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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


108 results found

keep

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term meaning to continue doing or retain control of something.

Usage: E.g. 日日keep fit先會健康架。 E.g. 你D身材keep得幾好喎。 E.g. 我地以後keep contact啦。 E.g. 不如keep in touch好唔好?

Synonym: 保持

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

lie flat

Definition: Derived from the Chinese internet slang '躺平', this is an Englishised code-mixing term used to describe a lifestyle of doing as little as possible, due to knowing that there is a 'rat race' going on where everyone is competing for jobs such that it is almost impossible to keep up with the societal pressure.

Usage: E.g. This exam is so difficult! I am lying flat! E.g. I am not lying flat! I must continue to find a better job!

Synonym: 躺平

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-internet-and-texting-slang-to-use-right-now

mm ho yi si

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to apologise politely for something.

Usage: E.g. *Holding up a queue* Mm ho yi si. E.g. *Butts into a conversation* Mm ho yi si. Where is the MTR?

Synonym: 唔好意思

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

mother school

Definition: Derived from '母校', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a school that a person has graduated from. ie. Alma mater.

Usage: Well I’m a Catholic. I believe in what I have been taught when I was in my mother secondary school, Wah Yan Kowloon.

Synonym: 母校

Reference: https://www.inmediahk.net/node/政經/李家超透露是天主教徒-感謝「mother-secondary-school」教誨

no bullsh*t let's go

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to express how serious a matter is and is no joke at all.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生:Sign the f***ing contract. No bullsh*t let's go.

Synonym: 廢話少講, 來吧

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDK59_Yhv6Y

off topic

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students as a casual way of labelling something as not related to the topic matter at hand.

Usage: E.g. off topic講兩句: 文理都緊要,理科是硬道理,但文科(文學、歷史;或者是哲學)才是中學教育中唯一認真(seriousness)的科目。(Let me make a few off-topic remarks: Both arts and sciences are important, with sciences being the most important, but arts (literature, history, or philosophy) are the only subjects in secondary education that require seriousness.)

Synonym: 跟話題無關

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yuxichau/post/C5vuQ64SgYQ?hl=en

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

pineapple chicken

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who likes leeching off others. (菠羅雞 - bo1 lo4 gai1)

Usage: E.g. That girl is such a pineapple chicken! She just comes every time for the benefits and does not share or contribute.

Synonym: 菠羅雞

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/60017/

realise

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they become aware of a situation and understand it so that they can learn from it and make a wise decision next time.

Usage: E.g. 你唔realise第一間既loss又點樣低價買入第二間? (If you don't realise the loss of your first house, then how can you buy the second one at a low price?)

Synonym: 意識;領悟;發覺

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3638415/page/8

replacement

Definition: An ultra professional code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers especially senior managers to refer to a suitable candidate that can take over an employee's job so they don't have to sound like they are getting just anyone to take over a job for the sake of cutting costs.

Usage: E.g. 之前公司有條友非高層secondment。每個月畀agent 160k 新老細嚟咗即刻炒佢。Replacement 可能一半價錢到 (I had a colleague in my past company who was not a senior level secondment position but paid the agency 160k per month. Then a new boss came and fired him immediately. The replacement could have been half the cost.)

Synonym: 搵人接替

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2955436/page/2

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