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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


656 results found

BB

Definition: Often used as 'baby pig' (BB豬) in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to call their lovers. Usage: E.g. BB豬,你買D咩生日禮物比我呀?

eye degrees

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the extent someone is shortsighted in degree units. Usage: E.g. You are shortsighted? What is your eye degrees?Synonym: prescription, diopters, 度數Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmy095Db9U&t=190s

urgent

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to demand immediate attention towards a matter without sounding like they are in such a hurry or wanting the other person to hurry the f*** up. Usage: E.g. 呢個係一個urgent既task。B: 明白 (Understood) E.g. 呢個係一個緊急既任務。B: 洗唔洗咁急呀?(Why is there such a hurry?)Synonym: 緊急Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20052634/香港職場中英夾雜用語-內地網民舉30個例子-表示識粵語都無法理解

gay dor cheen

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask a shopkeeper how much something costs, which is extremely effective when bargaining for a lower price at wet markets. It can also be shortened to 'gay cheen' (幾錢). Usage: E.g. Gay dor cheen? (幾多錢?) E.g. Gay cheen? (幾錢?)Synonym: 幾多錢?Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

cam

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe a person with a feminised voice. Usage: E.g. 我覺得呢個男人cam cam哋。唔知真係男人定係女人呢?Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

offer

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the initial notification sent by a university presenting an acceptance of an applicant for a course, often provided that the applicant fulfills a number of conditions and the payment as well. Usage: E.g. A: 大學出左offer比你未? B: 收到同接受左喇,但係仲未正式取錄。(A: Have you received the offer from university yet? B: I received it and accepted it, but the admission is not officially confirmed yet.)Synonym: 取錄, 錄取通知Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2632592/page/1

low b

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that Hong Kongers use to refer to having low intelligence or being stupid. Also used as '低B' sometimes. Usage: E.g. 唔好咁low b係到周圍大叫啦! E.g. 低B仔,你係咪仲未get要做咩呀?Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

Key

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used with “啱key”, which refers to whether you get along well with somebody. Explanation: like the key in a piece of music. Usage: Eg. 你同你朋友啱唔啱key呀?Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/啱key

mood

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use instead of the Cantonese equivalent '心情'. Usage: E.g. 今日出面咁多人咁迫,真係冇咩mood行街。Synonym: 心情Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

tissue

Definition: Pronounced as 'tee-suu', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers have grown up with and got used to instead of the equivalent term in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 請問有冇tissue呀?。E.g. 唔該比張tissue黎呀,唔該。