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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

jung yi beng

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to 'secondary two syndrome' in Cantonese, which is someone in their second year of high school and acting childish, as if they are living in their own world. The term was first popularised by the comedian Hikaru Ijuin in a Japanese radio show in 1999.

Usage: E.g. My older brother has jung yi beng – he thinks he is a hero who can save the world.

Synonym: 中二病

Reference: https://www.youngpostclub.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3147729/sup-sup-sui-start-new-school-year-these-cantonese-slang

preference

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to express a choice in something without stating their favour or to avoid sounding picky.

Usage: E.g. 我今晚既preference係食西餐,但係又唔代表我成日都鍾意。(My preference is western cuisine tonight, but that doesn't mean I like it all the time.)

Synonym: 偏愛; 偏好; 優先選擇

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3316788/page/27

milestone

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an important stage or event in the development of something. (里程碑)

Usage: E.g. 我地公司今年reach到個milestone!Let\'s celebrate!

Synonym: 里程碑

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

peng di

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase used by foreigners to bargain in a wet market, in order to get a bigger deal or low price. A 'la' is also usually added at the end for emphasis.

Usage: E.g. This is fifty dollars? Peng di la!

Synonym: 平D

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

Night King

Definition: Originated from the Cantonese movie 'Night King' starring Dayo Wong (黃子華), this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the Lai King MTR station.

Usage: E.g. A: 今晚去唔去荔景?B: 好呀。不過荔景幾時變左Night King?!(A: Want to go to Lai King tonight? B: Sure. But when did Lai King become Night King?!)

Synonym: 夜王, 荔景

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/電影/60330286/夜王-葵芳一角爆紅-港鐵葵芳站改名franchesca-仲有隱藏廣播

FF

Definition: (verb) Derived from the game "final fantasy", this is a Cantonese slang to refer to someone who fantasizes too much.

Usage: Be realistic! Don't FF too much la.

Synonym: Fantasize

Reference: https://www.cantoneseclass101.com/blog/2019/07/23/cantonese-text-slang/

Please kindly

Definition: Often seen as redundant, this is a code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers when they really want to show politeness towards the email's receiver in a request.

Usage: E.g. Please kindly find the attached document.

Synonym: 請

Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/35656/電郵技巧|商用電郵|職場英語-10個打工仔常犯的英文EMAIL錯誤-PLEASE-KINDLY-WELL-RECEIVED-WITH-THANKS-都係錯-內附正確寫法及網上課程

好In

Definition: 顧名思義,是形容人打扮很入時 ,即是in-fashion的意思。(Translation: To describe someone who is dressed very trendy or in fashion.)

Usage: 你今日著得好In喎。(You are dressed very in fashion today.)

Synonym: 時髦

collect skin

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to tell somebody to shut the f**k up. It is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '收皮' in order to tone down the directness of this very rude phrase. It originates from street vendors who used to pack their things up on wooden mats when police arrived back in those days of Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. 喂,講完未呀?Collect skin啦。E.g. 真係頂你唔順呀,快D collect skin啦。

Synonym: 收皮

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/Cy8AD_WtaxO/ (use mobile version)

Bearing, Barrack

Definition: 許多香港人的廣東話是直接由英文翻譯過來,譬如Bearing,Barrack。平時口語叫「啤1令2」及「1巴1叻」(讀力第1聲),比起說「輪軸」及「儲物房」在交流上更加方便易明。(Many Hong Kongers translate Cantonese directly from English, such as Bearing and Barrack. Said as "啤1令2" and "1巴1叻" (pronounced 1st tone), it is more convenient and understandable than saying "wheel shaft" and "storage room".)

Usage: 車輪啤令鬆脫,電動車在行車時發出了雜聲 (The wheel bearing came loose, causing the electric vehicle to make abnormal noises while driving.)

Synonym: 啤令,巴叻; 士巴拿spanner

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