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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


898 results found

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

awesome

Definition: An overused code-mixing term by real ABC's in Hong Kong when they want to give praise or compliment to something, just like the word '正' in Cantonese but stronger.

Usage: E.g. 哇,今次個concert真係awesome! E.g. Woah! Awesome!

Synonym: 正

band

Definition: Often used as '散band', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to dismissing after an event, such as a party.

Usage: E.g. 今晚幾點散band?

Synonym: 解散

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0x5-SyI4o

BB

Definition: Often used as 'baby pig' (BB豬) in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to call their lovers.

Usage: E.g. BB豬,你買D咩生日禮物比我呀?

Synonym: 寶貝

beat

Definition: Originated as 'beat patrol' from London Metropolitan Police, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use as 'walking the beat', which refers to patrolling a designated area on foot as a police officer.

Usage: E.g. 警員今日要行 beat。(Police officers need to go on patrol today.)

Synonym: 行咇

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2018/12/04/WH1812040003.htm

benz

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to the car brand Mercedes-Benz

Usage: Wow! Ban¹ ci⁴ ah!

Best

Definition: Often expressed as ‘老best’ meaning 'old best', this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to refer to a best friend that a person has known for a long time. (呢個好大部分時候係攞嚟應用自己啲friend呀樣表達自己個friend係好老友囉咁樣)

Usage: E.g. 你哋睇下呢個係我老best。(Let me show all of you. This is my old best friend.)

Synonym: 睇下呢個係我個好朋友, 老友, old best friend

Reference: https://mingpaomonthly.com/article/details/語文.書話/2025-02/1737624129007/老best、bestie有咩分別?%20(歐陽偉豪)

big ear hole

Definition: Derived from '大耳窿' with '窿' sounds like 'loan' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to a person or company that offers loans at extremely high interest rates.

Usage: E.g. Don't borrow money from this company. It is a big ear hole!

Synonym: 大耳窿

blow water

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.

Usage: E.g. 收皮啦!唔好再blow water!

Synonym: 吹水

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

bonus

Definition: A chic-sounding code-mixing term that refers to year-end bonus (花紅) in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 你間公司今個年尾有bonus嗎?

Synonym: 花紅

Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

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