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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


195 results found

cleansing foam

Definition: Pronounced as 'cleansing form', this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice Man to refer to the facial treatment item 'cleansing foam'.

Usage: E.g. 我通常眼同埋嘴就用左油既,即係remover,oil remover去落左先,跟住就會全面再用呢一個cleansing water再全面抺一次,跟住先至用落裝油全面再洗一次,再用cleansing form全面就再落裝咁樣。咁所以其實都有四五個step囉。

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

com

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term meaning 'compromise'.

Usage: E.g. 香港人:我地雙方要com吓先得,OK?內地人:說什麼?香港人:COMPROMISE。 E.g. 你:我知道我地好多野都唔係好夾,不過我地com吓咪得囉。朋友:我com你老X!

Synonym: 妥協

common

Definition: Often pronounced as ‘cummun’, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express how common something is without making it sound unpopular or nothing special.

Usage: E.g. 做呢個行業好common架咋。(This occupation is so common!)

Synonym: 普遍, 普通

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/C04Br91vuJT/ (use mobile version)

concern

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to state a problem or something that needs to be addressed and dealt with.

Usage: E.g. 當然如果錢對你嚟講唔係一個concern,或者呢啲worldly pleasures 對你嚟講你毫無興趣,咁你當然可以去搵更加大嘅意義。例如做吓義工,幫吓社會嘅人。(Of course if money is not a concern for you, or if these worldly pleasures are of no interest to you, then you can certainly search for greater meaning in life. For example, you can go volunteering and help people in the society.)

Synonym: 問題; 需要關注嘅事

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3039721/page/2

contribute

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to giving or providing something, in order to help achieve a goal.

Usage: E.g. 麻煩大家contribute一吓個discussion。

Synonym: 貢獻

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

counter

Definition: Pronounced as 'kaahn-taah' with a long back vowel and rising intonation, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a cashier's counter, information desk or service counter.

Usage: E.g. 小弟係個賣game仔,話說我今日放飯果陣緊係出去食飯啦,咁個counter緊係冇人啦 (I'm a game seller, and of course I went out to have lunch during my lunch break today, so there was no one looking after the counter.)

Synonym: 收銀處; 客戶服務中心; 櫃檯

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/740067/page/1

credit

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the recognition and praise given to someone for something that they did, which is more appropriate to use for small bits of work.

Usage: E.g. A: 佢食一啖話好難食,我嬲嬲地成個蛋掉撚咗。個時我中二,不過我而家自己開鋪賣蛋糕。B: 可能就係咁造就你而家做得咁出色 A:又要比返credit佢?我意思係人哋點踩你都好(even最親嘅人)(E.g. A: He took a bite and said it tasted bad. Then I threw away the whole cake angrily. I was in secondary two at that time. However, I now run my own shop selling cakes. B: Maybe that's why you're so successful now. A: And I have to give him credit? I mean it doesn’t matter how people step on you (even your closest ones).)

Synonym: 功勞

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yuikok0709/post/DQ5esI-EgkE/又要比返credit-佢我意思係人哋點踩你都好even最親嘅人最緊要自己相信自己冇人比你自己更清楚自己?hl=zh-hk

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to strongly express promise in doing something when the other person does not believe in you. (批個頭比你當凳坐)

Usage: E.g. If I don't return my money back to you by tomorrow, then I cut my head and let you sit on it as a chair!!!

Synonym: 批個頭比你當凳坐

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575

cute

Definition: Often pronounced as 'Q' or used as 'Q-tee', this is a code-mixing term that is used by Hong Kongers instead of '可愛' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 哇,個公仔好Q呀! E.g. 港女:你睇吓我今日著得Q唔Q-tee呀?

Synonym: 可愛

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

dank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' and often pronounced as '釘橋' meaning nail bridge in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express their gratitude towards someone.

Usage: E.g. Dank you哂你幫我手呀。不如我今日請你食lunch好嗎?(Thank you for helping me out. What about I treat you lunch today?)

Synonym: thank you, 釘橋

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLR0QEuMT7j/ (use mobile version)

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