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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

individual

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe people who are really just minding their own business but not necessarily alone or single.

Usage: E.g. 呢間bar啲人點呀?係唔係個個都好individual咁樣呀? (How are the people in this bar? Are they all really just minding their own business?)

Synonym: 單獨

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@matthew_lam1116/post/DAcSyqdScem?hl=zh-hk

dude

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'.

Usage: E.g. Dude,你係到搞D咩呀? E.g. Dude,你好還錢喇喎? E.g. Dude,你以為你自己好型呀?

Synonym: 大佬

written test

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a written test created by companies for job candidates, which can be easy or difficult depending on the situation. Sometimes, it can also be very 'chur' to do due to a company's limited time.

Usage: E.g. 一入到去未擺低袋就俾張紙我做 Written Test,限時 20 分鐘。(When I arrived and before I even put my bag down, they gave me a piece of paper to do a written test, which had a time limit of 20 minutes.)

Synonym: 筆試

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sangdongizary/post/DZmtCj0mGom?xmt=AQG0EL-oDne_ejxYTHR6FJqyzY8A-PLBBPXB5uoPeZ1QqFbjVadt9K2xVmBMMoskDQMsiRJc&slof=1

A0

Definition: Short for 'available zero', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is often used by Hong Kong teen celebrities to sell themselves as idols that have never dated or been in a relationship before.

Usage: E.g. 鍾柔美男女關係複雜 A0形象被質疑 絕密校園生活揭秘 (Yumi Chung's complicated love relationships raise questions about her A0 image; her top-secret campus life revealed.)

Synonym: Available zero, 未拍過拖

Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/鍾柔美yumi被爆扮a0-中學時至少有4名男友?-就連「學霸」之名都被質疑-080040455.html

number

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a telephone number.

Usage: E.g. 香港人:可唔可以交換number呀?內地人:咩number呀?香港人:緊係電話number啦。

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

ni gor

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong expats when they want to order something in a restaurant but don't know how to read a menu.

Usage: E.g. Mm goi waiter! Ni gor please!

Synonym: 呢個, this

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

ready

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person's mental state that is immediate for action without necessarily having done any preparation. When used in negation form 'not ready', it may mean that preparation is already done but the person is still not ready.

Usage: E.g. 如果一個女仔話鍾意你,但係未ready一齊,要我等,係咩意思 (If a girl says she likes you, but isn't ready to be together with you and asks you to wait, what does that mean?)

Synonym: 準備好

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3629688/page/1

chur

Definition: 1. (adj). To describe a hectic state where you are so busy that you feel like you cannot breathe. 2. (verb). An Englishised code-mixing term that refers to exhausting oneself in order to get work done in a short period of time, which is usually brought on by demanding customers or people of high authority.

Usage: E.g. 今日返工真係好chur呀。(adj) E.g. 哇,呢個客洗唔洗chur到咁盡呀?比條生路人地行吓好嗎?(verb)

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/

can

Definition: (noun) Pronounced with the sixth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to canteen in a highly efficient manner.

Usage: E.g. 淨係食過bu同city既can。(I have only eaten Baptist University's and City University's canteen.)

Synonym: canteen, 食堂

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/404559/page/2

In general

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use when they want to express their well-educated guess or opinion on a subject matter without sounding so formal and bookish.

Usage: E.g. 呢個program我覺得in general係幾學到野。(I think I can really learn from this program in general.)

Synonym: 一般而言

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3990504/page/1

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