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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


492 results found

potential

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to display your level of knowledge, as if you come from higher education background. Usage: E.g. 老闆:我覺得呢個idea好有potential。快D走去落實啦。 E.g. 我覺得你個人好有potential。不過就寸左D。

gas

Definition: Often used as '嘥gas', this is a code-mixing term that is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to wasting one's efforts. Usage: E.g. 你唔洗嘥gas,佢唔會聽你講。Synonym: 嘥gas,白費功夫Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0x5-SyI4o

prefer

Definition: A code-mixing term by native Hong Kongers to avoid saying the word 'like' in order to sound more professional in formal situations, or to avoid sounding biased when you like one item more than another. Usage: E.g. 你prefer今星期邊一日interview呀? E.g. 你prefer幾點睇戲呀? E.g. 我prefer佢個idea多D。

boil telephone congee

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to talking on the phone for hours. (煲電話粥) Usage: E.g. Stop boiling telephone congee with your friend every day!Synonym: 煲電話粥Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

fuse

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the wire that melts when the electric current exceeds the safe level in a device. Usage: E.g. 唔好chur到部機咁行,如果咪燒fuse屎架。Synonym: 燒fuse, 燒保險絲Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3579513/page/2

security

Definition: Pronounced as 'sik-q', this is a code-mixing term used to refer to the security staff of a building. Usage: E.g. 同我快D叫'食Q'黎!

seven

Definition: Pronounced as 'se-fun' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a shortened term used to refer to the 7-Eleven convenience store. Usage: E.g. 今日放工記得去seven買野呀。 E.g. 我要去seven交電話費。

short

Definition: (adj.) insane; malfunctioning; derived from "short circuit". Often used as "sot sot deih", meaning a little insane. Usage: E.g. 你契爺凍到short咗. (Your godfather is freezing to the point of insanity.) E.g. 部冷氣機short左。快D搵人黎整返佢啦。

spin

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that refers to describing a matter as something else, especially in politics. Usage: E.g. 鍾培生:阿林作好鍾意將件事spin到同政治有關。

sup

Definition: A salutation often used by real ABC Hong Kongers to ask how somebody is doing. However, it is often overused by Fake ABC's to strike a western impression on others. (Also used as "what's up") Usage: E.g. 喂,sup man? E.g. 偽ABC:Sup man, sup, sup, sup...人們:得喇。唔好成日唔係又sup又喺到sup啦。好煩呀。