Define Your Term | Login
What is code-mixing? | Mission | About | Learn More | FAQ | Commentary | Downloads | Lectures | Videos | Instagram Instagram
English | Chinese

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

care

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong businessmen to refer to something that they give a damn about, as the equivalent terms '理', '在乎' or '關心' in Cantonese sound too romantic or loving in a professional setting.

Usage: E.g. 我唔care你要OT到幾多點,總之要幫我搞掂。 E.g. 其實我都好care我既員工既福利。 E.g. 艾東care! (I don't care!)

Synonym: 理; 在乎; 關心

negative

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a neutral and factual way of referring to interview feedback of disapproval.

Usage: E.g. 今次interview既feedback都冇D咩negative野。(The interview feedback this time did not have anything negative.)

Synonym: 負面

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1058101/page/1

small talk

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong companies to refer to a kind of casual conversation that is supposed to get people warmed up and build trust with each other, even though it often ends up consuming people's time dramatically.

Usage: E.g. 係都要 Small talk 一輪先講重點:直接入正題啦,大家返工時間好寶貴,無心情同你吹水。老實講,明白呢幾點嘅同事真係功德無量 (There always has to be a round of small talk before talking about the important points: Let's get straight to the point, our time at work is very precious, and we have no mood to talk to you. Honestly, colleagues who understand these points are contributing immensely.)

Synonym: 閒聊

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcx8gNjpggG/?igsi=b3Z3YW80ZGo0Mm45 (use mobile version)

dom

Definition: A code-mixing term that is abbreviated from the word 'condom'. Sometimes, it is called 'dom dom'. (dam4 dam2)

Usage: E.g. 冇帶dom?!我唔同你做! E.g. 今日有冇帶dom dom呀?

security

Definition: Pronounced as 'sik-q', this is a code-mixing term used to refer to the security staff of a building.

Usage: E.g. 同我快D叫'食Q'黎!

anyway

Definition: A term used by native Hong Kongers to divert one topic to another in a polite manner.

Usage: E.g. 係呀,個proposal已經搞掂了。Anyway, 我兒家要去開meeting。 E.g. 份proposal仲未搞掂?Anyways, 我兒家要食lunch喇。

Synonym: 點都好; 無論如何

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

swap

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use in place of the Cantonese equivalent '交換'.

Usage: E.g. A:我地swap一個球員好唔好?B:好呀,我同你swap啦。

Synonym: 交換

Q-train

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the new generation of electric multiple unit trains in the Hong Kong MTR produced by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.

Usage: E.g. 成型友大嗌Q train萬歲,搞到我差D以為Q train有還不完的恩情。(My friends kept shouting "Long live Q train!" which almost made me think Q train had an endless debt of gratitude to repay.)

Synonym: 市區綫願景列車

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@mr_luck_kinda_sucks/post/DWc9xJUk5qx?xmt=AQF05j-tBGLeYI6vBDAQQ-VN1sIrTbCEBlqWN97wggHxlDpvP-bUA91RIuhOZeQCanqxrsU&slof=1

function

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to refer to a social event.

Usage: E.g. 最近公司有咩function要搞?

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

uni

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to sea urchin in a Japanese restaurant.

Usage: E.g. 當你碰上「海膽壽司」時,你可能會說Uni Sushi,但一些餐館會稱「海膽」為Sea Urchin來代替Uni (When you come across "sea urchin sushi", you will probably say Uni Sushi, but some restaurants will still use "sea urchin" to refer to uni.)

Synonym: 海膽; sea urchin

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

Define Your Term | Learn More
Feel free to send your comments and suggestions to info@megaexplorer.net.