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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


704 results found

chaam

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term used to describe how poor (慘) someone is. Usage: E.g. I cried coz I am very chaam. E.g. 今次考試肥左真係好chaam。 E.g. 做到扒左喺到咁真係chaamchaam豬。Synonym: 慘Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/3056055/【港式英文】嫌米綫店「updup」及食客「wuddud」%20%20%20%20港女IG發文形容好「Chaam」

sauce

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to use to refer to anything that looks like a sauce. Usage: E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係醋!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's vinegar!) E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架,係豉油!(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's see-yau!)Synonym: 醬Reference: https://auntieemily.com/soy-sauce-chow-mein/

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

fax

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to the fax machine (傳真機). Often used as 'fax機' or 'fax屎機'. Usage: E.g. 部fax機work唔work呀? E.g. 唔該幫我fax呢張野過去呀? E.g. 請問收唔收到我張fax屎呀?Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

office

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '辦公室'. Usage: E.g. 聽日返office定係work from home呀?Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxrKXQowtvk

big wok

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where they are in some serious trouble. Sometimes, '大鑊' can be emphasized to a vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which literally translates to 'big penis wok' and means the person is in rather deep sh*t. Usage: E.g. I forgot to bring my wallet! Big wok! (大鑊) E.g. Omg I lost all my money! This time is really big penis wok! (今次真係大撚鑊)Synonym: 大鑊Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/03/30/ED1103300032.htm

judgment

Definition: Often associated with negative connotations, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to show their ability to form valuable opinions after thorough thought, like a lawyer in a court case. Usage: E.g. 第一次認識人唔好咁快pass judgment啦!(Don't pass judgment so quickly upon knowing a person for the first time!) E.g. 我希望你會接受我既judgment。(I hope you will accept my judgment.)Synonym: 判斷Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1787326/page/1

big lemon coke

Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from '大檸樂', this is a more euphemistic way of saying the vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which means a big f***ing serious trouble has occurred. Usage: E.g. I forgot to hand in my assignment yesterday. Big lemon coke!Synonym: 大檸樂

fact check

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fat check', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to verifying the validity and accuracy of something. Usage: E.g. 洗唔洗fact check一吓呢個人係真定係假?(Do we need to fact check this person to see if he is real or fake?)Synonym: 事實查核Reference: https://medialiteracy.hk/不看你絕對後悔:fact-check背後的「真相」/

wok

Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from the bowl-shaped Chinese frying pan '鑊' (wok), this is a measure word that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a number of different bad situations. Usage: E.g. Big wok! (大鑊 - big trouble has occurred) E.g. Big wok explosion! (爆大鑊 - someone revealed a big secret) E.g. Carry wok. (孭鑊 - To take the blame for someone) E.g. Slip a wok. (跣一鑊 - To set somebody up for some trouble) E.g. To make you a wok. (整你一鑊 - To give someone a trouble) E.g. Let's be cooked together in a wok! (同你一鑊熟 - To get someone else into the same trouble as you)Synonym: 鑊Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-big-wok-%E5%A4%A7%E9%91%8A-language/
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