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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


182 results found

apply

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to more efficient and sometimes less official way of making a request for a job.

Usage: E.g. Jobsdb見到好多agent公司幫公司請人,一apply班agent就打來phone call,唔理你是唔是工作時間都打來,即刻問長問短... 不如直接同公司apply. (On JobsDB, you see a lot of recruitment agencies hiring for companies; the moment you apply, the agents call you—often without caring whether it’s during office hours—and immediately they start grilling you with questions... You're better off applying directly to the company.)

Synonym: 申請

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3975336/page/1

appreciate

Definition: A posh way of saying that you admire someone's work or effort, in order to show your high social status or higher education background.

Usage: E.g. 我好appreciate你個idea. Well done. E.g. 我好appreciate你做既野。不過,你都唔可以迫我accept你個apology。

Synonym: 欣賞

as long as

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to emphasize the duration of time that an event is happening which is probably not coming to an end so soon.

Usage: E.g. 總之as long as我係你個上司,你就要聽我講既野。(In short, as long as I am your superior, you have to listen to what I say.)

Synonym: 只要

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100094319732462/posts/簡單總結返尋日live-1-租務改革令租客更難租樓難言對經濟整體有正面影響2-對於hong-kong-scouser嘅campaign-我哋認為同我地bno平權/689410454212940/

assess

Definition: Originated from ‘access’, this is a code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the means through which one can enter a system or having the permission to retrieve data from a system.

Usage: E.g. 唔該可唔可以比個database既assess比我? (Could you give me the access to the database?) E.g. 我assess唔到個system。可唔可以比密碼我?(I cannot access the system. Can you give me the password?)

Synonym: access, 讀取

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/CjZh3wSpu4l/ (use mobile version)

attachment

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the computer file that is sent along with an email message.

Usage: E.g. 我搵唔到你個email既attachment。可以再send多次嗎?

Synonym: 附件

Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/topic/detail/20052582/香港職場30個中英夾雜用語-內地網民-自己會粵語也聽不懂/1

bargain

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to negotiating terms and conditions of an employment agreement or contract in addition to just the salary.

Usage: E.g. Offer人工太低 簽約嗰陣仲有無得bargain? (If I am being offered a low salary, can I still bargain when signing the contract?)

Synonym: 講價

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1130972/page/1

boss

Definition: Often pronounced as '波士', this is a more polite sounding code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to '老闆', especially when working in a corporate company.

Usage: E.g. 做波士就好啦。我地呢班打工仔一世做奴隸。

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

brainstorm

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to suggesting many ideas for a topic or activity very quickly.

Usage: E.g. 大家一齊brainstorm吓產品既idea。

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

buddha-type

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing term used to describe someone who is so calm and relaxed like the almighty Buddha such that he or she does not have time to chase the opposite sex, but focuses on work and personal interests only. Sometimes, it is also used to describe someone who does not get angry easily when things happened.

Usage: E.g. Why don't you find a girlfriend? Are you the buddha-type person? E.g. *bump* That hurt when you bumped into me! But I'm okay, my friend!

Synonym: 佛系

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-buddha-type

can

Definition: Sometimes said with a fist pump gesture, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express absolute affirmation towards the feasibility of an idea.

Usage: E.g. 當然啦! 呢個idea絕對can啦! (Of course! This idea is absolutely feasible!)

Synonym: 可以, 可行

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