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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

workload

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an amount of work in a less quantifiable way, in order to sound less like they are complaining about how much work or burden they have.

Usage: E.g. 仲有task要做?我最近已經多左workload。(There are still tasks to do? I already have more workload recently.)

Synonym: 工作量

Reference: https://www.baby-kingdom.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=23644122

sync

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to whether people are on the same page of a situation or task.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得我地唔係好sync。可唔可以catch up一吓我地做既野?

Synonym: 同步

Reference: https://www.cw.com.tw/article/5114233

wai wai wai

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to forming inner circles and having decisions made by its members.

Usage: E.g. You think they are really inviting a bid? They are just wai wai wai!

Synonym: 圍威喂

Reference: https://words.hk/zidin/圍威喂

potential

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to display your level of knowledge, as if you come from higher education background.

Usage: E.g. 老闆:我覺得呢個idea好有potential。快D走去落實啦。 E.g. 我覺得你個人好有potential。不過就寸左D。

service charge

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong restaurants love to use especially during public holiday to refer to the additional fee added to a bill because it sounds more classy than '服務費' and less explicit than '加一' or '加二' in Cantonese, which mean +10% and +20% respectively.

Usage: E.g. A: 吓?食個下午茶都要加二? B: 今日係新年假期,所以有service charge。(A: What? There's +20% service charge even for an afternoon tea? B: Today is Chinese New Year holiday so there is service charge.) E.g. 到底邊個發明加一服務費?(Who on earth invented +10% service charge?)

Synonym: 加一, 加二, 服務費

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2268003/page/4

double click

Definition: A trendy-sounding code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to pressing twice on a mouse or touchpad quickly and gently.

Usage: E.g. 我點樣 fix 我嘅滑鼠每次想 click 一下嘅時候,都會 double click 呢?(How can I fix my mouse? Whenever I click it, it clicks twice?)

Synonym: 雙擊

Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/u21xlf/how_do_i_fix_my_mouse_double_clicking_whenever_i/?tl=zh-hant

gym

Definition: Often used as 'doing the gym' (做gym) in Cantonese, this refers to doing exercise in the gym.  Sometimes, it is used as 'gym room', which people may mistaken as '健身室室'.

Usage: E.g. 一唔一齊去做gym呀? E.g. 我仲喺gym room呀,遲D再call你啦。

Synonym: 健身室

burger

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have quite an expectation towards the price of a hamburger.

Usage: E.g. 你一個垃圾burger,要人畀過百蚊,根本冇可能長做長有。(Expecting people to pay over one hundred dollars for a trash burger is not sustainable in the long term.)

Synonym: 漢堡

Reference: https://www.edigest.hk/投資熱話/富二代-鍾培生-fiveguys-執笠-ed01-1934440/2/

Saliva man

Definition: A person that talks too much or gossips

Usage: Don't be such a saliva man! Please mind your own business.

Synonym: 口水佬

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/41520/

lounge

Definition: Often pronounced as 'launch', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a club lounge in a hotel.

Usage: E.g. 唔該,請問個lounge喺邊?我想搵個位坐吓先。

Synonym: 休息聽

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mz8kUbNcMw

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