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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

last order

Definition: A code-mixing term that waiters love to use to refer to the last order that customers can make in a restaurant before it closes. (最後訂單)

Usage: E.g. 今次last order,有D咩想落就好落喇。 E.g. Waiter: 今次最後訂單。 Customer: 吓?咩訂單話?

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

del

Definition: Pronounced as 'dee', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers to refer to using the 'delete' button on a keyboard to get rid of something when using the computer.

Usage: E.g. Del左呢個paragraph,再加返個conclusion,然後再send比我啦。

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

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

standby

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to tell somebody to be ready to do something anytime without making them feel ordered to do the task.

Usage: E.g. 聽日放工記住隨時standby,有可能有客搵你。(Remember to standby tomorrow after work, as there may be customers who need you.)

Synonym: 待命;候命

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3476706/page/1

off topic

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students as a casual way of labelling something as not related to the topic matter at hand.

Usage: E.g. off topic講兩句: 文理都緊要,理科是硬道理,但文科(文學、歷史;或者是哲學)才是中學教育中唯一認真(seriousness)的科目。(Let me make a few off-topic remarks: Both arts and sciences are important, with sciences being the most important, but arts (literature, history, or philosophy) are the only subjects in secondary education that require seriousness.)

Synonym: 跟話題無關

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yuxichau/post/C5vuQ64SgYQ?hl=en

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)

explode seed

Definition: Originated from Gundam seed and used as '爆seed' (explode seed), this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to unleashing one's potential.

Usage: E.g. 呢鋪game我志在必得,各位我要出絕招爆seed啦!

Reference: https://saucemedia.net/interesting/香港過氣潮語-潮語-十卜-32355/7/

m

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to 'menstruation' in English.  However, it is also used as 'M記' to refer to McDonald\'s.

Usage: E.g. 唔好話我聽兒家先黎M麻? E.g. 今次真係M到阿媽都唔認得喇!E.g. 今日又食M記?唔好喇掛!

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who refuses to concede despite knowing that they made the mistake in the first place. '死雞撐飯蓋' can also be shortened to '死撐' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. You know you've done wrong! Stop being like a dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid!

Synonym: 死雞撐飯蓋

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

pizza

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the all sorts of thicknesses of bread served with toppings because they have eaten at Pizza Hut too many times and don't believe that pizza is merely '薄餅', which translates to thin bread in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. A: 想唔想食pizza? B: 好呀,不過我要食厚嗰隻芝心批喎。(A: Want to eat pizza? B: Sure, but I want to eat the thick kind of pizza with stuffed crust.)

Synonym: 薄餅

Reference: https://ufood.com.hk/restaurant/news/detail/20044615/全港10大Pizza推介-正宗意式口味-外脆內軟-邪惡拉芝/5

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