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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 681 results

seed

Definition: Known as Kongish and used as '有種' (have seed), this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to not being afraid or having the guts to do something. Usage: E.g. If you have seed, then I will give you some colour see see! (有種)Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575

Ho

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that is used as an adverb to emphasize the intensity of an adjective, which is similar to ‘very’ in English. Usage: E.g. Ho ging ah! (Very powerful) E.g. Ho ying ah! (Very good looking) E.g. Ho jeng ah! (Very good or awesome) E.g. Ho ho may! (Very delicious)Synonym: 好Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

document

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used to refer to a computer document (文件). Usage: E.g. 唔該你send份document過黎呀。記住要pdf喎。Synonym: 文件Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

fact check

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fat check', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to verifying the validity and accuracy of something. Usage: E.g. 洗唔洗fact check一吓呢個人係真定係假?(Do we need to fact check this person to see if he is real or fake?)Synonym: 事實查核Reference: https://medialiteracy.hk/不看你絕對後悔:fact-check背後的「真相」/

doot

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to scold someone when they are prohibited from swearing in school. At other times, it is used as an onomatopoeia of the beeping sound of Octopus card readers in Hong Kong train service. Usage: E.g. Doot你咩?!搞污糟我件校服!(F*** you?! You ruined my school uniform!) E.g. 好多人撘地鐵呀。快啲攞張八達通出黎doot部機入閘啦。(So many people taking the train. Take out your Octopus card quickly to doot the machine and enter the gate.)Synonym: F***, d*u, 嘟Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/v/114049/doot

folder

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '文件夾' to refer to a physical folder or a virtual folder on a computer. Usage: E.g. 喺你個desktop上面開個folder,然後將你既file放入去。 E.g. 老師:唔該把所有功課放喺你個文件夾入面。同學:吓?文件夾?老師,你係邊到黎架?

Park'n Shop

Definition: Originated from a supermarket chain in Hong Kong, this is a code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to tell somebody to go to hell, as the name can be abbreviated to 'PK', which resembles the swear word '仆街' in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. 想搵我笨?!Go to Park'n Shop!

research

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize how much paper work needs to be done when conducting studies of a subject, rather than just merely studying as the Cantonese equivalent '研究' denotes. Usage: E.g. 我兒家part-time喺大學做research,好忙架。(I am now part-time doing research at university, very busy.)Synonym: 研究Reference: https://www.threads.com/@146snk/post/DKQjVZnhSNU/香港嘅bachelor訓練根本就冇乜預你去做research所以根本唔會教你點申請mphilphd-點樣寫research-proposal-點樣approac

princess sickness

Definition: Derived from '公主病', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a female who acts like a princess all the time and possesses the worst possible qualities such as narcissism and materialism. It tends to associate with Hong Kong women and is quite stereotypical of '港女', the Kong girl. Usage: E.g. 港男:Why are you scolding me like this? Do you have princess sickness? (你做咩喺度鬧我呀? 你係咪有公主病?)Synonym: 公主病Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/49823/

dik hon

Definition: (textspeak) Derived from comic book characters having a large drop of sweat on their forehead or hair, this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to feeling speechless and reticent. Dik hon (滴汗) has the literal meaning of 'drip sweat'. Usage: E.g. Your joke is so lame! Dik hon!Synonym: 滴汗