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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


26 results found

peng di

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase used by foreigners to bargain in a wet market, in order to get a bigger deal or low price. A 'la' is also usually added at the end for emphasis.

Usage: E.g. This is fifty dollars? Peng di la!

Synonym: 平D

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

seafood ghost

Definition: Known as Kongish and transliterated from '屎忽‘ meaning buttocks, this is a code-mixing phrase used to describe someone who always doesn't do what he or she says will do, somewhat like a faggot or asshole in English.

Usage: E.g. This guy is such a seafood ghost! We always save him a seat at the restaurant but he never turns up!

Synonym: 屎忽鬼

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/%E5%B1%8E%E5%BF%BD%E9%AC%BC

act like a crab

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is bragging about their achievements. (扮哂蟹 - baan6 saai3 haai5)

Usage: E.g. A: Stop acting like a crab! You think you are better than me?!

Synonym: 扮哂蟹

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/

brainstorm

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to suggesting many ideas for a topic or activity very quickly.

Usage: E.g. 大家一齊brainstorm吓產品既idea。

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

blow water

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.

Usage: E.g. 收皮啦!唔好再blow water!

Synonym: 吹水

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Let's say

Definition: A way to avoid sounding too imaginative when you want to suggest things that are impossible to happen.

Usage: E.g. Let’s say你有日比人老粒左,你會點呢? E.g. Let’s say你考試肥佬左,你會點面對你家人? E.g. Let's say你比人打獲金,你會唔會還拖?

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