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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


828 results found

sayunana

Definition: Originated from ‘sayonara’, this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers who like to show off their limited Japanese language knowledge when they play with kids who are into Japanese anime.

Usage: E.g. 下次再同你玩過。Sayunana!

Synonym: sayonara, 拜拜

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3743607/page/1

auntie

Definition: A polite way of addressing a stranger, usually a much older person, when you meet them for the first time.

Usage: E.g. 哈佬Auntie,你好呀! E.g. 仔仔,快D叫聲Auntie啦。

Synonym: 阿姨; 姨姨

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3048345/hong-kong-comes-alive-learning-cantonese-make-sure-you-know

fank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' with the ''f' often mistaken as an English mistake while it is known as TH-fronting, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to show their sincere gratitude towards someone.

Usage: E.g. 今餐等我請啦。Fank you. (Let me treat you this meal. Thank you.)

Synonym: Thank you, 多謝

Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/12to083/curious_about_some_british_people_pronounce_th_as/

casual

Definition: 1. (noun) A word used instead of the Cantonese equivalent to denote the meaning of casual wear. 2. (verb) A word used to tell another person to be casual, informal, and relaxed. 3. (adj.) A word used to describe something as being informal, such as an event.

Usage: E.g. 同事: 聽日著casual得喇,知道嗎? E.g. 今日食飯casual D得喇。(隨便) E.g. 我聽日要去個casual既聚會。(非正式)

Synonym: 隨便; 非正式

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

go through

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to examining something in detail.

Usage: E.g. 老闆:開會時記住同大家go through一下今個week既items。

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

laugh die me

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to something that is so funny that one can die from having too much laughter.

Usage: E.g. Laugh die me喇!真係好搞笑呀。(笑死我)

Synonym: 笑死我

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

no offense

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they are really considerate about offending someone before or after saying something, such as making a comment or remark. However, it can be entirely offensive sometimes even though the person says no offense.

Usage: E.g. 成日開口埋口都講No Offense嘅人,其實先係最Offense。(The person who always says no offense is very often the person who is the most offensive.)

Synonym: 有怪莫怪, 無意冒犯

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100most/posts/毛牌觀察學-第五話成日開口埋口都講no-offense嘅人其實先係最offense要講offense嘢唔使咁就住嘅一係下次試吓改口講no-defense/1031481205006323/

copy

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a duplicate of something, such as a document.

Usage: E.g. 份document整多幾份copy黎呀,唔該。

Synonym: 副本

uncle

Definition: A polite way of addressing a stranger, usually a much older person, when you meet them for the first time.

Usage: E.g. 哈佬Uncle,nice to meet you! E.g. 阿女,快D叫聲uncle啦。

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3048345/hong-kong-comes-alive-learning-cantonese-make-sure-you-know

worse

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to something of bad quality.

Usage: E.g. 個湯凍嘅,真係好worse囉。

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

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