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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

flow

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the rundown of a presentation and how well the speaker articulates his speech and transitions between ideas.

Usage: E.g. 返工做present口窒窒點樣改善?理解自己想講既野,設計好個flow, 當講故事咁講出黎。千其唔好死記硬背 (E.g. How to improve yourself if you stutter while presenting at work? Try to understand what you want to say, design the flow, and tell it like a story. Don't memorise it like a script.)

Synonym: 流程

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2675045/page/1

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/

cut

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to hanging up the phone.

Usage: E.g. 又cut我電話?咩事呀? E.g. 呢D sales再打黎cut佢線得架喇。

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

à la carte

Definition: Originated from French, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to ordering single dishes individually.

Usage: E.g. 如果你唔鍾意叫set dinner,你可以叫 à la carte。(If you don't like to order the set dinner, you can order single dishes.)

Synonym: 單點; 散嗌; 散叫

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

uncle feet

Definition: Derived from the punning of '縮腳' with '叔' (uncle) having a similar pronunciation as '縮' (to shrink) , this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that is used to tell someone to watch their feet.

Usage: Eg. I am mopping the floor. Uncle feet!

Synonym: 縮腳

Reference: https://youtu.be/_3hhDIErE2g?si=SLsZUTCKhV5cfm8x

angry

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a "Jayden Mami" to describe a state of emotional stress due to a child misbehaving, even though it sounds less serious and less hinting of being upset or furious compared to the Cantonese equivalent terms.

Usage: E.g. Jayden,你唔勤力啲swim,媽咪同爸B會angry㗎!(Jayden, if you don't work harder on swimmig, Mami and Daddy will be angry!)

Synonym: 嬲; 激氣; 憤怒; 生氣

Reference: https://eastweek.stheadline.com/pets/18474/Jayden媽咪是誰社交網絡爆紅兼殺入毛孩界

low pay leave

Definition: A code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers to refer to “no pay leave” or non-paid leave.

Usage: E.g. 請唔到病假咪請low pay leave囉! (no pay leave)

Synonym: 無薪假期

friendly

Definition: Sometimes used with a negation particle such as '唔' meaning 'not' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something as not very kind and pleasant in a less direct and personal way, even though the word is usually used to describe a person.

Usage: E.g. 你講得岩。香港揸車唔係咁friendly。(You are right. Driving in Hong Kong isn't very friendly.)

Synonym: 友善

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/

good job

Definition: A code-mixing term used by grassroots class Hong Kongers to refer to how thoroughly cooked a steak is, which is equivalent to ‘well done’ in native English.

Usage: E.g. 個鬼佬轉另轉頭問我: whatxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx? 我好自豪 充滿自信 大大聲答: GOOD JOB!! 個鬼佬就呆哂 唔明我無啦啦做乜講GOOD JOB咁 女友見到 即刻幫我答:WELL DONE (The western waiter then asked me: whatxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx? I was proud and confident and answered loudly: GOOD JOB! The western waiter was speechless and didn't understand why I said good job. When my girlfriend saw this, she immediately helped me answer: WELL DONE)

Synonym: 全熟

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/561255/page/1

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