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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

job hunting

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the activity of finding a job, which definitely sounds more fun, exciting and challenging than the Cantonese equivalent terms '求職' and '找工作'.

Usage: E.g. A: 你搵到工嗎? B: 冇呀,我仲喺到job hunting。

Synonym: 求職, 找工作

Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/1opsow8/job_hunting_socialising_in_hk/

worse

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to something of bad quality.

Usage: E.g. 個湯凍嘅,真係好worse囉。

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

solo trip

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to describe going on a trip by oneself without sounding so alone or single.

Usage: E.g. 放假時我比較鍾意solo trip,因為咩都唔洗煩。(I like going on solo trips during holiday because I don't need to bother with anything else.)

Synonym: 單獨旅行, 獨旅

Reference: https://www.elle.com.hk/life/solo-trip

drop dog sh*t

Definition: Derived from '落狗屎‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to raining very heavily, which is equivalent of the phrase 'raining cats and dogs' in English.

Usage: E.g. Wa! Right now is really drop dog sh*t ah! (哇!兒家真係落狗屎呀!)

Synonym: 落狗屎

Reference: https://ling-app.com/yue/cantonese-slang-words/

sir

Definition: Often used as 'Ah sir' (阿sir), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a male teacher. (Also see 'Missy' for female teacher)

Usage: E.g. 阿sir,我今日冇帶功課。可唔可以唔好罰我呀?

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

claim

Definition: This is a code-mixing term used to refer to claiming money.  However, it is often pronounced as 'kam' by grassroot class Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. 請問讀完個course有冇得kam返d錢架? E.g. 請問d飯錢可唔可以問返公司kam架?

Synonym: 索取

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

take advantage

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to exploiting the use of something, even though at times it can seem more like abusing or misusing something instead.

Usage: E.g. 有D公司好take advantage D fresh grad,要你做唔哂野要OT。(Some companikes really take advantage of fresh graduates and get them to work overtime.) E.g. 有D員工好take advantage公司D病假。(Some employees really take advantage of the sick leaves offered by companies.)

Synonym: 利用, 濫用

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3588289/page/6

project

Definition: A word that Hong Kong local students use to refer to a large piece of work, which is often done in group setting.

Usage: E.g. 今學期你有咩group project呀?(課題)

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

shopping

Definition: A more neutral-sounding term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to '購物' or '買野', which signify the commitment to buying things.

Usage: E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去商場啦。男朋友:吓?又買野?!女朋友:唔係呀。去shopping咋嘛。 E.g. 女朋友:我地聽日去shopping啦。男朋友:又買野?!女朋友:去window shopping咋嘛。

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/1177618/Cantonese_English_code_switching_research_in_Hong_Kong_A_survey_of_recent_research

light light dick

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that is likely to have derived from '輕輕地', which is an adverb that means 'gently'. Even though the 'dick' in the expression seems to refer to the male's penis, it is most likely a typo according to some native Hong Kongers and the AI. However, it is also purported to be the transliteration of ‘的’, which translates to ‘輕輕的‘, an expression that is often used by the Taiwanese poet Hamilton Hsu (徐志摩).

Usage: E.g. Let me light light dick remind you... E.g. Light light dick push har.

Synonym: 輕輕地

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/KongishDaily/posts/light-light-dick-push-har-supportkongish/2052444074897500/?locale=sw_KE

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