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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


297 results found

count down

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese.

Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)

Synonym: 倒數

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party

cream

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Miss Hong Kong celebrity Grace Chan to refer to an "unknown liquid" that was splashed on her son’s head by a woman while watching a Spiderman movie in a cinema.

Usage: E.g. 陳凱琳指兒子被淋Cream受驚已報警:而據悉在觀眾散場時,該名女子疑因不滿而突然發難,涉嫌直接向陳凱琳兒子的頭部潑淋不明乳狀液體,隨後迅速離開現場。愛子心切的陳凱琳在諮詢後,已於翌日前往中區警署報案 (Grace Chan reported to the police after her son was splashed by cream: It is reported that as the audience was leaving, a woman apparently dissatisfied suddenly lashed out, allegedly pouring an unknown liquid directly on the head of Grace Chan’s son before quickly fleeing. Deeply concerned for her son, Grace Chan sought advice and filed a police report at Central Police Station the next day.)

Synonym: 忌廉

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3600942/陳凱琳回應影院風波-證二仔被淋Cream已報警好心痛-兒子疑踢凳惹女觀眾發難

dank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' and often pronounced as '釘橋' meaning nail bridge in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express their gratitude towards someone.

Usage: E.g. Dank you哂你幫我手呀。不如我今日請你食lunch好嗎?(Thank you for helping me out. What about I treat you lunch today?)

Synonym: thank you, 釘橋

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLR0QEuMT7j/ (use mobile version)

dead cow's one-sided neck

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

dismiss

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to send somebody away formally and politely, even though at times they may not be taking the other person seriously.

Usage: E.g. *打斷* 我地傾左咁耐,不如就喺到dismiss啦? (*interrupt* We have been talking for so long. What about dismiss here?)

Synonym: 解散

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2842244/page/13

diu

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers in place of the expletive f-word in English when one is angry and wants to curse. However, the usage of this term may actually only refer to scolding someone and nothing to do with cursing or having sexual intercourse at all. Sometimes, ‘ed’ or ‘ing’ is added to the verb to indicate tense in case the listener finds it ungrammatical.

Usage: E.g. Diu! I lost the game again! E.g. My teacher diu'ed me for talking in class today. E.g. Stop diuing me! It wasn’t my fault. Are you crazy?!

Synonym: 屌

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Y2vjEzbU/?img_index=2&igsh=MWlxaDBhbHJlYTR6aA== (use mobile version)

doot

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to scold someone when they are prohibited from swearing in school. At other times, it is used as an onomatopoeia of the beeping sound of Octopus card readers in Hong Kong train service.

Usage: E.g. Doot你咩?!搞污糟我件校服!(F*** you?! You ruined my school uniform!) E.g. 好多人撘地鐵呀。快啲攞張八達通出黎doot部機入閘啦。(So many people taking the train. Take out your Octopus card quickly to doot the machine and enter the gate.)

Synonym: F***, d*u, 嘟

Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/v/114049/doot

Eat Cha SIU

Definition: This is a Cantonese slang that refers to a situation where a player has a clear opportunity to score a point. The slangs origin comes from a volleyball game where a sports announcer said "Cha SIU" instead of the word "chance". Although the word came from a volleyball game initially, it's more widely used in badminton games.

Usage: That was a total set up for a smash, total Cha SIU!

Synonym: 食叉燒

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-生舊叉燒好過生你-better-to-give-birth-to-char-siu-than-you/#:~:text=Sik6%20caa1%20siu,back%20into%20its%20own%20court.

effective communication

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers who believe that making use of profanity is only for the sake of communicating effectively because a person can still be good-hearted regardless.

Usage: E.g. 真心 小弟現實真係冇咁爛口 講粗口都係為咗Effective Communication 盡量都對事不對人 認真講句 講粗口唔緊要 最重要係心地善良 (To be honest, I'm really not that much of a bad mouth. Swearing is for effective communication. I always try to focus on the problem and not people. Seriously, it doesn't matter if you swear. The most important thing is to be kind-hearted.)

Synonym: 有效溝通

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAaB6Mq45i/

energy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local celebrity Jo Lam to refer to having the power and ability to have enthuasiasm, curiosity and interest towards other people, in order to improve your quality of life and have what he calls superpower.

Usage: E.g. 林作:如果你想改善你既世界,應該最想追求嗰個quality係嗎?答案就係energy。我唔係一個最係大聲講野,乍乍跳ADHD野既人,但係我可以喺每一個場合帶出嗰種enthusiasm,嗰種curiosity,嗰種interest,係一個會令到個場裡面既人更加被感染,更加對生命係有一種熱誠喺度。你要既係呢樣野,先至係我既所謂Superpower。(E.g. If you want to improve your world, then you would most likely want to pursue that quality of life? The answer is energy. I'm not a person who talks the loudest and hyperactive like ADHD, but I can bring out that enthusiasm, that curiosity, that interest in every setting, which will influence people to have a greater passion for life. This is what you want, which is what I call superpower.)

Synonym: 活力; 能量

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAWrSkepea/

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