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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


873 results found

fire

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong actor 楊偉倫 to express loyalty to his boss in the movie of Night King that he would absolutely go all out and brave any danger and obstacles.

Usage: E.g. 「我土地,學富五car,如果他朝有一日,你真的開鴨店的話,我赴湯蹈fire,做你頭牌!」(I'm Land, learned and knowledgeable like five cars. If one day you really open a male escort club, I'll brave any danger, go all out, and be your top male escort!)

Synonym: 赴湯蹈火

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/娛樂/夜王-黃子華-金句-1863616/3/

first round

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the initial stage in a process, such as an interview. At other times, it is also used for the describing the first in a set of social events, such as drinks and dinner.

Usage: E.g. First round既interview會幾簡單。Second round先會問你深入D既問題。(The first round interview will be very simple. The second round will be more in-depth.) E.g. 我今晚唔join first round喇。Second round先再join你地。(I am not going to join first round tonight. But I will join the second round.)

Synonym: 第一輪

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@hkcareerstory/post/C97oprFSuDw

fix

Definition: A highly versatile code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to repair, solve, adjust, improve or make something work again, especially in the IT sector.

Usage: E.g. fix個bug幾日都仲未揾到個問題 (I've been fixing the bug for several days and still haven't found what the problem is.)

Synonym: 整; 修理; 解決

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3516188/page/32

flirt

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to refer to chatting up or teasing someone in a playful manner, in order to show that you are interested in them romantically. Sometimes, it can be used interchangebly with '溝' in Cantonese, even though by definition it should be considered a technique rather than pursuing someone seriously.

Usage: E.g. 條仔想flirt我,但係我冇理佢。(The guy wanted to flirt with me, but I did not pay him attention.) E.g. A: 唔好成日掛住溝女啦。B: Flirt吓姐,唔係溝。(A: Stop picking up girls all the time. B: Just flirting, not really pursuing.)

Synonym: 打情罵俏

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@tlyice._.1003/post/DH3K3QMz8_0?xmt=AQF0IPXN1NG4bUNCpCoEWK9j1nBrmidnUCWWQbO5UkWBZorXUuAW_rk2rnqngc_G0_Uo5TM&slof=1

flower bridge corn taxi

Definition: (vulgar, offensive) An Englishised code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to get their Asian parents to say in order to show others it is amusing. However, some Hong Kongers may not find it is that funny because the pronunciation of the Cantonese equivalent words '花橋粟米的士' only roughly resembles 'f*** you suck my d*ck', which means it is kind of a broken joke.

Usage: E.g. Mommy, point to the camera and say 'flower bridge corn taxi'!

Synonym: 花橋粟米的士

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DQ214-EgFps/ (use mobile version)

fly an airplane

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who fails to show up in an event. Also, used as 'to fly somebody an airplane'.

Usage: E.g. We all agreed to go shopping this weekend. Please don't fly airplane! (放飛機) E.g. I know you are busy, but don't fly me an airplane again! (放我飛機)

Synonym: 放飛機

foodie

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers that refers to a person who loves food and likes to try different kinds of food. However, it is often used as a term similar to the level of a gourmet even though the person may not be a food expert.

Usage: E.g. 而家啲ig foodie以為自己真係食評家。(Nowadays the foodies on IG really think they are real gourmets.)

Synonym: 美食愛好者

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2093295/page/1

Franchesca

Definition: Originated from the Cantonese movie 'Night King' starring Dayo Wong, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong actress Kay Choi who played the role of a nightclub lady and used it as her name, which was somewhat translated from the place Kwai Fong in Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. 我叫Franchesca!今年19歲半,四捨五入都係 19 歲,嚟自香港葵芳。(I am Franchesca. I am 19 and a half years old, or 19 if rounded down. I come from Kwai Fong in Hong Kong.)

Synonym: 葵芳

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/D100Radio/posts/我叫franchesca今年19歲半四捨五入都係-19-歲嚟自香港葵芳江少真人靚過上鏡新一季虎豹獵奇打響頭炮嘉賓就係電影夜王裏飾演葵芳而爆紅嘅演員-蔡蕙琪-ka/1565701778891323/

freelance

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of work done for companies independently with much flexibility and freedom, which resembles the origin of the word that referred to a medieval mercenary who would fight for whoever paid them the most.

Usage: E.g. 接邊間公司既freelance做先最賺錢呀?緊係呢間啦!(Which company should I earn me the most doing a freelance job for? Definitely this company!)

Synonym: 自由工作

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@duoproduction/post/C_pdWgzS9qd

freerider

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a person who does not do any work in a group project but gets credit for it.

Usage: E.g. Q: 大家見過最癲freerider係點? A: 試過group project分工之後 個freerider唔見左人 唔聽電話 唔睇 group message 直到present完之後先出現 (Q: Has anyone seen what the craziest freerider is like? A: I used to work in a group project where the freerider disappeared and we could not reach him by phone or group message. Then the freerider appeared after the presentation finished.)

Synonym: 自由騎士

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2241139/page/7

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