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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


926 results found

gimmick

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to '噱頭'.

Usage: E.g. 你有沒有留意樓下那家coffee shop最近常做promotion,我覺得滿有gimmick

Synonym: 噱頭

Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/港人中英夾雜有規律-網友-太神奇-020000181.html

gong for

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term meaning homework, which only Hong Kong local students can understand.

Usage: E.g. Jo jor gong for mei ar? (做左功課未呀?) E.g. Nei mong gong for meh? (你忙功課咩?) E.g. Jo sai d gong for la! (做晒D功課喇!)

Synonym: 功課

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

Gong hei fat choi

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to wish someone prosperous and good fortune during Chinese New Year. Sometimes , it may be mistaken as 'Happy new year' by non-Cantonese speaking expats, even though there is nothing really wrong with saying it to people excessively. (Variant: Kung hei fat choi)

Usage: E.g. Happy Chinese New Year! Gong hei fat choi! Gong hei fat choi!

Synonym: 恭喜發財

Reference: https://www.zalora.com.hk/blog/lifestyle/kung-hei-fat-choi-meaning-how-to-respond-and-common-cantonese-new-year-blessings/

grad

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to the verb 'graduate'.  Sometimes, it is used as a noun.

Usage: E.g. 同學:你唔係怕grad唔到呀嗎? 同事:你做左幾年野?。你:我係fresh grad黎架。

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

grammar

Definition: Often pronounced as 'grandma', this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the set of rules that define the structure of a language, which can be difficult and annoying sometimes like a grandma.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試要考埋英文grammar。真係好麻煩呀!(The exam will also cover English grammar this time. So frigging annoying!)

Synonym: 語法

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3389792/page/1

green

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a milder way of calling someone a newbie or referring to someone who is new or inexperienced at something.

Usage: E.g. 上次份banking工有feedback話我太green,想問我有無興趣去compliance到做。(There was feedback from my last banking job saying that I was too green, and they asked me whether I had an interest to work in compliance.)

Synonym: 新手; 缺乏經驗

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3981656/page/39

gym

Definition: Often used as 'doing the gym' (做gym) in Cantonese, this refers to doing exercise in the gym.  Sometimes, it is used as 'gym room', which people may mistaken as '健身室室'.

Usage: E.g. 一唔一齊去做gym呀? E.g. 我仲喺gym room呀,遲D再call你啦。

Synonym: 健身室

handle

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use when talking about work, as the Cantonese equivalent terms may denote a higher responsibility.

Usage: E.g. 呢件事你handle可以嗎?(處理) E.g. 咁多功課hand唔handle到呀?(應付) E.g. 公司既財政邊個handle架?(負責)

hang

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to computer that has become unresponsive, due to a halt or freeze.

Usage: E.g. 部電腦新買架喎,咁易hang機?! E.g. 係咪唔夠RAM所以hang左呀?

Synonym: 當機

head

Definition: 1. (noun) Often used as 'Ah head', this is a code-mixing term that refers to the boss or leader of a company or department. 2. (verb) Used to refer to being led by a person, usually someone of higher authority.

Usage: E.g. 你間公司個阿Head係邊個?我要見佢!\nE.g. 你醒目就唔會成日比人head住啦。

Synonym: 阿頭

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