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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


892 results found

take

Definition: Made popular by an anti-drug advertisement featuring Hong Kong celebrity Aaron Kwok, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use with the Cantonese word '嘢', which means 'take drugs' altogether, even though 'take嘢' literally means 'take thing'.

Usage: E.g. 保安局禁毒宣傳品出現「公關災難」,令「一齊企硬 唔take嘢」標語,在柱面上呈現「齊企硬 Take嘢」。There was a "PR disaster" in the Security Bureau's anti-drug promotional materials, which caused the slogan "Stand firm together, don't take any drugs" to be presented as ""Stand firm together and Take Drugs".

Synonym: take嘢, take drugs

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWGb-PriJLK/?igsh=b3Vwa2xmNHFuZ2Qz (use mobile version)

take action

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong policemen when they want to take legal or enforcement action to deal with a situation. At other times, it can simply be used to describe an action that one must take in order to further one's progress.

Usage: E.g. 如果比我地警方查到你犯法,我地會take action。(If our police force finds out that you have broken the law, we will take action.) E.g. 依加我地唔上唔落咁又唔敢再take action住。(Right now, our relationship is not getting anymore so I am afraid of taking any actions yet.)

Synonym: 採取行動

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1671360/page/1

take care

Definition: An a lot more gentle and caring way of telling someone to take care of themselves compared to the Cantonese equivalent. Explanation: 你自己照顧自己—>以後你自己搞掂喇—>你自己食自己—>慘慘豬(@V@)

Usage: E.g. 媽咪要去旅行喇。你自己take care喇。 E.g. 以後take care喇。Sayorara.

take two

Definition: Originated from a Hong Kong TV advertisement in the 90's, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a second chance, which is most known for warning someone that there is no second chance in life.

Usage: E.g. 香港的公益廣告曾有一句廣告詞「生命無『Take two』」很深入人心,意思是說「生命沒有第二次機會,要珍惜生命」(Hong Kong's public service advertisements once had a well-known slogan "There is no 'Take two' in life", which means "there is no second chance in life, we must cherish life".)

Synonym: 第二次機會

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1674492649207500800.html

tap C

Definition: Often mistaken as mispronunciation, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the USB Type-C connector or port that is used by a variety of peripheral devices, such as PC's, laptops, mobile devices, mice, etc.

Usage: E.g. 事關上面Type C 的Tape 音。所以有點疑惑: Type-C 是一個term, 所以讀法唔同?(Regarding the above link's Tape pronunciation of Type C, I have the following question: If Type-C is a term, does it pronounce differently?)

Synonym: Type C

Reference: https://m.review33.com/forum_msg.php?db=3&tstart=0&s=&topic=85220221230810&number=6&sort=1

taste

Definition: Often pronounced with a '屎' (faeces) at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to having the ability to recognise something good. ('有品味')

Usage: E.g. 哇,你識揀呢件衫,真係好有taste呀!

Synonym: 品味

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

tea

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong people love to use to refer to afternoon tea '下午茶'.

Usage: E.g. 今日有冇時間食個tea呀? E.g. 週末不如一齊去high tea好嗎?

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

team work

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity tutors to refer to a collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal.

Usage: E.g. 狀元培育向來都是team work. (Nurturing top scorers has always been team work.)

Synonym: 團體合作

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRGmhTQjT1N/?igsh=NWtoNHZ6OGRyOW8x (use mobile version)

thank you

Definition: Often said with an extra 'you' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to make sure that the other person really gets the thank you message.  Sometimes, it is uttered as 'fank q' or 'fank q you', especially by the grassroots class Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. 今次搬屋真係好thank you你呀! E.g. 恭喜發財!*逗利是* Thank you你呀! E.g. 朋友:尋日嗰五舊水還返比你。 你:Fank q你呀!

Synonym: 多謝

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/網絡熱話/一句英文分辨港人身份-ctb12-652218/3/

That's why

Definition: Often repeated after '所以' (so) in Cantonese, this is to reinforce what this speaker is trying to explain, especially in a work situation.

Usage: E.g. 程序上有好多野要double confirm,所以that's why個project到兒家仲未出街。

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