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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


59 results found

Itadakimasu

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'humbly receive', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers who work in Japanese companies to express politeness before starting to eat a meal, which is equivalent to "Let's eat" in English.

Usage: E.g. A: Itadakimas! B: 其實係唔係一定要講?A: 唔係,不過有禮貌啲囉。(A: Itadakimas! B: Do we actually have to say this? A: No, but it's more polite if we do.)

Synonym: 開飯喇, 唔客氣喇, Let's eat

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itadakimasu

ja ja lum

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to tell somebody to hurry up, which is similar to the phrase 'chop chop' in English. (Also see 'la la lum')

Usage: E.g. Ja ja lum go to school now or you will miss the bus! Eg. Finish your homework! Ja ja lum la!

Synonym: 咋咋臨

jap

Definition: An onomatopoeic code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a verb for eating, especially when the food is delicious and people take time to taste and chew, making the sound of 'jap' repeatedly while eating. ie. 食到jap jap聲. However, it is not to be confused with the word Jap, which is a short term for Japanese.

Usage: E.g. 由來:源自食嘢時發出嘅「嗒嗒聲」或「咂嘴聲」(英文象聲詞 Jap Jap Jap / 廣東話「咂咂聲」)。意思:形容某樣食物味道極好,食到令人發出聲響、食得好滋味、好過癮。例句:「呢間舖頭嘅叉燒好食到好jap!」(Origin: Derived from the "click" or "smack" sound when eating (English onomatopoeia Jap Jap Jap / Cantonese "smack sound"). Meaning: Describes certain food that tastes extremely good, makes people make noises, eats deliciously, and is very addicted. For example, "The barbecued pork in this shop is so good to eat!")

Synonym: 嗒嗒聲; 咂嘴聲

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BBMuBpj73J/

jor

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘咗’, which is equivalent to the ‘-ed’ particle for past tense in English.

Usage: E.g. Jo jor gong for mei ar? (做咗功課未呀?) E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食咗飯未呀?)

Synonym: 咗

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

jung yi beng

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to 'secondary two syndrome' in Cantonese, which is someone in their second year of high school and acting childish, as if they are living in their own world. The term was first popularised by the comedian Hikaru Ijuin in a Japanese radio show in 1999.

Usage: E.g. My older brother has jung yi beng – he thinks he is a hero who can save the world.

Synonym: 中二病

Reference: https://www.youngpostclub.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3147729/sup-sup-sui-start-new-school-year-these-cantonese-slang

la la lum

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to get someone to hurry up, which is similar to the phrase 'chop chop' in English. (Also see 'ja ja lum'.)

Usage: E.g. La la lum get your homework done! E.g. Leave now or you'll miss the train! La la lum la!

Synonym: 嗱嗱臨

light light dick

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that is likely to have derived from '輕輕地', which is an adverb that means 'gently'. Even though the 'dick' in the expression seems to refer to the male's penis, it is most likely a typo according to some native Hong Kongers and the AI. However, it is also purported to be the transliteration of ‘的’, which translates to ‘輕輕的‘, an expression that is often used by the Taiwanese poet Hamilton Hsu (徐志摩).

Usage: E.g. Let me light light dick remind you... E.g. Light light dick push har.

Synonym: 輕輕地

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/KongishDaily/posts/light-light-dick-push-har-supportkongish/2052444074897500/?locale=sw_KE

maiseen

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '米線', which is a type of noodles that is very popular in Hong Kong and China.

Usage: E.g. 港女:Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone...

Synonym: 米線

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud=核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

miss

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong girls love to use to ask their boyfriends whether they feel sad or regret about not having their presence at times, as ‘掛住‘ in Cantonese could just be merely thinking about someone without such emotions, which is not enough to satisfy a Hong Kong girl’s demands.

Usage: E.g. 呢幾日我地冇見。有冇miss我呀? (We have not seen each other these several days. Do you miss me?)

Synonym: 掛住, 想念

Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=17173491

no thank

Definition: Often mistaken as 'no thanks' or refusal to an offer, this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to acknowledge someone's gratitude, which is comparable to 'You are welcome'.

Usage: E.g. 岩岩做野果時幫佢手 佢同我講Thanks。我諗唔到除左No Thanks/ It’s Fine之外仲有咩回應。(When I started working for him at that time, he used to say 'thanks'. But I could not think of any phrases other than 'No Thanks/It's fine' as a response.)

Synonym: 唔洗唔該

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/599066/page/1

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