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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


635 results found

out

Definition: 1. (adj) This is a code-mixing word that refers to being outdated. 2. (verb) To instruct someone to be eliminated or get out of the room.

Usage: E.g. 你兒家先聽呢首歌?你真係好out呀。(adj) E.g. 你同我out!(verb)

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

out cat

Definition: Said to have originated from 'copycat' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who cheats or copies other people's answers in an exam. (出貓)

Usage: E.g. Don't dare to bring out the cat in an exam! (唔好咁大擔考試出貓!)

Synonym: 出貓

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3181508/cat-got-your-tongue-feline-inspired-cantonese-slang-all-kinds

outstanding

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to describe something that is not yet done or paid.

Usage: E.g. 依家仲有咩case係outstanding?

Synonym: 未解決

over

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something that has been overdone, resulting in being too strong or excessive.

Usage: E.g. 人越大 就覺得林夕啲詞over咗 我極度懷疑林夕由細到大畀佢老豆打大 (The older I get, the more I feel that Albert Leung's lyrics are over the top. I extremely suspect that Albert Leung was beaten by his father from a young age.)

Synonym: 過火

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3551934/page/1

pain in the arse

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to describe something that is very annoying and frustrating to the point where it causes constant trouble or inconvenience, even though it has nothing to do with someone's butt.

Usage: E.g. 之後見到Front desk同事,話果間房客係”pain in the arse”, 佢不停投訴,個個都想佢快L d check out,但佢不停extend (Then I saw my front desk colleague, saying that the guest was ”pain in the arse”. He kept complaining, and everyone wanted him to check out quickly, but he kept extending his stay at the room.)

Synonym: 令人討厭或痛苦的

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BBRT_1BUrh/

Park'n Shop

Definition: Originated from a supermarket chain in Hong Kong, this is a code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to tell somebody to go to hell, as the name can be abbreviated to 'PK', which resembles the swear word '仆街' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 想搵我笨?!Go to Park'n Shop!

pass

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use instead of '通過'.  Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'pass-si'.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試pa唔pass呀? E.g. 我今次pass-si呀!仲好高分添!

Synonym: 通過

Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922

pat pat

Definition: Purportedly to have originated from the name of a disposable diaper, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Konger use as a euphemistic way to refer to a person's buttocks, which is very appropriate to say when talking to toddlers.

Usage: E.g. 唔好曳啊,曳就打PAT-PAT (Don't be naughty, or else I will hit your buttocks)

Synonym: 屁股

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/PAT-PAT

peng di

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase used by foreigners to bargain in a wet market, in order to get a bigger deal or low price. A 'la' is also usually added at the end for emphasis.

Usage: E.g. This is fifty dollars? Peng di la!

Synonym: 平D

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

pick up

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that a Jayden Mami loves to use to refer to a more casual way of learning something rather than the formal way of acquiring skills and information.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,有時間就去pick up English啦。你唔用既話會好快forget架。(Jayden, go and pick up English when you have time. If you don't use it, you will forget it.)

Synonym: 學識; 練習

Reference: https://hk.amazingtalker.com/questions/8407

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