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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


112 results found

slow ton ton eat wonton

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does things very slowly. Usage: E.g. Get work done quickly! Stop slow ton ton eat wonton!Synonym: 慢吞吞食雲吞

scan

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the Cantonese equivalent '掃描'. Usage: E.g. 可以scan份document比我嗎? E.g. 喂,個scanner壞左呀。幾時搵人黎整呀?Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

wok of congee

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a situation of utter chaos and mess. Usage: E.g. Do enough planning beforehand or your project will end up in a wok of congee!Synonym: 一鑊粥

shopping

Definition: A more neutral-sounding term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to '購物' or '買野', which signify the commitment to buying things. Usage: E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去商場啦。男朋友:吓?又買野?!女朋友:唔係呀。去shopping咋嘛。 E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去shopping啦。男朋友:又買野?!女朋友:去window shopping咋嘛。Reference: https://www.academia.edu/1177618/Cantonese_English_code_switching_research_in_Hong_Kong_A_survey_of_recent_research

dead cows one-sided neck

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is so stubborn that their neck is like leaning towards one side. Usage: E.g. Listen to us for once! Don't be always so dead cow's one-sided neck la!Synonym: 死牛一邊頸

on9

Definition: (vulgar, textspeak) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who's idiotic and stupid. It originated from the Cantonese words '憨鳩' because the '鳩' (penis) has a similar pronunciation as the number 9 in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Why did you piss on me? Are you on9? (憨鳩) E.g. Don't be so on99 and watch where you're going! (憨鳩鳩)Synonym: 憨鳩Reference: https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=28512

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Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

onsite

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to describe a job that must be done in a company office. Usage: E.g. 份合約講明份工要onsite做,冇得work from home。Synonym: 現場,在工地

note

Definition: Often added with a 屎 (faeces), this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers use to refer to short pieces of information written down on paper. Usage: E.g. 阿仔,上堂記住drop低D note屎呀!Synonym: 筆記Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

eat dead cat

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone being a scapegoat or taking the blame for something that they did not do. Usage: E.g. I did not cheat in the exam and you made me eat dead cat??!Synonym: 食死貓Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms