Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing word that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to '資料庫' in the IT sector. Also see 'database'.

Usage: E.g. 連得到個db未? 定係connect唔到呢?

Synonym: 資料庫

Definition: (verb) This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a deadline for task.

Usage: E.g. 同事：份report幾時dead呀？ 上司：今日dead左喇！仲喺到問！

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '冷場' (laang5 ceong4), which literally translates to 'cold scene'.

Usage: E.g. 考口試最緊要唔好dead air。

Synonym: 冷場

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who refuses to concede despite knowing that they made the mistake in the first place. '死雞撐飯蓋' can also be shortened to '死撐' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. You know you've done wrong! Stop being like a dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid!

Synonym: 死雞撐飯蓋

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is so stubborn that their neck is like leaning towards one side.

Usage: E.g. Listen to us for once! Don't be always so dead cow's one-sided neck la!

Synonym: 死牛一邊頸

Definition: A code-mixing term often used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the day that work must be handed in and finalised.

Usage: E.g. 老闆:下次知道要搞咁耐就早Ｄ返公司喇。 下屬:你話有野要交比個客睇，但係冇話過係deadline喎。 E.g. 老闆:今日係ｄｅａｄｌｉｎｅ，做唔完野要ＯＴ。 下屬:Ｄ野一早就做哂喇。

Synonym: 截止日

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students love to use to refer to having an argument with another person in a peaceful, academic manner.

Usage: E.g. 我同我個男朋友平時好鍾意嗌交，嗌吓呢樣又嗰樣，不過都係debate姐。(I like to argue with my boyfriend all the time, about this and that, but it's just debating.)

Synonym: 辯論

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yyanchi._/post/C3_6NO0ySjE?hl=zh-hk

Definition: Pronounced as 'dee', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers to refer to using the 'delete' button on a keyboard to get rid of something when using the computer.

Usage: E.g. Del左呢個paragraph，再加返個conclusion，然後再send比我啦。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

Definition: Known as 'JM tone', this is a code-mixing word that Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man use to refer to reserving someone, even though it is criticised as Fake ABC English due to a most likely wrong word usage.

Usage: E.g. 上天會deserve一個好好嘅人等緊我。(意思：reserve)

Reference: https://inews.hket.com/article/1522091/Janice%20Man英文教室%20%20教你練成JM%20Tone

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)