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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


162 results found

Lulu

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For male version, see 'Robert')

Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Lulu喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

maiseen

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '米線', which is a type of noodles that is very popular in Hong Kong and China.

Usage: E.g. 港女:Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone...

Synonym: 米線

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud=核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

meeting room

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a smaller kind of conference room for general purpose, such as having a small group meeting, 1 on 1 interview, zoom call, etc. However, it does not mean people should do all sorts of things in it such as chitchatting loudly and having a social party.

Usage: E.g. 呢排轉咗工,但公司係Shared Office。入面大部分都後生仔女。就算唔係坐埋一張枱都聽到佢哋大聲講大聲笑。啲meeting room又唔係多,長期俾人霸哂。到真係俾我book到都仲聽到出面啲聲 (E.g. I changed job recently, but the company is a shared office and most people are young, Even when I was not sitting at their table, I could still hear them talking and laughing out loud. There were also not many meeting rooms, so they were occupied for a long time. And when I booked a room, I could still hear their noise outside.)

Synonym: 會議室

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/4007435/page/1

mm ho yi si

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to apologise politely for something.

Usage: E.g. *Holding up a queue* Mm ho yi si. E.g. *Butts into a conversation* Mm ho yi si. Where is the MTR?

Synonym: 唔好意思

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

Mommy told you

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong KOL Janice (janicewanwan) who is known for playing "Jayden’s mother" to emphasize the correctness of her teachings as a typical modern mom, which she says must be correct.

Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜有助 children 盡快 pick up English。Mommy told you 嘅一定是 correct 的. (Chinese-English code-mixing aids children in picking up English more quickly. Whatever Mommy told you must be correct.)

Synonym: 媽媽告訴你

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60339385/jayden之亂-中英夾雜潮文橫掃社交平台-諷刺港媽真實育兒方式?utm_campaign=native&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01webshare#google_vignette

move on

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to leaving past memories behind so they can progress or continue in life.

Usage: E.g. 被分手嘅大家係點move on? (How does everyone move on from a breakup?)

Synonym: 繼續前行

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2705628/page/6

naughty

Definition: A code-mixing term that a Jayden Mami uses to refer to a more playful misbehaviour in a lighthearted way rather than describing a child genuinely bad and unmanageable that the Cantonese equivalent terms tend to denote.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,唔好再咁naughty啦。你唔食菜,又唔飲湯,你唔會healthy架!(Jayden, don't be so naughty. If you don't eat vegetables and don't drink soup, you will not be healthy!)

Synonym: 曳;百厭

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/7397/

no show

Definition: A noun phrase-looking code-mixing verb that native Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who did not turn up at an event or occasion.

Usage: E.g. 大日子遲到同no show無分別 (On an important occasion, there is no difference between being late and not showing up.)

Synonym: 冇到, 缺席

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844386/page/9

OBA

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to 'Occupied but Available' in boy-girl relationships.

Usage: E.g. Occupied but Available (有伴侶但仍接受追求,即可一腳踏N船)(In a relationship but is still accepting new relationships, meaning that you can be in an N number of relationships at the same time.)

Synonym: Occupied but Available

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2812430/page/8

pantry

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an office's tea area with a whole bunch of facilities such as a sink, fridge, microwave oven and much more.

Usage: E.g. A: 見過最癲嘅公司pantry有啲咩?B: 罐裝汽水,果汁,咖啡任飲,十幾款薯片,餅乾,果仁任食,沙律任食,杯麵任食。C: 老鼠 (A: What are the craziest things you have ever seen in a company's pantry? B: Canned soda, juice, all-you-can-drink coffee, a dozen chips, biscuits, all-you-can-eat nuts, all-you-can-eat salad, all-you-can-eat cup noodles. C: Rats)

Synonym: 茶水間; 食品貯藏室

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2166431/page/1

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