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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary
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17 results found

count down

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese. Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)Synonym: 倒數Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party
2025-12-30
Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where you cannot force someone into seeking help if they do not accept it. Usage: E.g. I offered to help him with his homework but he never sent it over. Oh well... if the cow doesn't drink water, you cannot press the cow's head down.Synonym: 牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms
2024-04-24

eat bowl face turn bowl down

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to betraying someone after receiving some offer or advantage from them. (食碗面反碗底) Usage: E.g. I gave you so many benefits and you eat bowl face turn bowl down?!!Synonym: 食碗面反碗底Reference: https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/486w/public/images/methode/2016/01/21/c10168a8-bff3-11e5-9503-d84cbca18933_486x.jpg?itok=sF-XAnJn
2024-04-21

download

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to downloading files from the internet. ('下載') Sometimes, it is shortened to 'down' instead. Usage: E.g. Download個file落黎，再send比我呀唔該。Synonym: 下載
2024-04-16

down

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to computer that has become unavailable, possibly due to a crash.  Sometimes, it is used as the shortened version of 'download'. Usage: E.g. 大獲喇！公司server down機呀！快Ｄ搵人整呀！（當機） E.g. Down完個file未呀？咁耐既？（下載）Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922
2023-03-04

drop down

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC’s to mean 'jot down'. Usage: E.g. 老師，唔該等一等。我要ｄｒｏｐ　ｄｏｗｎ埋Ｄ　ｎｏｔｅｓ先擦黑板。Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字
2023-03-01

canteen

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students prefer to use over 'cafeteria' from American English, which is not only due to Hong Kong having a British colonial history, but also it is closer to the equivalent term '餐廳' pronounced as 'can-ting' in Mandarin. Usage: E.g. 快啲落canteen霸位食飯啦！(Let's head down to hog the seats at the canteen to have a meal!)Synonym: 餐廳, 飯堂Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/m1ytyg/question_etymology_of_canteen_from_french_italian/
2025-12-30

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/
2025-11-09

server

Definition: Pronounced as 'serfaah', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a computer server in IT. Usage: E.g. 個server整好未呀？冇理由down左咁耐架？Synonym: 服務器
2024-04-15

reg

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the word 'register', such as registering for an account in an app to become a member. Usage: E.g. 快D download個app再reg個account成為會員啦！Synonym: 申請
2023-10-16
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