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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

my favit

Definition: A more linguistically efficient code-mixing term that refers to 'my favourite' in English. Originated from Hong Kong actor Ron Ng (吳卓羲).

Usage: E.g. 呢到既牛腩河係至正架!簡直係my favit!E.g. 吳卓羲:「Tailin, 賣飛佛(泰林,我的最愛)」

Synonym: 賣飛佛; 我的最愛

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/賣飛佛

enjoy

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to taking pleasure from doing something. Sometimes, it can also be used intransitively as a verb to describe a state of mind where one is having a good time.

Usage: E.g. 每次暴雨或者打風,唔知點解我都好enjoy。(Whenever there is heavy rain or typhoon, I don't know why I really enjoy it.)

Synonym: 享受

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3973322/page/1

social

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to socialising with people when they are too tired of '應酬' in Cantonese where one is eating, drinking or entertaining clients for the sake of establishing business relations.

Usage: E.g. 曾經諗過改 逼自己扮social 但最後發現乜都唔理做番自己最舒服 唔洗夾硬逼自己扮哂野去應酬人 (I once thought about forcing myself to pretend to be social, but in the end I found that I didn't need to care about anything but being myself was the most comfortable. I didn't have to force myself to pretend to be social to entertain people.)

Synonym: 應酬

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/310048/page/3

gay

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who has an interest in the same gender without making it sound so clear and explicit in case someone is eavesdropping. At other times, it can be used to describe something as awkward such as a plot in a story or film.

Usage: E.g. A: 我想問你一個問題:你係咪gay架? B: 唔好喇掛,我唔想搞gay。 (A: I want to ask you a question: Are you gay? B: No thanks, I don't want to be gay.) E.g. A: 今次套電影好睇嗎?B: 我覺得啲劇情好gay囉。(A: Do you like the movie this time? B: I think the story is really gay.)

Synonym: 同性戀, 搞gay

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1088/

pork chop

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe a fat or ugly woman. (豬扒)

Usage: E.g. I think this girl is such a pork chop! I have no interest in her at all! (豬扒)

Synonym: 豬扒

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/16131/

flow

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the rundown of a presentation and how well the speaker articulates his speech and transitions between ideas.

Usage: E.g. 返工做present口窒窒點樣改善?理解自己想講既野,設計好個flow, 當講故事咁講出黎。千其唔好死記硬背 (E.g. How to improve yourself if you stutter while presenting at work? Try to understand what you want to say, design the flow, and tell it like a story. Don't memorise it like a script.)

Synonym: 流程

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2675045/page/1

down

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to computer that has become unavailable, possibly due to a crash.  Sometimes, it is used as the shortened version of 'download'.

Usage: E.g. 大獲喇!公司server down機呀!快D搵人整呀!(當機) E.g. Down完個file未呀?咁耐既?(下載)

Synonym: 當機; 下載

Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922

fo

Definition: An abbreviated code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to following someone on social media.

Usage: E.g. 你fo左我IG未?快D fo啦!

sporty

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to someone who has a habit of doing sports. However, it is also often used to describe someone or something as looking sporty.

Usage: E.g. 你覺得佢邊套最好睇。 第3套望落幾sporty幾健康 (Which one do you think is the best looking? The third one looks quite sporty and healthy.)

Synonym: 運動型

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2725538/page/1

number

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a telephone number.

Usage: E.g. 香港人:可唔可以交換number呀?內地人:咩number呀?香港人:緊係電話number啦。

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

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