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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


477 results found

claim

Definition: This is a code-mixing term used to refer to claiming money.  However, it is often pronounced as 'kam' by grassroot class Hong Kongers. Usage: E.g. 請問讀完個course有冇得kam返d錢架? E.g. 請問d飯錢可唔可以問返公司kam架?Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

com

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term meaning 'compromise'. Usage: E.g. 香港人:我地雙方要com吓先得,OK?內地人:說什麼?香港人:COMPROMISE。 E.g. 你:我知道我地好多野都唔係好夾,不過我地com吓咪得囉。朋友:我com你老X!

common sense

Definition: A term that seems to originate from the English culture and can hardly be replaced by the Cantonese equivalent term '常識'. Usage: E.g. 喂,你咁快就落搭,有冇common sense架? E.g. 一睇就知係搵笨啦,你有冇common sense架? E.g. 你好似有常識,不過冇common sense。Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

milestone

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an important stage or event in the development of something. (里程碑) Usage: E.g. 我地公司今年reach到個milestone!Let\'s celebrate!Synonym: 里程碑Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

dim hui

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by foreigners to ask for directions when they are lost in Hong Kong. Usage: E.g. Kowloon tong dim hui?Synonym: 點去?Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

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

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

firm

Definition: A shortened term of the word 'confirm' in English, used to maximise communicative efficiency and to get the listener to confirm ASAP. Usage: E.g. 下個月個party既日期firm左未呀? E.g. 你下次個appointment firm左未呀? E.g. Firm左未呀?快D啦。

dom

Definition: A code-mixing term that is abbreviated from the word 'condom'. Sometimes, it is called 'dom dom'. (dam4 dam2) Usage: E.g. 冇帶dom?!我唔同你做! E.g. 今日有冇帶dom dom呀?

for some reason

Definition: A useful alternative if your boss is tired of hearing the word 'somehow' when you want to avoid saying 'I don't know' to a question. Usage: E.g. For some reason個file corrupt左。 E.g. For some reason個printer壞左。 E.g. For some reason今次個客唔搵我地。