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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary
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10 random words out of 681 results

count down

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese. Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)Synonym: 倒數Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party
2025-12-30

project

Definition: A word that Hong Kong local students use to refer to a large piece of work, which is often done in group setting. Usage: E.g. 今學期你有咩group project呀？（課題）Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch
2023-03-04

assignment

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '功課'. Usage: E.g. 喂，聽日交assignment呀，仲係到做咩呀？！ E.g. 呢份assignment可以借黎參考嗎？Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf
2023-03-04

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
2023-03-04

jeng

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used to describe something that is very good or awesome. Usage: E.g. The food is so jeng! (正) E.g. The movie was ho jeng ah! (好正呀)Synonym: 正Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%20alternative%20to%20“hou%20ging,jeng”%20if%20something%20is%20awesome.
2024-04-28

close

Definition: A more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ （intimate）. Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架？E.g. 你有幾多個close friend？
2020-11-26

chi sin

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is crazy, or a situation that is outrageous or unbelievable. (痴線 - ci1 sin3) Literal meaning: To have your electrical wires touching. Ie. Short circuit in the brain. Usage: E.g. Chi sin! You used all your money to gamble?! E.g. Chi sin! The restaurant gave me the wrong bill! E.g. Chi sin! You won the lottery?!!Synonym: 痴線Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese
2024-04-22

bug

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by people in the IT sector to refer to a computer bug (漏洞). Usage: E.g. 唔係掛？今次個program有咁多bug？！
2023-02-27

spin

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that refers to describing a matter as something else, especially in politics. Usage: E.g. 鍾培生：阿林作好鍾意將件事spin到同政治有關。
2023-03-02

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！
2023-03-01
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