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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

nice

Definition: A way to express how nice someone is on the surface.

Usage: E.g. 佢個人好nice,但係識耐左先知道原來係虛偽。E.g. 佢個人好nice,不過唔知個人好唔好呢?

Synonym: 友善

need son ng need mum

Definition: An idiom made popular by the toy product 'Need Son Ng Need Mum', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to the Chinese family tradition of favouring sons over daughters in carrying on a bloodline.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you think you come from a traditional family? B: Yes! Need son ng need mum!

Synonym: 要仔唔要乸, 重男輕女

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@apetoys/post/DNfCsgkP2qd/限量預訂嘩曱甴懷孕動物-要仔唔要乸-第六彈-小強系列need-son-ng-need-mum-small-strong-series全12款1隱藏款每盒都有男b

plan

Definition: A more positive-sounding code-mixing term compared to the same item (計劃) in Cantonese.  Often pronounced as 'pan'.

Usage: E.g. 做D咩都要plan定先得架麻。 E.g. 做D咩都要計劃好先得架麻。(you may sound like a schemer in this one! XD)

Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

long d

Definition: A shortened term for 'long distance' meaning to have a long distance relationship with someone.

Usage: E.g. 我plan左去working holiday。到陣時要同男朋友long d喇。

Synonym: 遠距離戀愛; 異地戀

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

run

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to keeping a company going without necessarily managing it. Sometimes, it can extend to running a family and keeping it alive.

Usage: E.g. 噢喔~原來Run一頭家 同Run一間公司差唔多。我們是彼此最重要的合作夥伴 (Oh... In fact, running a household is pretty much the same as running a company. We are each other's most important partners.)

Synonym: 經營; 運行

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@miffylulu0423/post/DYutyJzFkii/噢喔原來run一頭家-同run一間公司差唔多我們是彼此最重要的合作夥伴我們不談犧牲-只談合作分工我們不爭錯對-旨在共同解決問題我們不互相消耗-意在互相滋養我們不/

eat lemon

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to being rejected. (食檸檬)

Usage: E.g. This time eat lemon la,very chaam chaam pig.

Synonym: 食檸檬

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

diu

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers in place of the expletive f-word in English when one is angry and wants to curse. However, the usage of this term may actually only refer to scolding someone and nothing to do with cursing or having sexual intercourse at all. Sometimes, ‘ed’ or ‘ing’ is added to the verb to indicate tense in case the listener finds it ungrammatical.

Usage: E.g. Diu! I lost the game again! E.g. My teacher diu'ed me for talking in class today. E.g. Stop diuing me! It wasn’t my fault. Are you crazy?!

Synonym: 屌

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Y2vjEzbU/?img_index=2&igsh=MWlxaDBhbHJlYTR6aA== (use mobile version)

toilet

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to refer to a washroom or restroom in a direct manner without sounding too blunt.

Usage: E.g. Jessie, 你宜家好去定toilet呀, 如果陣間watching, Mami唔想stand up disturb到人呀。(Jessie, you should go to the toilet now. Later while watching movie, Mami doesn't want to stand up and disturb anybody.)

Synonym: 廁所

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZmrL7QghVL/?igsh=dHAyMGZjMG95aHNz (use mobile version)

check in

Definition: An ultra convenient code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to registering your arrival at a place like a hotel or airport, as the Cantonese equivalent '辦理入住手續' sounds too long and verbose.

Usage: E.g. 快D check in左先啦,至後再慢慢搵野食。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

hok ba

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a top student who scores high marks in school.

Usage: E.g. You got straight A's for your exams? You must be a hok ba!

Synonym: 學霸

Reference: https://www.youngpostclub.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3147729/sup-sup-sui-start-new-school-year-these-cantonese-slang

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