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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 725 results

job

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to an employment position. (工作) Usage: E.g. A:搵到job未呀? B:搵緊喇。\nE.g. A:近排有接job嗎? B:好似好多人搶job。Synonym: 工作Reference: https://freehunter.hk/news/freelancer搵job三大必睇重點

upgrade

Definition: A code-mixing term meaning to further oneself's studies. Usage: E.g. 做人要不斷upgrade自己先夠充實架嘛。

sweet

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is nice and kind, as well as an intimate relationship between a couple. Usage: E.g. 哇,你真係好sweet呀!(貼心) E.g. 呢對情侶好sweet呀。(甜蜜)Synonym: 貼心, 甜蜜

eyes big see through dragon

Definition: Derived from the idiom '眼大睇過龍', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to failing to notice something. ie. To overlook. Usage: E.g. A: Where is my phone? B: It's right here in front of you. You are really 'eyes big see through dragon!'Synonym: 眼大睇過龍Reference: https://youtu.be/_3hhDIErE2g?si=SLsZUTCKhV5cfm8x

New Year’s Eve

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers who really miss hearing the word Eve from Christmas Eve so much that they wished Christmas could prolong to the new year. Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve你會同朋友交換禮物嗎?B: 吓,唔係聖誕節先會交換禮物咩?!(Will you exchange gifts with friends on New Year's Eve? B: What? Don't people exchange gifts during Christmas instead?)Synonym: 除夕Reference: https://www.hk01.com/知性女生/60307715/除夕倒數2026-10大倒數好去處-迪士尼煙花-西九音樂會-倒數派對

cappacino

Definition: A code-mixing term used by the upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the espresso-based coffee made with steamed milk because the Cantonese equivalent '意大利泡沫咖啡' is too sophisticated to say. Usage: E.g. A:我平時最鍾意飲意大利泡沫咖啡。香港人:你指cappucino?Synonym: 意大利泡沫咖啡

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)

point

Definition: A more polite way to refer to a person's standpoint, as the Cantonese equivalent term '點', meaning a dot, can refer to a woman's breast. Usage: E.g. 男人:喂,我真係好唔明你個point喎!女人:唔緊要。我慢慢解釋比你聽。 E.g. 男人:喂,我真係好唔明你個點喎!女人:你話我邊點呀?唔好性騷擾喎!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

chee sor hai bin

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to ask where a washroom is. Usage: E.g. Chee sor hai bin? (廁所喺邊?)Synonym: 廁所喺邊?Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

kam

Definition: Pronounced as the fifth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something or someone that is strange or embarrassing. Usage: E.g. 下次唔好入錯課室咁kam喇。 E.g. 佢份人真係好kam!Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/culture/3230860/香港潮語2023香港40個最新潮語結集-壞過婉婷升級版係咩啱呀唔係附和你
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