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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


658 results found

preference

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to express a choice in something without stating their favour or to avoid sounding picky.

Usage: E.g. 我今晚既preference係食西餐,但係又唔代表我成日都鍾意。(My preference is western cuisine tonight, but that doesn't mean I like it all the time.)

Synonym: 偏愛; 偏好; 優先選擇

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3316788/page/27

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

pretend to be a pig to eat a tiger

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to acting dumb and innocent in order to win someone, such as in a card game.

Usage: E.g. I know you've got an ace up your sleeves! Stop pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger!

Synonym: 扮豬食老虎

Reference: https://ling-app.com/yue/cantonese-slang-words/

princess sickness

Definition: Derived from '公主病', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a female who acts like a princess all the time and possesses the worst possible qualities such as narcissism and materialism. It tends to associate with Hong Kong women and is quite stereotypical of '港女', the Kong girl.

Usage: E.g. 港男:Why are you scolding me like this? Do you have princess sickness? (你做咩喺度鬧我呀? 你係咪有公主病?)

Synonym: 公主病

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/49823/

printer

Definition: Often pronounced without the 'r' sounds and with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is an a lot more linguistically efficient way of referring to printer (打印機)in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 內地人:個打印機喺邊呀? 香港人:咩話?三個字咁累贅。叫返printer啦唔該。

Synonym: 打印機

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

probation

Definition: Sometimes shortened and pronounced as ‘probay’, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the period of time at the start of a new job when one is being evaluated and tested to see whether they are suitable for the job.

Usage: E.g. 過唔到probation通常唔關工作能力事。多數關得罪人事。(Not passing probation usually does not have to do with one's working ability, but rather to with people issues.)

Synonym: 試用期, 緩刑

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3946396/page/2

promotion

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong salesman love to use as a strategy to advertise their products without sounding like they're doing it for the sake of spreading the word or selling their product.

Usage: E.g. 我地公司兒家做緊promotion。你唔買就走寶喇喂。(Our company is now doing promotion. If you don't buy, you'll miss out.)

Synonym: 宣傳,推廣

Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340689372_Code-Mixing_as_a_Promotion_Strategy_in_Shopping_Centres

protect

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to proactively keeping someone safe from damage or injury, which is usually something that they expect from a boyfriend.

Usage: E.g. 如果連我自己都唔為自己去解釋一下,咁邊個去protect我?邊個幫我解釋?冇。(If even I myself don't stand up for myself, who is going to protect me? Who will help me explain to others? No one.)

Synonym: 保護

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359628/jw王灝兒揭與破產前度葉韋彤分手真相-直言-佢做咗對唔住我嘅事?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

prove

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong court judges to refer to demonstrating and establishing the truth or validity of something by providing evidence and argument, which is especially strong to use in a court of law.

Usage: E.g. 官:呢個,如果因為part of the prosecution case 嘅話,你一定要prove 嘅。(Judge: If this is part of the prosecution case, you must prove it.)

Synonym: 證明

Reference: https://hkupress.hku.hk/image/catalog/pdf-preview/9789888528202.pdf

push

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to persuading someone forcefully to do or achieve something.

Usage: E.g. 資優學生唔需要push佢地做,係咁依點下就ok。(There is no need to push talented students, as you just need to guide them casually.)

Synonym: 逼迫;催逼

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/337010/page/1

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