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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 783 results

imagine

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students when they want to avoid sounding too unrealistic when giving an example to illustrate a point. Usage: E.g. Imagine 你嘅英文好差,但係入咗英文中學,考試嗰陣第一步係要將全部唔識嘅英文轉做中文睇 (Imagine your English were very poor, but you entered an English secondary school. Then you had to read all the English like you read Chinese during the exams.)Synonym: 幻想Reference: https://www.threads.com/@shc.sky_903/post/DTdra9mkzdQ?xmt=AQF0-Ws357d_MFFUTUJO5WSCyunIf9vLyvu-aYt8Xozsek2mL71adEzGvSmHr3CNFlNH3LGn&slof=1

9up

Definition: (textspeak) Derived from '狗噏' meaning 'dog uttering', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to talking non-sense, like bullsh*t. It is also often pronounced as '鳩噏' as a vulgar expression. Usage: E.g. Stop 9up and bragging about your achievements all the time! (唔好成日喺到鳩噏車大炮啦!)Synonym: 狗噏, 鳩噏Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/9up

take action

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong policemen when they want to take legal or enforcement action to deal with a situation. At other times, it can simply be used to describe an action that one must take in order to further one's progress. Usage: E.g. 如果比我地警方查到你犯法,我地會take action。(If our police force finds out that you have broken the law, we will take action.) E.g. 依加我地唔上唔落咁又唔敢再take action住。(Right now, our relationship is not getting anymore so I am afraid of taking any actions yet.)Synonym: 採取行動Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1671360/page/1

It's even worse

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to describe something as more inferior in quality than another without saying it's of bad quality. Usage: E.g. 我去過呢間bar。It's even worse!Synonym: 更加差Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3047481/page/1

recap

Definition: A highly efficient code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use when they want to do a short summary of what happened in a period of time without sounding so repetitive, old school and verbose as '概括重述' denotes. Usage: E.g. 不如我地一齊recap一下今個week做左咩?(What about doing a recap of what we did this week?)Synonym: 概括重述Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20052634/香港職場中英夾雜用語-內地網民舉30個例子-表示識粵語都無法理解

uncle

Definition: A polite way of addressing a stranger, usually a much older person, when you meet them for the first time. Usage: E.g. 哈佬Uncle,nice to meet you! E.g. 阿女,快D叫聲uncle啦。Reference: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3048345/hong-kong-comes-alive-learning-cantonese-make-sure-you-know

two five boy

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who betrays others. ie. A traitor. (二五仔) Usage: E.g. I can't believe you are the two five boy who let out the secret!Synonym: 二五仔Reference: https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202105/25/AP60ac0e63e4b0a46dabeb8867.html

network

Definition: 1. (noun) A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to internet access. 2. (verb) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use to refer to social networking. Usage: E.g. 今日公司network有D問題,成日search野都好慢,仲間唔中會斷。 E.g. 最近有冇出去同人network?

lai see

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese. Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.Synonym: 利是Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/

fall country fall city

Definition: Derived from the idiom '傾國傾城', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used to describe women that are so devastatingly beautiful that they can make a country or city fall. Usage: E.g. The girls in this club are so fall country fall city!Synonym: 傾國傾城
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