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

Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

sheung tong

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to attending a lesson. (上堂 )

Usage: E.g. Nei gum yat sheung ng sheung tong ar? (你今日上唔上堂呀?)

Synonym: 上堂

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/12/kongish-a-new-language-of-hong-kongers/

Best

Definition: Often expressed as ‘老best’ meaning 'old best', this is a code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers to refer to a best friend that a person has known for a long time. (呢個好大部分時候係攞嚟應用自己啲friend呀樣表達自己個friend係好老友囉咁樣)

Usage: E.g. 你哋睇下呢個係我老best。(Let me show all of you. This is my old best friend.)

Synonym: 睇下呢個係我個好朋友, 老友, old best friend

Reference: https://mingpaomonthly.com/article/details/語文.書話/2025-02/1737624129007/老best、bestie有咩分別?%20(歐陽偉豪)

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

slow ton ton eat wonton

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does things very slowly.

Usage: E.g. Get work done quickly! Stop slow ton ton eat wonton!

Synonym: 慢吞吞食雲吞

smash

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to hitting a ball towards the ground forcefully in tennis, which not only feels good when defeating someone with such a gesture, but also it sort of gives the person a feeling of breaking something into pieces.

Usage: E.g. 咁勁?!今次我要smash返你!(So powerful?! I'm going to smash you back!)

Synonym: 殺球

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3898753/page/7

wish

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers who believe that making wishes should be done with eyes closed and not involve any '望', which has a literal meaning of gaze or look.

Usage: E.g. 新一年你有咩wish呀?快啲make a wish啦!(What is your wish for the new year? Make a wish quickly!)

Synonym: 願望

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3584700/page/1

m

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to 'menstruation' in English.  However, it is also used as 'M記' to refer to McDonald\'s.

Usage: E.g. 唔好話我聽兒家先黎M麻? E.g. 今次真係M到阿媽都唔認得喇!E.g. 今日又食M記?唔好喇掛!

taste

Definition: Often pronounced with a '屎' (faeces) at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to having the ability to recognise something good. ('有品味')

Usage: E.g. 哇,你識揀呢件衫,真係好有taste呀!

Synonym: 品味

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

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

chop

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a company stamp. (公司蓋章)

Usage: E.g. 可唔可以借個chop黎用吓?

Synonym: 公司蓋章

Reference: https://paper.hket.com/article/190909/行政人員英語詞窮%20見客口啞

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