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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


236 results found

By the way

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to avoid seeming as if you have almost forgotten to mention something. Usage: E.g. By the way, 你可唔可以幫我搞掂埋呢份proposal? E.g. By the way, 你今晚幾時得閒呀?Synonym: 順便講

anyway

Definition: A term used by native Hong Kongers to divert one topic to another in a polite manner. Usage: E.g. 係呀,個proposal已經搞掂了。Anyway, 我兒家要去開meeting。 E.g. 份proposal仲未搞掂?Anyways, 我兒家要食lunch喇。Synonym: 點都好; 無論如何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

set

Definition: A code-mixing term used by waitresses at the famous Tam Jai Sam Gor noodle restaurant to refer to something that is fixed, such as food items on a menu. Usage: E.g. 譚仔阿姐:個餐係set咗咁多個餸架。唔洗你揀。(Tam Jai waitress: The meal is already set with that many food items. No need for you to choose.)Synonym: 設定Reference: https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3286078/hong-kongs-tam-jai-noodle-joint-waitresses-are-stars

detail

Definition: (adj.) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to describe the small miniscule parts of something or something as being comprehensive. Usage: E.g. 因為隻舞係我哋自己編,Sean同大Hugo編,佢哋知道個detail位係邊,佢哋講得好清楚,所以就好快上手啦 (Because the dance was being arranged by us - Sean and Hugo. They knew the detailed parts of it and explained it very well so we could learn it so quickly.) E.g. 洗唔洗咁detail呀? (Does it need to be that detailed / comprehensive?)Synonym: 細緻; 詳細Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZHDDcIFiMy/?igsh=MW00bDQyZ2ZvdHkwMQ== (use mobile version)

gathering

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer people coming together. Even though the term can be used both formally and informally in English, it can actually be more personal and intimate than '聚會' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 女友稱約朋友去酒店Gathering 男友事後問起她卻支吾以對 (Girlfriend said she was going to a hotel with friends for a gathering, but when her boyfriend asked her about it later, she gave evasive answers.)Synonym: 聚會 Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/網絡熱話/女友稱約朋友去酒店gathering疑似出軌-637892/

gym

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to exercise done in the gym. Even though it is often used as '做gym' (do gym), it is not to be confused with 'doing the gym' because the gym is actually the place where people do exercise in native English. Usage: E.g. 想唔想一齊做gym? (Want to work out / do exercise in the gym together?)Synonym: 健身; 健身室; 健身室運動Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/做gym

skip

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to bypassing or avoiding something quickly. It is also often less intentional and deliberate than the Cantonese equivalent term '跳過' and tends to be done without much thinking. Usage: E.g. 正常人每日第一餐必定是早餐,若然經常skip,會打亂人體生物鐘及削弱身體機能,抵抗力自然變差。(For normal people, breakfast is always the first meal of the day. If you often skip it, it will disrupt your body's biological clock and weaken your bodily functions, naturally making your resistance weaker.)Synonym: 跳過Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/記性差-原來關早餐事-044500693.html

ho sick

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy. Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.Synonym: 好食Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA

counter

Definition: Pronounced as 'kaahn-taah' with a long back vowel and rising intonation, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a cashier's counter, information desk or service counter. Usage: E.g. 小弟係個賣game仔,話說我今日放飯果陣緊係出去食飯啦,咁個counter緊係冇人啦 (I'm a game seller, and of course I went out to have lunch during my lunch break today, so there was no one looking after the counter.)Synonym: 收銀處; 客戶服務中心; 櫃檯Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/740067/page/1

soft

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to not being strict enough when managing people. Also, it often tends to depict a weakness in character by describing a person is not forceful or harsh enough. Usage: E.g. 同事話我太soft管唔到學生,我聽完好灰。(My colleague said I am too soft and cannot manage students like this. I felt very grey afterwards.)Synonym: 不嚴厲Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU-fcZMgjI7/ (use mobile version)
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