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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


962 results found

high tech

Definition: (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe something that is advanced in technology.  There is a famous quote that goes "High Tech揩野,Low Tech撈野", which describes the volatility of high-tech products as opposed to low-tech products that have a larger market despite high competition.

Usage: E.g. 哇,張枱有自動升降好high tech呀。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

hit

Definition: Pronounced as 'heet' (long vowel), this is a code-mixing term that refers to something being very successful or popular.

Usage: E.g. 呢套戲好hit呀。快D睇啦。 E.g. 呢首歌又好似hit返喇喎。

ho dor

Definition: (textspeak) Transliterated from ‘好多’ meaning ‘a lot’ or ‘many’, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to complain about the excess of homework.

Usage: E.g. Ho dor gong for ah! (好多功課呀!)

Synonym: 好多

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

hok ba

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a top student who scores high marks in school.

Usage: E.g. You got straight A's for your exams? You must be a hok ba!

Synonym: 學霸

Reference: https://www.youngpostclub.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3147729/sup-sup-sui-start-new-school-year-these-cantonese-slang

hold

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to holding something physically (揸), but with the meaning of waiting for the return of something as well.

Usage: E.g. Hold住個電話先。 E.g. 個project兒家hold住左,因為要同個客傾返好先。

Synonym: 揸

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

Holland Bank Cheque

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they don’t want to tell somebody directly that they are really f***ing stupid. Even though it looks like a westernised expression, it has a similar pronunciation as '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which means 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: A: 有人話我係"荷蘭銀行支票", 何解??? B: HOLLAND BANK CHEQUE~自己讀~

Synonym: 好撚笨柒

Reference: https://m.discuss.com.hk/index.php?action=thread&tid=9184515

Holland Ben 7

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when one feels embarassed about something stupid that he has done but still wishes to admit it honestly. While the phrase is English-sounding with Holland being a western country and Ben being an English name, it is actually homophonous with '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which has the literal meaning of 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: E.g. I forgot my wallet at home! I am Holland Ben 7!

Synonym: 好撚笨柒, Holland Bank Cheque

hurt

Definition: (adj.) An irreplaceable code-mixing term used to describe an unhappy state, especially when a person has been devastated by someone.

Usage: E.g. 喂,你知唔知人地係會好hurt架? E.g. 喂,你咁講野人地係會好hurt架。 E.g. 點都好,你應該唔好hurt到人先岩。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

I can't believe it

Definition: A tag-switching phrase that is often overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. I can't believe it!呢隻牌子你唔係未聽過嗎? E.g. Oh my God! 你唔係未去過呢間餐廳嘛?I can't believe it!

Synonym: 我唔相信

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/555250/偽ABC扮唔識中文%20網民揶揄造作

I don't really spend money

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kong girls who are really honest about how much money they spend.

Usage: E.g. 我需要啲咩啫,嚟嚟去去我咪又係食叉燒飯、意粉,I don't really spend money.(我根本唔花錢)對我嚟講無關係,我真係無嘢。(E.g. What do I really need? Wherever I go I just eat barbeque pork rice, pasta, I don't really spend money.(I don't spend money at all) Money doesn't matter to me, I really don't care.)

Synonym: 我根本唔花錢

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359289/jw王灝兒分手後啞忍兩年-眼濕濕平反拜金論-我仲使乜入tvb拍劇?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

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