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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


704 results found

anyhow

Definition: Usually placed at the start of a clause or sentence, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to replace the phrase '無論如何', meaning 'no matter what' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 我知你好忙,但anyhow,你一定要幫我。

champagne

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of drinking champagnes. Usage: E.g. 今日係禮拜五晚,我地黎支champagne嗱?!

delay

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used to describe something that happened at a later time than expected. (延遲) Usage: E.g. 今次班機delay左好耐。下次搵第二間航空公司喇!Synonym: 延遲

book

Definition: To reserve something, such as an appointment or place, without sounding like it's a date. Usage: E.g. 請問你幫我book左個appointment未? E.g. 聽日book左枱未呀?(訂枱)Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

swap

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use in place of the Cantonese equivalent '交換'. Usage: E.g. A:我地swap一個球員好唔好?B:好呀,我同你swap啦。Synonym: 交換

case

Definition: A generic code-mixing term used for a number of Chinese words meaning 'case', in order to maximise communicative efficiency. Usage: E.g. 喂,阿John。同我follow下個case得嗎?(個案) E.g. 今次呢單case好似唔簡單。(案件) E.g. 呢個病人個case睇嚴重D喎。(病情) E.g. 我明白你個case。(情況)

head

Definition: 1. (noun) Often used as 'Ah head', this is a code-mixing term that refers to the boss or leader of a company or department. 2. (verb) Used to refer to being led by a person, usually someone of higher authority. Usage: E.g. 你間公司個阿Head係邊個?我要見佢!\nE.g. 你醒目就唔會成日比人head住啦。

challenge

Definition: An alternative way of referring to someone who's getting on your nerves, as the equivalent term '挑戰' in Cantonese sounds too much like a real duel or battle and hence too provocative to use. Usage: E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到挑戰我。你:我幾時有挑戰過你呀?! E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到challenge我。你:*silence*

send

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to sending things over the internet. ('發送') Usage: E.g. 你可唔可以send張相比我呀?Synonym: 發送

upload

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to uploading files to the internet. ('上載') Usage: E.g. 快D幫我upload張相去IG啦!Synonym: 上載
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