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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

work life balance

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who think that there should not be work life balance in a job.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生:創立HKTCG呢段時間,我發現工作係唔應該有work life balance!(Derek Chung: Since founding HKTCG, I’ve realized that work shouldn't be about "work-life balance"!)

Synonym: 工作與生活平衡

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@khdcheung/post/DaLDfNyj872?xmt=AQG0d2CtkCfBLCF7_hL8i3UT_5pM4sQhmEna6BzrSZp21XK0l6N0Qcq3Yei7A41-B_gwqJk7&slof=1

hurt

Definition: (adj.) An irreplaceable code-mixing term used to describe an unhappy state, especially when a person has been devastated by someone.

Usage: E.g. 喂,你知唔知人地係會好hurt架? E.g. 喂,你咁講野人地係會好hurt架。 E.g. 點都好,你應該唔好hurt到人先岩。

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

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

surprised

Definition: Often pronounced without the 'd', this is a neutral-sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they are not sure which Cantonese equivalent word to use when something unexpected happens.

Usage: E.g. 哇,你考試咁高分,我好surprised呀。(Wow, you scored a high mark in your exam. I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇,你最近減肥呀?我好surprised呀。 (Wow, you went on a diet recently? I'm so surprised.) E.g. 哇,你有男朋友?我好surprised呀。(Wow, you got a boyfriend? I'm so surprised.)

Synonym: 驚喜,驚訝

Reference: https://tsangyoksing.hk/2009/10/06/輕音節的正確讀法/

wok of congee

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a situation of utter chaos and mess.

Usage: E.g. Do enough planning beforehand or your project will end up in a wok of congee!

Synonym: 一鑊粥

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

goldfish man

Definition: Known as Kongish and originated from a story where a man used to lure children by promising to buy them goldfish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a paedophile. (金魚佬)

Usage: E.g. Stop buying me chocolate and lure me like a goldish man!

Synonym: 金魚佬

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn

rrrrr

Definition: An ultra rhotic expression that is added onto the ending of Cantonese characters, which is adopted by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to create an ABC accent. Also known as 'JM tone'.

Usage: E.g. 呢一區我淨係試過兩rrrrrrn間餐廳。E.g. 有時候我都幾想rrrrrn去吓旅行。

Reference: https://medium.com/@atsunakai/jm-tone-%E5%8D%B3%E4%BF%82-94e3532186e1

skiiing / snowboarding

Definition: A pair of code-mixing terms that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the sport of gliding over snow because it is simply way too tiring having to tell the other person which one you are talking about if you just say ‘滑雪‘ in Cantonese, which has a literal meaning of 'glide snow'.

Usage: E.g. 我好鍾意滑雪。B:不過請問係skiing定係snowboarding? (A: I really like gliding snow. B: But do you mean skiing or snowboarding?)

Synonym: 滑雪

Reference: https://www.baby-kingdom.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=12744670

prefer

Definition: A code-mixing term by native Hong Kongers to avoid saying the word 'like' in order to sound more professional in formal situations, or to avoid sounding biased when you like one item more than another.

Usage: E.g. 你prefer今星期邊一日interview呀? E.g. 你prefer幾點睇戲呀? E.g. 我prefer佢個idea多D。

Synonym: 比較喜歡

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