Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | Downloads | Lectures | Videos |
Instagram Instagram
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


892 results found

ho lun bao

Definition: (vulgar) A romanised code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong expats to describe the feeling of being so f***ing full from eating too much.

Usage: E.g. 呢到58蚊。但係呢到都可以十個人食喇。真係ho lun bao。(This is 58 bucks, but is enough for 10 people to eat. I'm really so f***ing full.)

Synonym: 好撚飽

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2972264009780939

ho sick

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy.

Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.

Synonym: 好食

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA

hok ba

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a top student who scores high marks in school.

Usage: E.g. You got straight A's for your exams? You must be a hok ba!

Synonym: 學霸

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

hold

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to holding something physically (揸), but with the meaning of waiting for the return of something as well.

Usage: E.g. Hold住個電話先。 E.g. 個project兒家hold住左,因為要同個客傾返好先。

Synonym: 揸

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

Holland Ben 7

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when one feels embarassed about something stupid that he has done but still wishes to admit it honestly. While the phrase is English-sounding with Holland being a western country and Ben being an English name, it is actually homophonous with '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which has the literal meaning of 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: E.g. I forgot my wallet at home! I am Holland Ben 7!

Synonym: 好撚笨柒, Holland Bank Cheque

hurt

Definition: (adj.) An irreplaceable code-mixing term used to describe an unhappy state, especially when a person has been devastated by someone.

Usage: E.g. 喂,你知唔知人地係會好hurt架? E.g. 喂,你咁講野人地係會好hurt架。 E.g. 點都好,你應該唔好hurt到人先岩。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

I / E

Definition: With 'I' for introvert and 'E' for extrovert, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers who are very knowledgeable or obsessed about the MIBT (Myerrs Briggs type indicator) or the 16 personalities test.

Usage: E.g. A: 你係I人定E人?B: 我唔係好知,有可能係雙面E人。(A: Are you an introvert or extrovert? B: I don't know. Maybe I am a two-faced extrovert.)

Synonym: Introvert, extrovert

Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/37733/mbti-i人同e人區別-10種情境解析-一秒分辨你係-i人定e人

I am very thanks them

Definition: Often described as comparable to the English level of a primary school chicken, this is a code-mixing phrase used by the Hong Kong celebrity Stephy Tang (鄧麗欣) to express sincere gratitude towards other people.

Usage: E.g. Reporter: Tell me what you are wearing. Stephy: This is Vivienne Westwood. So I am very happy they give me that dress from England. So I am very thanks them.

Synonym: 我係好多謝佢地

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/鄧麗欣

I can't believe it

Definition: A tag-switching phrase that is often overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. I can't believe it!呢隻牌子你唔係未聽過嗎? E.g. Oh my God! 你唔係未去過呢間餐廳嘛?I can't believe it!

Synonym: 我唔相信

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/555250/偽ABC扮唔識中文%20網民揶揄造作

I don't know

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by the K-pop singer Jackson Wang (王嘉爾) when he has nothing to say. Even though he was born in Hong Kong, it is often said that he has real American Born Chinese vibe, due to his strong knowledge of English filler terms while speaking in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 我從運動員到練習生到出道,去海外,我自己覺得我係捱到既。但係有時呢D咁既野真係hit到我,我真係...i don't know. (From being an athlete to a trainee to debut then overseas, I always thought I could endure. But when there were things that hit me sometimes, I really just... I don't know.)

Synonym: 我唔知

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7-73ZG8G2s

Define Your Term | Learn More
Feel free to send your comments and suggestions to info@megaexplorer.net.