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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

sporty

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to someone who has a habit of doing sports. However, it is also often used to describe someone or something as looking sporty.

Usage: E.g. 你覺得佢邊套最好睇。 第3套望落幾sporty幾健康 (Which one do you think is the best looking? The third one looks quite sporty and healthy.)

Synonym: 運動型

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2725538/page/1

no show

Definition: A noun phrase-looking code-mixing verb that native Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who did not turn up at an event or occasion.

Usage: E.g. 大日子遲到同no show無分別 (On an important occasion, there is no difference between being late and not showing up.)

Synonym: 冇到, 缺席

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844386/page/9

last minute

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to the revision notes that they would read at the last moment before a DSE exam.

Usage: E.g. 最後一分鐘(Last minute)系列 - 你點睇? (What do you think of the book series called Last Minute?)

Synonym: 最後一分鐘

Reference: https://blog.tutorcircle.hk/33397/最後一分鐘-last-minute-有冇用-好唔好/#google_vignette

don't care three seven twenty one

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe that something must be done no matter how worse the situation is.

Usage: E.g. I don't care three seven twenty one. This project must proceed!

Synonym: 唔理三七廿一

Reference: https://www.ourchinastory.com/zh/5530/何謂「唔理三七廿一」?%C2%A0

Return water (wui shui)

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction.

Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui.

Synonym: 回水

sophisticated

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to avoid describing a problem as complicated because they have the intelligence to solve it. At other times, there is just not a word that covers all the meanings of intelligent, complicated and even elegant sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係復雜,只係太過sophisticated。如果你識將個問題分拆,你就會解答得到。 (This problem is not complicated, but just too sophisticated. If you know how to break down the problem, you will be able to solve it.)

Synonym: 複習

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/okiokifamily/posts/有人在影片留言反映-為什麼我們有時會中英夾雜-我們一早有注意到這個問題問所以上字幕的時候全部改成為中文只有極少數情況例外例如英文字-sophisticated-/1187675216048224/

warm

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone as kind and friendly, even though it can just be a good manner posture sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 跟住呢個係我自身經歷左warm嘅事: 一個人去食譚仔點知叫得太辣流晒鼻水但搵唔到紙巾, 同枱隔離有個人遞左紙巾俾小妹 (Then this is my own experience of a warm thing: I went to Tam Jai restaurant to eat by myself and I somehow ordered too spicy so I got a running nose but could not find tissue. Then someone from another table handed me tissue.)

Synonym: 温暖; 熱心; 熱情

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2513918/page/3

K lunch

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a meal set offered by a karaoke lounge bar or club.

Usage: E.g. 今日去唔去食K lunch呀?一百蚊又可以唱又食,好鬼死抵。(Do you want to have K lunch today? Can sing and eat at the price of just $100, so frigging cheap.)

Synonym: 卡啦OK午餐

Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/activity/detail/20009510/唱k推介2024丨全港16大卡啦ok好去處-最平-36起-日文k都有-附地址-收費詳情

yo!

Definition: A code-mixing term that the Hong Kong actor Dicky Cheung (張衛健) loves to use in the "Journey of the West" Cantonese TV episode, in order to display the almighty character of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King.

Usage: E.g. Yo!打妖精咋麻,洗乜驚呀?!

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtl4WF0RwWI&t=224s

depends

Definition: A way to sound more certain and less hesitant when your friend/boyfriend/girlfriend is asking you whether you want to do something with him or her.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 聽日去唔去睇戲呀? 你: Depends啦。 E.g. 女朋友: 係咪聽日去shopping呀? 你: Depends啦。 E.g. 女朋友: 係咪聽日去shopping呀? 你: 睇下點啦。 *啪!*

Synonym: 睇下點

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