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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


666 results found

pick up

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that a Jayden Mami loves to use to refer to a more casual way of learning something rather than the formal way of acquiring skills and information.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀,有時間就去pick up English啦。你唔用既話會好快forget架。(Jayden, go and pick up English when you have time. If you don't use it, you will forget it.)

Synonym: 學識; 練習

Reference: https://hk.amazingtalker.com/questions/8407

poisonous guy

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is extremely introverted and prefers being alone all the time.

Usage: E.g. Get yourself out and meet some people! Stop being such a poisonous guy!

Synonym: 毒男

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-quick-lesson-must-know-hong-kong-slang

pose

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a physical position that a person arranges and fixates in order to be photographed, which is often more difficult that it seems.

Usage: E.g. 自拍唔洗愁擺pose!10大熱門韓星IG影相手勢整理 (No need to worry about posing for selfies anymore! Here is a compilation of top 10 popular Korean stars IG photo gestures)

Synonym: 姿势

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/60213634/自拍唔洗愁擺pose-10大熱門韓星ig影相手勢整理-跟住影相零失誤

prove

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong court judges to refer to demonstrating and establishing the truth or validity of something by providing evidence and argument, which is especially strong to use in a court of law.

Usage: E.g. 官:呢個,如果因為part of the prosecution case 嘅話,你一定要prove 嘅。(Judge: If this is part of the prosecution case, you must prove it.)

Synonym: 證明

Reference: https://hkupress.hku.hk/image/catalog/pdf-preview/9789888528202.pdf

pull a cow up the tree

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe strenuous tasks that are almost impossible to complete.

Usage: E.g. Getting my son to do homework is like pulling a cow up the tree!

Synonym: 拉牛上樹

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

ready

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person's mental state that is immediate for action without necessarily having done any preparation. When used in negation form 'not ready', it may mean that preparation is already done but the person is still not ready.

Usage: E.g. 如果一個女仔話鍾意你,但係未ready一齊,要我等,係咩意思 (If a girl says she likes you, but isn't ready to be together with you and asks you to wait, what does that mean?)

Synonym: 準備好

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3629688/page/1

replacement

Definition: An ultra professional code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers especially senior managers to refer to a suitable candidate that can take over an employee's job so they don't have to sound like they are getting just anyone to take over a job for the sake of cutting costs.

Usage: E.g. 之前公司有條友非高層secondment。每個月畀agent 160k 新老細嚟咗即刻炒佢。Replacement 可能一半價錢到 (I had a colleague in my past company who was not a senior level secondment position but paid the agency 160k per month. Then a new boss came and fired him immediately. The replacement could have been half the cost.)

Synonym: 搵人接替

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2955436/page/2

Rest in pieces

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Fake ABC Hongers to tell people to rest in peace when they die.

Usage: E.g. Oh no... 呢個新聞好慘呀。希望佢地rest in pieces啦。(Oh no... This news is a tragedy. I hope they will rest in peace.)

Synonym: 安息

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ9ucAey0SY/?igsh=MXdtZmkxcGl0cDV1MQ== (use mobile version)

restructure

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong companies to refer to reorganising a company's team structure as well as an excuse to lay off its workers for some obscure reason.

Usage: E.g 對唔住,公司 restructure,唔再有你做緊個 role,亦冇適合位置啱你,所以會遣散你。(Sorry, the company restructured. It no longer has the role you are working for and there is no suitable position for you, so you will be dismissed.)

Synonym: 結構調整

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BADzEOCk1Z/

role

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a set of responsibilities and duties undertaken by a job position. At times, it may simply be a role that a person plays, but not one where much work is to be done.

Usage: E.g. 講廢role黎講,睇咗好耐一直覺得PM先最撚廢[sosad]十個有9個都唔知detail,又唔識domain野 ,解決問題又幫唔到手,同人講數因為唔熟啲野又講唔到咩好結果出黎 (Speaking of useless roles, I have observed for a long time and I always thought project manager is the most useless. It's like nine out of ten of them do not know the details or have domain knowledge. They also cannot solve problems or help others, and when they talk to people regarding issues they cannot reach any good results because they are not familiar with anything.)

Synonym: 工作角色; 職位

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4

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