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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


465 results found

site visit

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a physical inspection of a site in order to discuss the scope of work with contractors and foresee any potential problems.

Usage: E.g. 進行project之前要做好site visit,以便理解好成個scope。

Synonym: 實地考察

six seven

Definition: Originated from the song "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla, this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z westernised Hong Kongers when they want to say 'I don't know' or refer to something 'so-so' as a rating. Sometimes, it may have no meaning at all, even when the person is juggling both hands up and down excitedly. Coincidently, six seven looks similar to the Cantonese expression '碌柒', which has the literal meaning of 'a stick of dick' and refers to an idiot.

Usage: E.g. A: How was the movie? B: Six seven. *Hands juggling up and down* (So-so.) E.g. A: What is the answer to this question? B: Six seven! (I don't f***ing know.)

Synonym: 唔撚知, 係喇掛

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQbVj-KkvEX/?hl=en (use mobile version)

size

Definition: Often pronounced with a '屎' (faeces) at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the overall dimensions of something.

Usage: E.g. 請問呢件衫有咩size呀?。

Synonym: 大小

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

skiiing / snowboarding

Definition: A pair of code-mixing terms that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the sport of gliding over snow because it is simply way too tiring having to tell the other person which one you are talking about if you just say ‘滑雪‘ in Cantonese, which has a literal meaning of 'glide snow'.

Usage: E.g. 我好鍾意滑雪。B:不過請問係skiing定係snowboarding? (A: I really like gliding snow. B: But do you mean skiing or snowboarding?)

Synonym: 滑雪

Reference: https://www.baby-kingdom.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=12744670

skip

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to bypassing or avoiding something quickly. It is also often less intentional and deliberate than the Cantonese equivalent term '跳過' and tends to be done without much thinking.

Usage: E.g. 正常人每日第一餐必定是早餐,若然經常skip,會打亂人體生物鐘及削弱身體機能,抵抗力自然變差。(For normal people, breakfast is always the first meal of the day. If you often skip it, it will disrupt your body's biological clock and weaken your bodily functions, naturally making your resistance weaker.)

Synonym: 跳過

Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/記性差-原來關早餐事-044500693.html

Skype

Definition: Often pronounced as 'Skypy', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the instant messaging software 'Skype'.

Usage: E.g. 你幾時得閒呀?我想用Skypy打比你呀。

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/633876/港式英語-19個英文字港人常讀錯-釘橋-cam錢-janet讀到似中文

smash

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to hitting a ball towards the ground forcefully in tennis, which not only feels good when defeating someone with such a gesture, but also it sort of gives the person a feeling of breaking something into pieces.

Usage: E.g. 咁勁?!今次我要smash返你!(So powerful?! I'm going to smash you back!)

Synonym: 殺球

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3898753/page/7

snake king

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to slacking off at work.

Usage: E.g. Don't be such a snake king all the time! Get some work done!

Synonym: 蛇王

So far

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the time period up to now without sounding so formal and elegant in social situations.

Usage: E.g. So far我覺得呢間餐廳幾好食, 但係service有D差囉。(So far I think the food in this restaurant is quite good, but the service is a little bad.)

Synonym: 目前為止, 至今

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3926896/page/1

social

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to meeting and spending time with people as a normal everyday activity without sounding so deliberate.

Usage: E.g. 有冇人其實唔想同同事social (Is there anyone who actually doesn't want to socialise with colleagues?)

Synonym: 社交; 交際

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3655725/page/2

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