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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

casual

Definition: 1. (noun) A word used instead of the Cantonese equivalent to denote the meaning of casual wear. 2. (verb) A word used to tell another person to be casual, informal, and relaxed. 3. (adj.) A word used to describe something as being informal, such as an event.

Usage: E.g. 同事: 聽日著casual得喇,知道嗎? E.g. 今日食飯casual D得喇。(隨便) E.g. 我聽日要去個casual既聚會。(非正式)

Synonym: 隨便; 非正式

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

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

siu sum

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term derived from '小心', meaning becareful.

Usage: E.g. This prof real is killer, u better siu sum.

Synonym: 小心

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

August 15

Definition: It is a slang used in casual, humorous contexts to describe the buttocks, often linked to the roundness of the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Usage: My first skateboard experience is i fell on my august 15th as soon as I stood on the board!

Synonym: 八月十五

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/32249/

develop branch

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers in IT sectors like to use to refer to a pointer to a snapshot of changes in a code repository.

Usage: E.g. 你兒家喺main branch, 咁你要checkout返個develop branch先可以開始做野。

Synonym: 分支,開發線

Reference: https://git-scm.com/book/zh/v2/Git-分支-分支简介

winter melon tofu

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe any unfortunate event such as an accident.

Usage: E.g. If I have any winter melon tofu, I will sue your company!!!

Synonym: 冬瓜豆腐

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/39119/

staycation

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to going on a vacation near one's home.

Usage: E.g. 年尾要清假,但封左關又唔去得旅行,唯有去酒店staycation啦。

Synonym: 宅度假

Reference: https://hkdic.my-helper.com/Staycation/

I’m not saying he is a bad person

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong actress and singer JW as a less direct way to describe someone with a bad personality.

Usage: E.g. I am not saying he is a bad person, 佢都係好人嚟㗎,男人我明白會有犯呢啲錯啦,但係當我係個受害者嘅時候,我就make咗呢個decision... (I am not saying he is a bad person, he is a good person after all, I understand men make these kind of mistakes, but since I was a victim, I made this decision...)

Synonym: 我唔係想講佢係一個壞/品質差既人

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60360165/jw剖白被背叛仍硬食拜金標籤真相-痛斥網絡風氣-永遠女仔就係雞?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

sick leave

Definition: Often used as the short form 'SL', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a day where an employee is sick and needs to notify their company of their absence, which they often have a hard time explaining to their boss that they were really sick on that day.

Usage: E.g. 最撚仆街係SL完第二日就會俾老細問候你有冇事,然後你做乜嘢老細都會黑面 (The most f***ing stupid thing is that the next day after your sick leave you will be greeted by the boss asking if you are okay, and then no matter what you do the boss will still be dissatisfied.)

Synonym: 病假

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3995179/page/3

quota

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to one's limit of something, such as how much food one can eat.

Usage: E.g. 食野要有quota,尤其係生野。 E.g. 我望手機有quota,因為我始終年紀大。

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

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