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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


613 results found

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe that something must be done no matter how worse the situation is. Usage: E.g. I don't care three seven twenty one. This project must proceed!Synonym: 唔理三七廿一Reference: https://www.ourchinastory.com/zh/5530/何謂「唔理三七廿一」?%C2%A0

sauce

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to use to refer to anything that looks like a sauce. Usage: E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係醋!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's vinegar!) E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係豉油!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's see-yau!)Synonym: 醬Reference: https://auntieemily.com/soy-sauce-chow-mein/

office

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '辦公室'. Usage: E.g. 聽日返office定係work from home呀?Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxrKXQowtvk

big wok

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where they are in some serious trouble. Sometimes, '大鑊' can be emphasized to a vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which literally translates to 'big penis wok' and means the person is in rather deep sh*t. Usage: E.g. I forgot to bring my wallet! Big wok! (大鑊) E.g. Omg I lost all my money! This time is really big penis wok! (今次真係大撚鑊)Synonym: 大鑊Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/03/30/ED1103300032.htm

wok

Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from the bowl-shaped Chinese frying pan '鑊' (wok), this is a measure word that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a number of different bad situations. Usage: E.g. Big wok! (大鑊 - big trouble has occurred) E.g. Big wok explosion! (爆大鑊 - someone revealed a big secret) E.g. Carry wok. (孭鑊 - To take the blame for someone) E.g. Slip a wok. (跣一鑊 - To set somebody up for some trouble) E.g. To make you a wok. (整你一鑊 - To give someone a trouble) E.g. Let's be cooked together in a wok! (同你一鑊熟 - To get someone else into the same trouble as you)Synonym: 鑊Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-big-wok-%E5%A4%A7%E9%91%8A-language/

try

Definition: A less cliche and irritating sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to quickly test or experience something first, in order to know whether it is suitable for them in the long term. Usage: E.g. 有新game出左?等我try吓先。 (A new game came out? Let me try first.) E.g. 買左件衫比我?等我try try先。 (Bought a shirt for me? Let me try try first.)Synonym: 嘗試, 試Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2866301/page/17

look forward

Definition: Originated from business emails and often said without a ‘to’ at the end, this is a code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers would use in non-business settings when they really anticipate the happening of an event. Usage: E.g. 我好look forward今餐會食咩。(I really look forward to what I will be eating for this meal.) E.g. 我好look forward今次既足球比賽。(I really look forward to this football match.)Synonym: 期待Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/42024/lookforwardto點用-後面動詞需要加ing-與lookingforwardto有甚差別-用法-例句

list out

Definition: Often mistakened as grammatically incorrect and seen as redundant with ‘out’ conforming to ‘列出‘ in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to jotting down a number of items on a piece of paper or device. Usage: E.g. 你可以先list out所有項目,然後研究每一個點樣做。(You may first list out all the items, then study how each one can be done.)Synonym: 列出Reference: https://ludwig.guru/s/list+out

canteen

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students prefer to use over 'cafeteria' from American English, which is not only due to Hong Kong having a British colonial history, but also it is closer to the equivalent term '餐廳' pronounced as 'can-ting' in Mandarin. Usage: E.g. 快啲落canteen霸位食飯啦!(Let's head down to hog the seats at the canteen to have a meal!)Synonym: 餐廳, 飯堂Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/m1ytyg/question_etymology_of_canteen_from_french_italian/

In general

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use when they want to express their well-educated guess or opinion on a subject matter without sounding so formal and bookish. Usage: E.g. 呢個program我覺得in general係幾學到野。(I think I can really learn from this program in general.)Synonym: 一般而言Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3990504/page/1