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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


671 results found

nice

Definition: A way to express how nice someone is on the surface. Usage: E.g. 佢個人好nice,但係識耐左先知道原來係虛偽。 E.g. 佢個人好nice,不過唔知個人好唔好呢?

moment

Definition: Originated from a Steven Chow movie, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe a brief period of time where one wants to unleash his potential. (瞬間) Usage: E.g. 我醬爆感覺到,喺呢個moment,要爆喇Synonym: 瞬間Reference: https://www.hk01.com/電影/46299/愛-回帶-少林足球-醬爆-變漲爆-何文輝愈撈愈掂

grad

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to the verb 'graduate'.  Sometimes, it is used as a noun. Usage: E.g. 同學:你唔係怕grad唔到呀嗎? 同事:你做左幾年野?。你:我係fresh grad黎架。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

roommate

Definition: A better sounding code-mixing term that is used in place of '室友'. Usage: E.g. 朋友:你有幾多個室友? 你:你係話失友還是roommate?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

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?

ceremony

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used instead of '典禮'. Usage: E.g. 同學:個ceremony好耐呀,完未架? 同學:你幾時去grad ceremony呀? 你:我黎唔到個ceremony呀。

bamboo stick

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is a yellow-skinned Asian but speaks English very well. I.e. Yellow on the outside but white on the inside like a bamboo stick. (竹升) Usage: E.g. Please don’t treat me like a bamboo stick! (竹升) I know how to speak Chinese!Synonym: 竹升

banana

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABCs in Hong Kong to refer to an Asian who speaks English. Ie. Yellow on the outside and white on the inside. (香蕉) Usage: E.g. I am not a banana! I know how to speak Chinese!Synonym: 香蕉

mean

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used when you want to avoid describing someone as being '衰' or not nice. Usage: E.g. 男仔:喂,我覺得你咁樣講野好衰呀。女朋友:你話我衰?! E.g. 男仔:喂,我覺得你咁樣講野好mean呀。女朋友:講得岩。我有時講野係mean左D,不過唔至於係衰。

gym

Definition: Often used as 'doing the gym' (做gym) in Cantonese, this refers to doing exercise in the gym.  Sometimes, it is used as 'gym room', which people may mistaken as '健身室室'. Usage: E.g. 一唔一齊去做gym呀? E.g. 我仲喺gym room呀,遲D再call你啦。