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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


111 results found

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?!Synonym: 香檳

kau

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term. Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)Synonym: 溝Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

MTR

Definition: Pronounced as 'm-tee-ah-lo', this is a code-mixing term used by the grassroot class Hong Kongers to refer to the train station. Usage: E.g. Foreigner: Excuse me, where is the MTR? HK'er: What? Foreigner: Where is the 'm-tee-ah-lo'? HK'er: Oh I understand! 'm-tee-ah-lo' is over there!Synonym: 港鐵

finance

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use as a broader term to refer to a whole load of stuff related to managing money, assets, investments, borrowing and more. Sometimes, it is also used as another term for money, especially when the word money just sounds sensitive to a person. Usage: E.g. A: 你做咩行業? B: Finance. A: 咁係做銀行, 財務管理, 投資定係咩? (A: What industry do you work in? B: Finance. A: So do you work in bank, asset management, investment or what? E.g. 今餐有D貴。你有冇finance? (This meal is quite expensive. Do you have finance?)Synonym: 金融,財務,財政,資金 Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/金融学

appetizer

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers use to refer to a dish of food that is eaten before a meal to stimulate or whet one's appetite. Usage: E.g. D人未到,不如食個appetizer等住先啦?(People have not arrived yet. What about eating an appetizer while we wait?)Synonym: 前菜Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2723472/page/2

cheers

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers when they celebrate an occasion with a drink, such as beer, wine or soft drinks. Usage: E.g. 大家一齊飲杯啦!Cheers! (Let's make a toast. Cheers!)Synonym: 乾杯, 飲杯, 飲勝Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/飲杯

take advantage

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to exploiting the use of something, even though at times it can seem more like abusing or misusing something instead. Usage: E.g. 有D公司好take advantage D fresh grad,要你做唔哂野要OT。(Some companikes really take advantage of fresh graduates and get them to work overtime.) E.g. 有D員工好take advantage公司D病假。(Some employees really take advantage of the sick leaves offered by companies.)Synonym: 利用, 濫用Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3588289/page/6

chop

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a company stamp. (公司蓋章) Usage: E.g. 可唔可以借個chop黎用吓?Synonym: 公司蓋章Reference: https://paper.hket.com/article/190909/行政人員英語詞窮%20見客口啞

sync

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to whether people are on the same page of a situation or task. Usage: E.g. 我覺得我地唔係好sync。可唔可以catch up一吓我地做既野?Synonym: 同步Reference: https://www.cw.com.tw/article/5114233

concern

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express worry about something. Usage: E.g. 最近公司既野收入令到我好concern。Reference: https://www.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/職場英語-盤點辦公室改不掉的中英夾雜-double-comfirm是錯的/1301-25515
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