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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


828 results found

I don't know

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by the K-pop singer Jackson Wang (王嘉爾) when he has nothing to say. Even though he was born in Hong Kong, it is often said that he has real American Born Chinese vibe, due to his strong knowledge of English filler terms while speaking in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 我從運動員到練習生到出道,去海外,我自己覺得我係捱到既。但係有時呢D咁既野真係hit到我,我真係...i don't know. (From being an athlete to a trainee to debut then overseas, I always thought I could endure. But when there were things that hit me sometimes, I really just... I don't know.)

Synonym: 我唔知

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7-73ZG8G2s

I don't really spend money

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kong girls who are really honest about how much money they spend.

Usage: E.g. 我需要啲咩啫,嚟嚟去去我咪又係食叉燒飯、意粉,I don't really spend money.(我根本唔花錢)對我嚟講無關係,我真係無嘢。(E.g. What do I really need? Wherever I go I just eat barbeque pork rice, pasta, I don't really spend money.(I don't spend money at all) Money doesn't matter to me, I really don't care.)

Synonym: 我根本唔花錢

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359289/jw王灝兒分手後啞忍兩年-眼濕濕平反拜金論-我仲使乜入tvb拍劇?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

I don’t know

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers in the 1990's in a schoolyard joke rhyme with absurd religious crossover.

Usage: E.g. I don't know,食鬆糕,食完鬆糕變耶穌,耶穌教我念聖經,我教耶穌念佛經,耶穌話我唔正經,我話耶穌發神經。(I don't know, I'll eat sponge cake; after eating it, I'll turn into Jesus. Jesus teaches me to recite the Bible, and I teach Jesus to recite Buddhist sutras. Jesus says I'm not being serious, and I tell Jesus he's gone mad.)

Synonym: 我唔知

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/article/830396?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

I eat salt more than you eat rice

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to tell someone that he or she must listen to them because they have much more life experience and wisdom.

Usage: E.g. Listen to me. You are not old enough to go travelling by yourself. I have eaten salt more than you ate rice!

Synonym: 我食鹽多過你食米

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-more-salt-than-rice-我食鹽多過你食米/

I have no time

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local Hong Kong students to refer to having no time for activities such as dinner or party, which doesn't necessarily mean they have no more time left in their lives such as due to a terminal illness.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to join the party tonight? B: I have no time.

Synonym: 我冇時間

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj7SHv4Jhw4

I really appreciate it

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers who want to express their sincere gratitude towards someone without saying 'thank you' repetitively.

Usage: E.g. 唔該哂你幫我手呀。I really appreciate it.

Synonym: 我好感激你

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKwHZnk1ZNs

idea

Definition: A code-mixing term that is more generic and appropriate to use in a number of different situations.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得你個idea好好呀!(主意) E.g. 你唔係一D idea都冇呀?(想法) E.g. 呢隻遊戲既idea算唔錯。(概念) E.g. 你提出既idea同我好唔同。(觀點) E.g. 廣告既idea就係要人買野。(目的)

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

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where you cannot force someone into seeking help if they do not accept it.

Usage: E.g. I offered to help him with his homework but he never sent it over. Oh well... if the cow doesn't drink water, you cannot press the cow's head down.

Synonym: 牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低

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

ignore

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a softer way of not responding to someone without acting like that person isn't there at all.

Usage: E.g. 畀男朋友ignore到灰 (I am being ignored by my boyfriend to the point of being very sad.)

Synonym: 無視

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/361401/page/5

imagine

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students when they want to avoid sounding too unrealistic when giving an example to illustrate a point.

Usage: E.g. Imagine 你嘅英文好差,但係入咗英文中學,考試嗰陣第一步係要將全部唔識嘅英文轉做中文睇 (Imagine your English were very poor, but you entered an English secondary school. Then you had to read all the English like you read Chinese during the exams.)

Synonym: 幻想

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@shc.sky_903/post/DTdra9mkzdQ?xmt=AQF0-Ws357d_MFFUTUJO5WSCyunIf9vLyvu-aYt8Xozsek2mL71adEzGvSmHr3CNFlNH3LGn&slof=1

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