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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


450 results found

figure out

Definition: This is a code-mixing phrase that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '諗到' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 我暫時仲未figure out到點樣solve個problem。Reference: https://english.cool/code-switching/

service charge

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong restaurants love to use especially during public holiday to refer to the additional fee added to a bill because it sounds more classy than '服務費' and less explicit than '加一' or '加二' in Cantonese, which mean +10% and +20% respectively. Usage: E.g. A: 吓?食個下午茶都要加二? B: 今日係新年假期,所以有service charge。(A: What? There's +20% service charge even for an afternoon tea? B: Today is Chinese New Year holiday so there is service charge.) E.g. 到底邊個發明加一服務費?(Who on earth invented +10% service charge?)Synonym: 加一, 加二, 服務費Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2268003/page/4

sit

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to sitting through a lecture without participating in it, which is usually used for those who don't belong to the class or course. Usage: E.g. 同學:可以邀請我sit堂嗎? E.g. 我見到嗰位先生成日要sit堂。係助教還是professor?

dismiss

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to send somebody away formally and politely, even though at times they may not be taking the other person seriously. Usage: E.g. *打斷* 我地傾左咁耐,不如就喺到dismiss啦? (*interrupt* We have been talking for so long. What about dismiss here?)Synonym: 解散Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2842244/page/13

Lulu

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For male version, see 'Robert') Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Lulu喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

Engrish

Definition: A code-mixing term that Fake ABC Hong Kongers use when they want to challenge another person’s English by stressing the prestigious 'r' sound in English even when there is no r sound in an English word. Usage: E.g. Do you know Engrish? E.g. I'm sorry I don't speak Chinese. Can you speak Engrish?Synonym: EnglishReference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Engrish&oldformat=true&variant=zh-hk

Robert

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For female version, see 'Lulu') Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Robert喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

finance

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use as a broader term to refer to a whole load of stuff related to managing money, assets, investments, borrowing and more. Sometimes, it is also used as another term for money, especially when the word money just sounds sensitive to a person. Usage: E.g. A: 你做咩行業? B: Finance. A: 咁係做銀行, 財務管理, 投資定係咩? (A: What industry do you work in? B: Finance. A: So do you work in bank, asset management, investment or what? E.g. 今餐有D貴。你有冇finance? (This meal is quite expensive. Do you have finance?)Synonym: 金融,財務,財政,資金 Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/金融学

saranghae

Definition: Orginated from the Korean phrase 'saranghae' meaning 'I love you', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to wasting someone's f***ing time. Usage: E.g. 我好鍾意睇韓劇,但係有時我覺得D劇情幾saranghae。(I really like watching Korean drama, but sometimes the plot is quite a waste of f***ing time.)Synonym: 嘥撚氣Reference: https://www.edigest.hk/社會熱話/愛你嘥氣?-五個似廣東話的韓文-265/2/

take advantage

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to exploiting the use of something, even though at times it can seem more like abusing or misusing something instead. Usage: E.g. 有D公司好take advantage D fresh grad,要你做唔哂野要OT。(Some companikes really take advantage of fresh graduates and get them to work overtime.) E.g. 有D員工好take advantage公司D病假。(Some employees really take advantage of the sick leaves offered by companies.)Synonym: 利用, 濫用Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3588289/page/6
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