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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

headcount

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a more technical and corporate way of referring to the number of employees in a company because '人數' sounds too everyday in Cantonese like when getting enough people to play Mahjong together.

Usage: E.g. 大家公司最近咩環境 有冇freeze headcount? (How is everybody's company doing recently? Any company is freezing headcount?)

Synonym: 人數

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3674159/page/1

hesitate

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having a brief pause before acting rather than being so indecisive and not knowing what to do.

Usage: E.g. 我都覺小貴,所以hesitate緊。不過真係好靚。(I think it's a bit expensive so I am hesitating. But it's really beautiful.)

Synonym: 猶豫

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3167329/page/27

group

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a relatively small number of people or things being put together but probably not big enough to be an organisation or entity.

Usage: E.g. 我地間公司係一個group,不如加入我地既whatsapp group再傾吓我地可以點合作?(Our company is a group. What about joining our Whatsapp group so we can talk about how we can work together?)

Synonym: 組, 組織, 集團

Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/23487/職場熱話-被迫加入廿個公司group-員工-不停彈訊息-連apple-watch都壞埋

I don't know

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by the K-pop singer Jackson Wang (王嘉爾) when he has nothing to say. Even though he was born in Hong Kong, it is often said that he has real American Born Chinese vibe, due to his strong knowledge of English filler terms while speaking in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 我從運動員到練習生到出道,去海外,我自己覺得我係捱到既。但係有時呢D咁既野真係hit到我,我真係...i don't know. (From being an athlete to a trainee to debut then overseas, I always thought I could endure. But when there were things that hit me sometimes, I really just... I don't know.)

Synonym: 我唔知

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7-73ZG8G2s

sit

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to sitting through a lecture without participating in it, which is usually used for those who don't belong to the class or course.

Usage: E.g. 同學:可以邀請我sit堂嗎? E.g. 我見到嗰位先生成日要sit堂。係助教還是professor?

Fan Tai Sui

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others.

Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!

Synonym: 犯太歲

Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/

Holland Bank Cheque

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they don’t want to tell somebody directly that they are really f***ing stupid. Even though it looks like a westernised expression, it has a similar pronunciation as '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which means 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: A: 有人話我係"荷蘭銀行支票", 何解??? B: HOLLAND BANK CHEQUE~自己讀~

Synonym: 好撚笨柒

Reference: https://m.discuss.com.hk/index.php?action=thread&tid=9184515

Come on

Definition: A tag switching phrase overused by Fake ABCs to create a western appeal.

Usage: Eg. Come on baby! 聽日同我出街啦!

Synonym: 來吧

Reference: https://www.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/中英夾雜-同事經常扮abc-文法錯漏百出-打工仔-唔識就講返中文啦/1342-29015

opportunity

Definition: A more sophisticated way of expressing chance (機會) in Cantonese, as the English term denotes prospect for advancement or success.

Usage: E.g. 好多謝貴公司今日比呢個opportunity我地黎做個presentation.

Synonym: 機會

airport

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers when they want to describe a girl with flat chest but don't want to get slapped.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you like this girl? B: No, I think she is an airport!

Synonym: 飛機場

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSZDmyBASgl/?igsh=MXVsbzJhZTFoYnRudw== (use mobile version)

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