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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 613 results

assignment

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '功課'. Usage: E.g. 喂,聽日交assignment呀,仲係到做咩呀?! E.g. 呢份assignment可以借黎參考嗎?Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

brainstorm

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to suggesting many ideas for a topic or activity very quickly. Usage: E.g. 大家一齊brainstorm吓產品既idea。Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

present

Definition: An irreplaceable code-mixing term meaning to deliver a speech, as saying the Cantonese equivalent term '匯報' would sound too old school and non-colloquial. Usage: E.g. 你幾時要present呀? E.g. 今次份assignment難唔難present呀?Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

challenge

Definition: An alternative way of referring to someone who's getting on your nerves, as the equivalent term '挑戰' in Cantonese sounds too much like a real duel or battle and hence too provocative to use. Usage: E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到挑戰我。你:我幾時有挑戰過你呀?! E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到challenge我。你:*silence*

dude

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'. Usage: E.g. Dude,你係到搞D咩呀? E.g. Dude,你好還錢喇喎? E.g. Dude,你以為你自己好型呀?Synonym: 大佬

ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by foreigners when they come across a local Hong Konger who thinks they know how to speak Cantonese. Literal meaning: I don't know how to speak Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Foreigner: Mm goi sai! Dor jeh! Hong Konger: Wow, your Cantonese is so good! Foreigner: Ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa.Synonym: 我唔識講廣東話Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not show gratitude to those who helped him/her after a goal is reached. Usage: E.g. I have helped you reach your goal and you complete forget about me? So does that mean you finished the ritual and ditch the monk?Synonym: 打完齋唔要和尚Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/打完齋唔要和尚

match

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is very similar to or combines very well with something or someone. Usage: E.g. 哇,D顏色好match呀。 E.g. 你地簡直係perfect match呀!Synonym: 配

exactly

Definition: A word used by Hong Kong people to express absolute affirmation, which is comparable to 'Bingo!' Usage: E.g. 係喇,係喇。Exactly! E.g. 岩喇!呢個就係我exactly想講既野。 E.g. 我唔係太get你exactly想講咩。

cool

Definition: A code-mixing term used to mean fashionable and attractive.  However, it can also refer to being snobby sometimes. Usage: E.g. 哇,你載左太陽眼鏡好cool呀。 E.g. 唔好成日係到扮cool啦。你以為你自己好型咩?Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk