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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


832 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

visa

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the Cantonese equivalent '簽證'.

Usage: E.g. 你搞好左travel visa未呀?(旅遊簽證) E.g. 你到外國工作要有working visa架。(工作簽證)

Synonym: 簽證

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?

Synonym: 掃描

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

rice bucket

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who only knows how to eat rice and nothing else. ie. A useless person.

Usage: E.g. He is so useless like a rice bucket!

Synonym: 飯桶

keep fit

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to staying healthy and in good shape by doing physical exercise.

Usage: E.g. 平時食咁多野又忙住做野,要keep fit先得架!(If you eat a lot regularly and are busy working all the time, you should keep fit!)

Synonym: 保持身體健康

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Za8b2zE0uYg

user

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the Cantonese equivalent '使用者'.

Usage: E.g. 同完個user傾好要咩feature未呀? E.g. 喺user既角度,呢個係一個bug。

Synonym: 使用者

winter melon tofu

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe any unfortunate event such as an accident.

Usage: E.g. If I have any winter melon tofu, I will sue your company!!!

Synonym: 冬瓜豆腐

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/39119/

as

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use when they want to illustrate a point from a certain person’s role, but without much emphasis on what it means to be in that role entirely.

Usage: E.g. 或者只係as一個消費者去against for尊重及權益:呢個只係好first step嘅抗議。我地有權維護自己利益,再而就罷買 (Or just as a consumer to against for respect and rights - This is just a very first step protest. We have the right to uphold our own interests and then boycott as a consumer.)

Synonym: 作為

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/113938/page/23

con

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to contact lens.

Usage: E.g. 港女:我唔要戴眼鏡。我要戴con!

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

surprised

Definition: Often pronounced without the 'd', this is a neutral-sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they are not sure which Cantonese equivalent word to use when something unexpected happens.

Usage: E.g. 哇,你考試咁高分,我好surprised呀。(Wow, you scored a high mark in your exam. I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇,你最近減肥呀?我好surprised呀。 (Wow, you went on a diet recently? I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇,你有男朋友?我好surprised呀。(Wow, you got a boyfriend? I'm so surprised.)

Synonym: 驚喜,驚訝

Reference: https://tsangyoksing.hk/2009/10/06/輕音節的正確讀法/

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