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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

seung sik

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kong students use to refer to common sense or knowledge.

Usage: E.g. End sem jip lib is seung sik okay? (完Sem摺拉是常識 Okay?)

Synonym: 常識

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

Dinner / din

Definition: A fashionable, elegant way of referring to dinner in Cantonese.

Usage: Eg. 去邊到食dinner好呢? Eg. 你想去邊到吃din呀?

Synonym: 晚餐

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

sik farn

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘食飯’, which means eat rice.

Usage: E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食左飯未呀?) E.g. Hor yee sik farn la. (可以食飯喇)

Synonym: 食飯

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

sup sup sui

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to refer to an easy task, which is equivalent to 'piece of cake' in English.

Usage: E.g. A: Thanks for helping me out! B: No problem! Sup sup sui la!

Synonym: 濕濕碎

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases

three does not know seven

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not know anyone. Originated from a game similar to Rummikub where pulling cards should add up to nine, but not over. Otherwise, the player will lose the game.

Usage: E.g. I have never been to this event before! Everyone was like 'three does not know seven'!

Synonym: 三唔識七

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Of course

Definition: A phrase used by native Hong Kongers to affirm that something is true or obvious, usually among friends and relatives in informal settings, especially with the particle 'la' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 今日出街記住載口罩。 你:Of course啦! E.g. 女朋友: 哇,你好叻呀。 你:Of course啦! E.g. 男朋友: 估唔到你咁醒目。 你:Of course啦!

reservation

Definition: A classy code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to arranging something for use at a later time, such as a table or room.

Usage: E.g. 唔該可唔可以幫我make個reservation留兩張枱?(Excuse me, can you help me make a reservation for two tables?)

Synonym: 預訂

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3981159/page/19

toilet

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to the same item ‘廁所’ in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 老師,唔該可唔可以去toilet呀? E.g. 咁多位,我去一去toilet先。

Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/hongkonglinguistics/Downhome/language-contact-in-hong-kong/cantonese-englishintra-sententialcode-switchinginhongkong

champagne

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of drinking champagnes.

Usage: E.g. 今日係禮拜五晚,我地黎支champagne嗱?!

Synonym: 香檳

build chicken shed

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak.

Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!

Synonym: 搭雞棚

Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam

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