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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

You big me?

Definition: Derived from '你大我?‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they feel that someone is bluffing them by a display of confidence.

Usage: E.g. You big me? 我big返你and give you some color you see呀!(你大我?我大返你再比D顏色你睇呀!)

Synonym: 你大我?

hygiene

Definition: A code-mixing term that a "Jayden Mami" likes to use to refer more specifically to a person's habit in keeping clean, rather than the broader sense of cleanliness and sanitary conditions that the Cantonese equivalent term "衛生" denotes.

Usage: E.g. Jayden,你攞人啲嘢食之前有冇做好hygiene呀?(Jayden, did you have good hygiene before grabbing somebody else's food?)

Synonym: 衛生

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/4112744/Jayden之亂|KOL拍片諷刺「Jayden媽」偽ABC育兒法%E3%80%80揭爆紅現象時間線-港媽式教仔金句

site visit

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a physical inspection of a site in order to discuss the scope of work with contractors and foresee any potential problems.

Usage: E.g. 進行project之前要做好site visit,以便理解好成個scope。

Synonym: 實地考察

say no

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to express rejection politely without sounding so blunt.

Usage: E.g. 我發現幾多人返工唔識Say No。(I found out there are many people who don't know how to say no at work.) E.g. 唔好意思,我要揸車,所以要對酒精say no。(Sorry, I need to drive so I have to say no to drinking.)

Synonym: 講唔好

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3268602/page/1

take action

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong policemen when they want to take legal or enforcement action to deal with a situation. At other times, it can simply be used to describe an action that one must take in order to further one's progress.

Usage: E.g. 如果比我地警方查到你犯法,我地會take action。(If our police force finds out that you have broken the law, we will take action.) E.g. 依加我地唔上唔落咁又唔敢再take action住。(Right now, our relationship is not getting anymore so I am afraid of taking any actions yet.)

Synonym: 採取行動

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1671360/page/1

present

Definition: An irreplaceable code-mixing term meaning to deliver a speech, as saying the Cantonese equivalent term '匯報' would sound too old school and non-colloquial.

Usage: E.g. 你幾時要present呀? E.g. 今次份assignment難唔難present呀?

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

touchwood

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers say in order to avoid bad luck, which is similar to '大吉利是' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Touchwood講句,如果件貨聽日唔準時到,請問要等到幾時呢?

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/733616/page/1

post

Definition: A more informal and linguistically efficient way of saying the Cantonese equivalent term '上傳'. Often pronounced as 'po' instead of 'post'.

Usage: E.g. 喂,你今次po張相好鬼靚喎。

dismiss

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to send somebody away formally and politely, even though at times they may not be taking the other person seriously.

Usage: E.g. *打斷* 我地傾左咁耐,不如就喺到dismiss啦? (*interrupt* We have been talking for so long. What about dismiss here?)

Synonym: 解散

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2842244/page/13

uncle

Definition: A polite way of addressing a stranger, usually a much older person, when you meet them for the first time.

Usage: E.g. 哈佬Uncle,nice to meet you! E.g. 阿女,快D叫聲uncle啦。

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3048345/hong-kong-comes-alive-learning-cantonese-make-sure-you-know

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