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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

ja ja lum

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to tell somebody to hurry up, which is similar to the phrase 'chop chop' in English. (Also see 'la la lum')

Usage: E.g. Ja ja lum go to school now or you will miss the bus! Eg. Finish your homework! Ja ja lum la!

Synonym: 咋咋臨

up

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to uploading files to the internet. ('上載')

Usage: E.g. 快D幫我up張相到IG啦!

headcount

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a more technical and corporate way of referring to the number of employees in a company because '人數' sounds too everyday in Cantonese like when getting enough people to play Mahjong together.

Usage: E.g. 大家公司最近咩環境 有冇freeze headcount? (How is everybody's company doing recently? Any company is freezing headcount?)

Synonym: 人數

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3674159/page/1

Robert

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For female version, see 'Lulu')

Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Robert喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

restructure

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong companies to refer to reorganising a company's team structure as well as an excuse to lay off its workers for some obscure reason.

Usage: E.g 對唔住,公司 restructure,唔再有你做緊個 role,亦冇適合位置啱你,所以會遣散你。(Sorry, the company restructured. It no longer has the role you are working for and there is no suitable position for you, so you will be dismissed.)

Synonym: 結構調整

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BADzEOCk1Z/

result

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to the numerical outcome of something rather than the consequence or ending of something.

Usage: E.g. 出嚟個result有70分。(The result which came out was 70 marks.)

Synonym: 數據; 結果

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3797010/page/1

apply

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to more efficient and sometimes less official way of making a request for a job.

Usage: E.g. Jobsdb見到好多agent公司幫公司請人,一apply班agent就打來phone call,唔理你是唔是工作時間都打來,即刻問長問短... 不如直接同公司apply. (On JobsDB, you see a lot of recruitment agencies hiring for companies; the moment you apply, the agents call you—often without caring whether it’s during office hours—and immediately they start grilling you with questions... You're better off applying directly to the company.)

Synonym: 申請

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3975336/page/1

take two

Definition: Originated from a Hong Kong TV advertisement in the 90's, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a second chance, which is most known for warning someone that there is no second chance in life.

Usage: E.g. 香港的公益廣告曾有一句廣告詞「生命無『Take two』」很深入人心,意思是說「生命沒有第二次機會,要珍惜生命」(Hong Kong's public service advertisements once had a well-known slogan "There is no 'Take two' in life", which means "there is no second chance in life, we must cherish life".)

Synonym: 第二次機會

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1674492649207500800.html

gap

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a less explicit way of referring to the period of time a person has not worked especially to employers because it tends to sound small and tiny like a door gap.

Usage: E.g. 如果兩個都差唔多,先揀冇gap個個,因為有gap個個驚佢太自由奔放走左去 (If both candidates are almost the same, I'll choose the one without a gap first, because I'm afraid the one with a gap will leave the company quickly like he has too much freedom.)

Synonym: 間隔;空窗期

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@cyanxxlhtc/post/Da7JddCiceG?xmt=AQG0pf5Hjp1xNodTdIwPcyj9CcvjTMv8N8ttW-V49aFNFN6yNnqItPIk82SCv611OJ_rOpqS&slof=1

pantry

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an office's tea area with a whole bunch of facilities such as a sink, fridge, microwave oven and much more.

Usage: E.g. A: 見過最癲嘅公司pantry有啲咩?B: 罐裝汽水,果汁,咖啡任飲,十幾款薯片,餅乾,果仁任食,沙律任食,杯麵任食。C: 老鼠 (A: What are the craziest things you have ever seen in a company's pantry? B: Canned soda, juice, all-you-can-drink coffee, a dozen chips, biscuits, all-you-can-eat nuts, all-you-can-eat salad, all-you-can-eat cup noodles. C: Rats)

Synonym: 茶水間; 食品貯藏室

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2166431/page/1

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