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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

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

debate

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students love to use to refer to having an argument with another person in a peaceful, academic manner.

Usage: E.g. 我同我個男朋友平時好鍾意嗌交,嗌吓呢樣又嗰樣,不過都係debate姐。(I like to argue with my boyfriend all the time, about this and that, but it's just debating.)

Synonym: 辯論

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yyanchi._/post/C3_6NO0ySjE?hl=zh-hk

selling point

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a feature or quality of a product that persuades people to buy it. Compared to '賣點' in Cantonese, selling point can often extend to services and people, and can refer to personal attractiveness or uniqueness.

Usage: E.g. 以前佢地D selling point 係聽話忠誠 (Their selling point used to be that they were willing to listen and loyal to their customers.)

Synonym: 賣點

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3746011/page/2

dude

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'.

Usage: E.g. Dude,你係到搞D咩呀? E.g. Dude,你好還錢喇喎? E.g. Dude,你以為你自己好型呀?

Synonym: 大佬

mm goi jeh jeh

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers when they cannot get the f**k out the train on the MTR. Literal meaning: Please move aside.

Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (唔該) *nobody moves* Mm ho yi si. (唔好意思) *nobody moves* Mm goi jeh jeh! (唔該借借) *people move out of the way*

Synonym: 唔該借借

order

Definition: Pronounced as '痾打', this is a more elegant term that refers to the Cantonese equivalent(落單)for placing orders.  Sometimes, it is used by the police when giving instructions to the subordinates.

Usage: E.g. D野仲未黎既?我落左order好耐喇喎。快D吹吓佢。E.g. 警察:This is an order! Understand?! 下屬:Yes, sir!

Synonym: 落單

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

Giorgio Armarni

Definition: Known as JM tone and pronounced with an extra 'r' in Armani, this is a code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to refer to the Italian fashion designer and brand.

Usage: E.g.「嚟到GoRgio ARmaRni(Giorgio Armani)嘅show嘅現場…」馬米高聽到一臉疑惑︰「Hello Girl!你去咗冒牌現場啊? Giorgio Arrr讀到呢度都啱,但係咪ar-MARNI?冇R喎!」(Janice Man: "Arriving at the live show of Giorgio ArmaRni..." Michael Ma heard and suspected: "Hello Girl! Did you go to the fake brand's live show? Giorgio Arrr is pronounced correctly, but is it ar-MARNI? There is no R there!)

Synonym: 喬治·亞曼尼, Giorgio Armani

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVyay3rgqtf/?igsh=MWU0bGlyajBnM3B5OQ== (use mobile version)

dirty

Definition: Often used in a Jayden Mami parody, this is a code-mixing term used by a typical Hong Kong modern mother to refer to physical uncleanliness in a mildly negative way.

Usage: E.g. Jayden做咩趴喺條street度呀,個ground好dirty㗎,仲要比d dog踩上你個頭度,你再唔get up mami就angry㗎啦。(Jayden, why are you lying on the street? The ground is so dirty, and you're letting a dog step over you. If you don't get up, Mami will be angry.)

Synonym: 污糟

Reference: https://eastweek.stheadline.com/pets/18474/Jayden媽咪是誰社交網絡爆紅兼殺入毛孩界

stay

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐?(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月?(May I stay at your home for several months?)

Synonym: 逗留

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sammy.goew/post/DSP4G9Zkqqb/請問有冇香港人會喺曼谷stay多幾日是咁的我開場前寄存咗我部dji同腳架但係我走咗先醒起而寄存點依家已經閂咗-我又今晚機走求好心人幫我取回薄酬

gay dor cheen

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask a shopkeeper how much something costs, which is extremely effective when bargaining for a lower price at wet markets. It can also be shortened to 'gay cheen' (幾錢).

Usage: E.g. Gay dor cheen? (幾多錢?) E.g. Gay cheen? (幾錢?)

Synonym: 幾多錢?

Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

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