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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 613 results

eat wet rice

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is useless and is a waste of money to raise him or her up. (食濕米 or 食塞米) Usage: E.g. You cannot get anything done at all today? Do you eat wet rice? (你係咪食塞米?)Synonym: 食濕米, 食塞米Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/%E9%A3%9F%E5%A1%9E%E7%B1%B3

copy and paste

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that even young and senior local Hong Kong students like to use to refer to duplicating information in the digital format because they were just never used to Chinese Windows. Usage: E.g. A:搵AI gen成編文出黎,再copy and paste落自己份功課到咪得囉。B:喂,你唔好教壞我喎?!(A: Just get the AI to generate some essay, then copy and paste it into your homework. Done! B: Hey, don't teach me a wrong habit!)Synonym: 複製與貼上Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/香港語文

align

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to reaching a consensus on matters of a situation. Usage: E.g. 我地一齊align一下意見,再匯報比上頭知。Synonym: 保持一致Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

ging

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term often used by the younger generation to describe something or someone as very skillful or powerful. (勁) Usage: E.g. You won the competition?! Ho ging ah! (Very outstanding) E.g. You are so ging at basketball! (Very skillful) E.g. This computer is so ging! (Very powerful)Synonym: 勁Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

wuddud

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '核突', which refers to something that is aesthetically unpleasant or ugly. Usage: E.g. 港女:Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone but then I realize the place is too dirty and updup and ppl ard me dou ho dirty and wuddud...Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud=核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

ni gor

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by foreigners when they want to order something in a restaurant because they don't know how to read a menu. Usage: E.g. Mm goi waiter! Ni gor please!Synonym: 呢個, thisReference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

alma mater

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the school that a person had graduated from. However, working class and grassroots Hong Kongers may know this term but not use it because it sounds too Latin than English. Hence, they find ‘mother school’ is more sensible and practical to use. Usage: E.g. 你既alma mater係邊間學校?Synonym: 母校, mother schoolReference: https://youtube.com/shorts/Br8CWgYQNak?si=aFaIMvdv2YSnCxvh

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*

awesome

Definition: An overused code-mixing term by real ABC's in Hong Kong when they want to give praise or compliment to something, just like the word '正' in Cantonese but stronger. Usage: E.g. 哇,今次個concert真係awesome! E.g. Woah! Awesome!

offer

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used instead of '取錄'. Usage: E.g. 家人:邊間大學比左offer你呀? 你:仲未有offer呀。唔知幾時呢?