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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


746 results found

assignment

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong teachers love to use to imply to students that there is some standard to adhere to or duty to be taken for the task given to them, rather than something that requires much effort as the Cantonese phrase ‘功課‘ denotes.

Usage: E.g. 記住assignment要自己做,唔好抄人地或用AI。(Remember that you must do the assignment by yourself, and not copy others or use AI.)

Synonym: 功課

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1883876/page/1

prove

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong court judges to refer to demonstrating and establishing the truth or validity of something by providing evidence and argument, which is especially strong to use in a court of law.

Usage: E.g. 官:呢個,如果因為part of the prosecution case 嘅話,你一定要prove 嘅。(Judge: If this is part of the prosecution case, you must prove it.)

Synonym: 證明

Reference: https://hkupress.hku.hk/image/catalog/pdf-preview/9789888528202.pdf

highlight

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students like use to refer to highlighting important information with a highlighter pen. (瑩光筆)

Usage: E.g. 學生:等我highlight句野先,方便溫書嗰陣時。 老師:考試時記住帶返支highlighter。冇既就要underline架喇。

Reference: https://www.weekendhk.com/weekspecial/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-香港人-ctb081-hc-1413297/3/

chicken and duck talk

Definition: (idiom) Derived from '雞同鴨講', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe two people who are unable to understand each other due to a difference of language or values. In other words, the conversation just seems to go round and round with each person talking over each other.

Usage: E.g. I think we will never understand each other because we work in different departments. What a chicken and duck talk!

Synonym: 雞同鴨講

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-word-of-the-month-雞同鴨講-chicken-duck-talk/

finish

Definition: Often added with a ‘咗’ like the ‘-ed’ form in English for past tense, this is a code-mixing term that is used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to having completed something, such as an event or project.

Usage: E.g. 你地finish咗個project未呀? E.g. 終於finish咗個event!

Synonym: 完成

Reference: https://www.businesstimes.com.hk/articles/157451/創新科技獎學金2024-挑選25位傑出大學生-每人最高15萬港元獎學金/

building covenant

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong Legislative Council members to refer to a lease condition where the lot owner is required to complete the development within a specified period and obtain an Occupation Permit from the Building Authority. However, it is not to be confused with 'environmental permit'.

Usage: E.g. 劉文君發言後,林筱魯再提醒發言表達專業用語時要考慮公眾能否理解。劉文君說:「頭先官員都有用building covenant㗎!enviromental permit我唔知你哋中文叫做咩嘢。」(After Lau's speech, Lin reminded him to consider whether the public would understand such professional terminology. Lau said, "The officials used building covenant just now! I don't know what you meant by 'environmental permit' in Chinese.")

Synonym: 建築規約

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20260211/bkn-20260211164003550-0211_00822_001.html

sheung tong

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to attending a lesson. (上堂 )

Usage: E.g. Nei gum yat sheung ng sheung tong ar? (你今日上唔上堂呀?)

Synonym: 上堂

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/12/kongish-a-new-language-of-hong-kongers/

chur

Definition: 1. (adj). To describe a hectic state where you are so busy that you feel like you cannot breathe. 2. (verb). An Englishised code-mixing term that refers to exhausting oneself in order to get work done in a short period of time, which is usually brought on by demanding customers or people of high authority.

Usage: E.g. 今日返工真係好chur呀。(adj) E.g. 哇,呢個客洗唔洗chur到咁盡呀?比條生路人地行吓好嗎?(verb)

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/

pantry

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an office's tea area with a whole bunch of facilities such as a sink, fridge, microwave oven and much more.

Usage: E.g. A: 見過最癲嘅公司pantry有啲咩?B: 罐裝汽水,果汁,咖啡任飲,十幾款薯片,餅乾,果仁任食,沙律任食,杯麵任食。C: 老鼠 (A: What are the craziest things you have ever seen in a company's pantry? B: Canned soda, juice, all-you-can-drink coffee, a dozen chips, biscuits, all-you-can-eat nuts, all-you-can-eat salad, all-you-can-eat cup noodles. C: Rats)

Synonym: 茶水間; 食品貯藏室

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2166431/page/1

princess sickness

Definition: Derived from '公主病', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a female who acts like a princess all the time and possesses the worst possible qualities such as narcissism and materialism. It tends to associate with Hong Kong women and is quite stereotypical of '港女', the Kong girl.

Usage: E.g. 港男:Why are you scolding me like this? Do you have princess sickness? (你做咩喺度鬧我呀? 你係咪有公主病?)

Synonym: 公主病

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/49823/

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