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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 613 results

long time no see

Definition: Pronounced as 'long tie lo see', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots class Hong Kongers for greeting someone they have not seen for a long time. Usage: E.g. 喂!Long tie lo see!Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

roommate

Definition: A better sounding code-mixing term that is used in place of '室友'. Usage: E.g. 朋友:你有幾多個室友? 你:你係話失友還是roommate?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

mother school

Definition: Derived from '母校', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a school that a person has graduated from. ie. Alma mater. Usage: Well I’m a Catholic. I believe in what I have been taught when I was in my mother secondary school, Wah Yan Kowloon.Synonym: 母校Reference: https://www.inmediahk.net/node/政經/李家超透露是天主教徒-感謝「mother-secondary-school」教誨

charge

Definition: 1. A code-mixing term that refers to a payment for goods or services. 2. Often pronounced as '差廚' (caa1 cyu4), this is a code-mixing term that is used by Hong Kongers to refer to being charged for a crime. Usage: E.g. 呢間餐廳有冇minimum charge? E.g. 今次冇落charge?!真幸運!

bend machine

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to describe having an overly powerful ability to do something, such as winning a game. Usage: E.g. I can't believe you are winning every game! Are you bending machine?!Synonym: 屈機Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-cantonese-slang-internet

jam

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to paper being stuck in a printer. Usage: E.g. 個printer又jam紙?唔係掛?Synonym: 卡住紙Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

ceremony

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used instead of '典禮'. Usage: E.g. 同學:個ceremony好耐呀,完未架? 同學:你幾時去grad ceremony呀? 你:我黎唔到個ceremony呀。

cheung fun

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to steamed rice noodle rolls, which is a popular snack at street food vendors. However, this is not to be confused with ‘fun cheung’, which means ‘dick face’ in English. Usage: E.g. Let‘s eat some fun cheung at a Chinese restaurant! Sorry, I mean cheung fun!Synonym: 腸粉Reference: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3318414/what-cheung-fun-different-types-chinese-rice-noodle-rolls-and-how-make-them

skip

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '跳過'. Usage: E.g. 條題目好難。skip左先啦。Synonym: 跳過Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

Lulu

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For male version, see 'Robert') Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Lulu喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)