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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

banana

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABCs in Hong Kong to refer to an Asian who speaks English. Ie. Yellow on the outside and white on the inside. (香蕉)

Usage: E.g. I am not a banana! I know how to speak Chinese!

Synonym: 香蕉

6 7

Definition: (textspeak) Originated from the numbers 6 and 7 sounding similar to '碌柒' meaning 'a stick of dick', this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to describe someone as very dumb and brainless, like a dickhead.

Usage: E.g. 唔好成個6 7咁樣企喺到啦!(Don't be like a dickhead just standing there!)

Synonym: 碌柒

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DR_ewS2k4Yy/ (use mobile version)

I don't really spend money

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kong girls who are really honest about how much money they spend.

Usage: E.g. 我需要啲咩啫,嚟嚟去去我咪又係食叉燒飯、意粉,I don't really spend money.(我根本唔花錢)對我嚟講無關係,我真係無嘢。(E.g. What do I really need? Wherever I go I just eat barbeque pork rice, pasta, I don't really spend money.(I don't spend money at all) Money doesn't matter to me, I really don't care.)

Synonym: 我根本唔花錢

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359289/jw王灝兒分手後啞忍兩年-眼濕濕平反拜金論-我仲使乜入tvb拍劇?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

challenge

Definition: An alternative way of referring to someone who's getting on your nerves, as the equivalent term '挑戰' in Cantonese sounds too much like a real duel or battle and hence too provocative to use.

Usage: E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到挑戰我。你:我幾時有挑戰過你呀?! E.g. 老闆:夠喇。你唔好係到challenge我。你:*silence*

Synonym: 挑戰

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

training

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong companies like to use to refer to sessions they provide for employees to equip them with skills, which may or may not be full of actions such as teaching, instructing and nurturing as the -ing term suggests.

Usage: E.g. 吓?你講完一兩句野就當係training?!(What? You just gave a short talk and called this 'training'?!)

Synonym: 訓練, 培訓

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/700190/page/9

weekend

Definition: A more modern and happy-sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers use to refer to period at the end of a week where they like to enjoy it like a real holiday.

Usage: E.g. 你哋會唔會weekend 兩日一夜去日本?(Would you go to Japan for two days and one night on the weekend?)

Synonym: 週末

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3815081/page/1

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

common friend

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a mutual friend or a friend in common.

Usage: E.g. 佢係我地個common friend黎架。 E.g. 我地唔係好熟,不過有好多common friend。

Synonym: 共同朋友

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP2Tu1kqrQc&t=4s

make sense

Definition: A convenient English phrase used by native Hong Kongers to avoid going into negative detail about someone who does not understand you.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 喂,你講野好唔make sense喎。你:真的嗎? E.g. 我覺得你講野make sense,不過我唔係太明。 E.g. 你講野都唔make sense,廢鬼事再聽你講。

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