
Definition: A Kongish expression used to describe someone who is so reckless that he or she is almost getting himself killed or into a big trouble. Usage: You spent all your money on gambling? Do you know how to write the die character?!Synonym: 你唔知個死字點寫

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

hit

Definition: Pronounced as 'heet' (long vowel), this is a code-mixing term that refers to something being very successful or popular. Usage: E.g. 呢套戲好hit呀。快D睇啦。 E.g. 呢首歌又好似hit返喇喎。

I can't believe it

Definition: A tag-switching phrase that is often overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong. Usage: E.g. I can't believe it!呢隻牌子你唔係未聽過嗎? E.g. Oh my God! 你唔係未去過呢間餐廳嘛?I can't believe it!Synonym: 我唔相信Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/555250/偽ABC扮唔識中文%20網民揶揄造作
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where there is a scene or fight going on between people, and you are just excited to watch what will happen as a bystander. '食住花生等睇戲' can be shortened to '食花生' sometimes. Usage: E.g. I have never seen people argue like this over Whatsapp! Let's eat peanuts while waiting to watch a film!Synonym: 食住花生等睇戲Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

take

Definition: Made popular by an anti-drug advertisement featuring Hong Kong celebrity Aaron Kwok, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use with the Cantonese word '嘢', which means 'take drugs' altogether, even though 'take嘢' literally means 'take thing'. Usage: E.g. 保安局禁毒宣傳品出現「公關災難」,令「一齊企硬 唔take嘢」標語,在柱面上呈現「齊企硬 Take嘢」。There was a "PR disaster" in the Security Bureau's anti-drug promotional materials, which caused the slogan "Stand firm together, don't take any drugs" to be presented as ""Stand firm together and Take Drugs".Synonym: take嘢, take drugsReference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWGb-PriJLK/?igsh=b3Vwa2xmNHFuZ2Qz (use mobile version)

Giorgio Armarni

Definition: Known as JM tone and pronounced with an extra 'r' in Armani, this is a code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to refer to the Italian fashion designer and brand. Usage: E.g.「嚟到GoRgio ARmaRni(Giorgio Armani)嘅show嘅現場…」馬米高聽到一臉疑惑︰「Hello Girl!你去咗冒牌現場啊? Giorgio Arrr讀到呢度都啱,但係咪ar-MARNI?冇R喎!」(Janice Man: "Arriving at the live show of Giorgio ArmaRni..." Michael Ma heard and suspected: "Hello Girl! Did you go to the fake brand's live show? Giorgio Arrr is pronounced correctly, but is it ar-MARNI? There is no R there!)Synonym: 喬治·亞曼尼, Giorgio ArmaniReference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVyay3rgqtf/?igsh=MWU0bGlyajBnM3B5OQ== (use mobile version)

ni gor

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong expats when they want to order something in a restaurant but don't know how to read a menu. Usage: E.g. Mm goi waiter! Ni gor please!Synonym: 呢個, thisReference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

eyes big see through dragon

Definition: Derived from the idiom '眼大睇過龍', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to failing to notice something. ie. To overlook. Usage: E.g. A: Where is my phone? B: It's right here in front of you. You are really 'eyes big see through dragon!'Synonym: 眼大睇過龍Reference: https://youtu.be/_3hhDIErE2g?si=SLsZUTCKhV5cfm8x
Define Your Term | Learn More