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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 783 results

sir

Definition: Often used as 'Ah sir' (阿sir), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a male teacher. (Also see 'Missy' for female teacher) Usage: E.g. 阿sir,我今日冇帶功課。可唔可以唔好罰我呀?Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

AA

Definition: Often used as 'AA制' (policy), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to paying for yourself at a meal. (Also known as 'going Dutch' in English) Usage: E.g. 今餐AA制得唔得呀?Synonym: 食自己, 自己比

sau pei

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to tell somebody to shut the f*** up. Usage: E.g. Stop blowing water! Sau pei la! (Quit bragging! Shut up!)Synonym: 收皮Reference: https://thehoneycombers.com/hong-kong/hong-kong-slang-urban-dictionary/

kau

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term. Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)Synonym: 溝Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

database

Definition: A code-mixing word that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to '資料庫' in the IT sector. Usage: E.g. 連得到個database未? 定係connect唔到呢?Synonym: 資料庫

anyway

Definition: A term used by native Hong Kongers to divert one topic to another in a polite manner. Usage: E.g. 係呀,個proposal已經搞掂了。Anyway, 我兒家要去開meeting。 E.g. 份proposal仲未搞掂?Anyways, 我兒家要食lunch喇。Synonym: 點都好; 無論如何Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

debate

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

Ga yau

Definition: Derived from 'add oil' in Cantonese, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to express encouragement and support for another person. Usage: Ga yau! You can win this game!Synonym: 加油

chok

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to pulling a face that looks pretentious in order to look cool. Usage: E.g. 林峯:你睇吓我個樣夠唔夠chok?!Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/

ding

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to express frustration or distress when one encounters a problem. Usage: E.g. Ding! I missed the bus! (頂) E.g. Ding your lungs! How dare you talk to me like this? (頂你個肺)Reference: https://ovolohotels.com/ovolo/blog/7-cantonese-slangs-guaranteed-to-impress-a-local/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CDing!&text=Definition%3A%20It's%20simply%20another%20way,and%20shout%2C%20%E2%80%9CDING!%E2%80%9D
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