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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 681 results

zhen garn

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term that is derived from '陣間', which means a while later. Usage: E.g. Zhen garn lunch go ng go sing K?Synonym: 陣間Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

dor jeh

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that foreigners use to utter the phrase 'thank you' in Cantonese when they receive a red packet during Chinese New Year. Usage: E.g. Dor jeh! Gung hei fat choi!Synonym: 多謝Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

revamp

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to changing something in order to improve or make it new again, such as a website. Usage: E.g. 個website做revamp要幾耐?Synonym: 翻新

Gong hei fat choi

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to wish someone prosperous and good fortune during Chinese New Year. Sometimes , it may be mistakened as 'Happy new year' by non-Cantonese speaking expats, even though there is nothing really wrong with saying it to people excessively. (Variant: Kung hei fat choi) Usage: E.g. Happy Chinese New Year! Gong hei fat choi! Gong hei fat choi!Synonym: 恭喜發財Reference: https://www.zalora.com.hk/blog/lifestyle/kung-hei-fat-choi-meaning-how-to-respond-and-common-cantonese-new-year-blessings/

thank you

Definition: Often said with an extra 'you' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to make sure that the other person really gets the thank you message.  Sometimes, it is uttered as 'fank q' or 'fank q you', especially by the grassroots class Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. 今次搬屋真係好thank you你呀! E.g. 恭喜發財!*逗利是* Thank you你呀! E.g. 朋友:尋日嗰五舊水還返比你。 你:Fank q你呀!Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/網絡熱話/一句英文分辨港人身份-ctb12-652218/3/

individual

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe people who are really just minding their own business but not necessarily alone or single. Usage: E.g. 呢間bar啲人點呀?係唔係個個都好individual咁樣呀? (How are the people in this bar? Are they all really just minding their own business?)Synonym: 單獨Reference: https://www.threads.com/@matthew_lam1116/post/DAcSyqdScem?hl=zh-hk

high

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to getting high or excited. Usage: E.g. 尋晚唱K唱到好high。 E.g. 你咪成日喺到自high啦。

close

Definition: A more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ (intimate). Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架?E.g. 你有幾多個close friend?

Skype

Definition: Often pronounced as 'Skypy', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the instant messaging software 'Skype'. Usage: E.g. 你幾時得閒呀?我想用Skypy打比你呀。Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/633876/港式英語-19個英文字港人常讀錯-釘橋-cam錢-janet讀到似中文

casual

Definition: 1. (noun) A word used instead of the Cantonese equivalent to denote the meaning of casual wear. 2. (verb) A word used to tell another person to be casual, informal, and relaxed. 3. (adj.) A word used to describe something as being informal, such as an event. Usage: E.g. 同事: 聽日著casual得喇,知道嗎? E.g. 今日食飯casual D得喇。(隨便) E.g. 我聽日要去個casual既聚會。(非正式)Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese