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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


842 results found

burger

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have quite an expectation towards the price of a hamburger.

Usage: E.g. 你一個垃圾burger,要人畀過百蚊,根本冇可能長做長有。(Expecting people to pay over one hundred dollars for a trash burger is not sustainable in the long term.)

Synonym: 漢堡

Reference: https://www.edigest.hk/投資熱話/富二代-鍾培生-fiveguys-執笠-ed01-1934440/2/

By the way

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to avoid seeming as if you have almost forgotten to mention something.

Usage: E.g. By the way, 你可唔可以幫我搞掂埋呢份proposal? E.g. By the way, 你今晚幾時得閒呀?

Synonym: 順便講

bye and thx

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by GenZ Hong Kongers as a short and polite way to dismiss someone, especially when resigning from a job.

Usage: E.g. 上司:你唔做喇? GenZ: 呢封係我辭職信,bye and thx. (Boss: You're quitting? Gen Z: Here's my resignation letter. Bye and thanks.)

Synonym: 再見多謝

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc-2OFyiUMW/?img_index=3&stkn=MXVwc2N4enVteWtnZQ== (use mobile version)

Cafe Pacific

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong aunties to refer to the Cathay Pacific airlines. However, it may have nothing to do with Cathay being a cafe.

Usage: E.g. A: 你搭咩航空? B: Cafe Pacific囉。

Synonym: 國泰

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRCavrZCNbZ/?igsh=MTNmNHJmNGtmOG4xZw== (use mobile version)

caltor

Definition: Pronounced with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that refers to 'calculator'.  Also used as 'cal機' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 唔該借個cal機比我呀? E.g. 試下用caltor check吓個answer。

Synonym: 計數機

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

cam

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe a person with a feminised voice.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得呢個男人cam cam哋。唔知真係男人定係女人呢?

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

camel

Definition: Pronounced as 'cam-mell' and criticised as Fake ABC English, this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice man to refer to the animal 'camel'.

Usage: E.g. 其實我自己好鍾意cam-mell色既,真係好似D駱駝色既,有少少泥色既。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

can

Definition: Sometimes said with a fist pump gesture, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express absolute affirmation towards the feasibility of an idea.

Usage: E.g. 當然啦! 呢個idea絕對can啦! (Of course! This idea is absolutely feasible!)

Synonym: 可以, 可行

can

Definition: (noun) Pronounced with the sixth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to canteen in a highly efficient manner.

Usage: E.g. 淨係食過bu同city既can。(I have only eaten Baptist University's and City University's canteen.)

Synonym: canteen, 食堂

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/404559/page/2

cancer

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a serious disease that kills normal cells and causes death.

Usage: E.g. A:唔好食咁多公仔麵,如果咪生cancer架。B:啋過你把口!

Synonym: 癌

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

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