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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


284 results found

dirty

Definition: Often used in a Jayden Mami parody, this is a code-mixing term used by a typical Hong Kong modern mother to refer to physical uncleanliness in a mildly negative way.

Usage: E.g. Jayden做咩趴喺條street度呀,個ground好dirty㗎,仲要比d dog踩上你個頭度,你再唔get up mami就angry㗎啦。(Jayden, why are you lying on the street? The ground is so dirty, and you're letting a dog step over you. If you don't get up, Mami will be angry.)

Synonym: 污糟

Reference: https://eastweek.stheadline.com/pets/18474/Jayden媽咪是誰社交網絡爆紅兼殺入毛孩界

dry

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone or something as dull and boring such as having no relationship, which definitely has nothing to do with 'dry dating' in native English.

Usage: E.g. 我近排冇拖拍好dry呀。(I recently haven't been dating, so dry!) E.g. 唔好成日自己一個人咁dry啦。(Don't be always by yourself, so dry!)

Synonym: 沒新鮮感,很無聊,枯燥乏味

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwE7IA18CY&t=50s

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

eight woman

Definition: (vulgar) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe a female person who is nosy and meddles in other people's business. Similar to 'bitch' in English. Literal meaning of 八婆: eight old woman

Usage: E.g. Mind your own business, eight woman! (八婆) E.g. Are you done messing around, die eight woman?! (死八婆) E.g. You are such an eight woman! (正八婆)

Synonym: 八婆

Reference: https://www.secretchina.com/news/b5/2013/11/29/521805.html

elaborate

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local and overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to testify a person's knowledge or believe that the other person can be more eloquent in expressing their ideas.

Usage: E.g. 唔好意思。我唔明你講咩喎。你可以elaborate一吓嗎?(I’m sorry. But I don’t understand what you are talking about. Can you elaborate?)

Synonym: 詳細說明

Engrish

Definition: A code-mixing term that Fake ABC Hong Kongers use when they want to challenge another person’s English by stressing the prestigious 'r' sound in English even when there is no r sound in an English word.

Usage: E.g. Do you know Engrish? E.g. I'm sorry I don't speak Chinese. Can you speak Engrish?

Synonym: English

Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Engrish&oldformat=true&variant=zh-hk

enjoy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to taking pleasure from doing something. Sometimes, it can also be used intransitively as a verb to describe a state of mind where one is having a good time.

Usage: E.g. 每次暴雨或者打風,唔知點解我都好enjoy。(Whenever there is heavy rain or typhoon, I don't know why I really enjoy it.)

Synonym: 享受

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3973322/page/1

fact check

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fat check', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to verifying the validity and accuracy of something.

Usage: E.g. 洗唔洗fact check一吓呢個人係真定係假?(Do we need to fact check this person to see if he is real or fake?)

Synonym: 事實查核

Reference: https://medialiteracy.hk/不看你絕對後悔:fact-check背後的「真相」/

fashion sense

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having an instinct for what is stylish, which they believe can be developed through nurture.

Usage: E.g. 培養fashion sense前 買衫望多啲款襯下色 除左黑色,唔好由頭到腳都同一隻色 仲要諗下有咩鞋襯到衫 手袋都要襯 (To nurture fashion sense, have a look at more styles and matching colours when buying clothes. Do not choose the same color from head to toe except black. Also think about what shoes match the outfit. Handbags must also match.)

Synonym: 時尚感

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2725538/page/1

feel

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe an experience as pleasurable. However, it can also be used to refer to having romantic feelings towards a person.

Usage: E.g. 呢間bar好有feel。(This bar has a good vibe.) E.g. 唔好意思,我對你冇feel。(Sorry, but I don’t have any feelings for you.)

Synonym: 感覺; 氣氛; 心情

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNvk8qHZBN-/ (use mobile version)

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