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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

align

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to reaching a consensus on matters of a situation.

Usage: E.g. 我地一齊align一下意見,再匯報比上頭知。

Synonym: 保持一致

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

bitchuation

Definition: Originated from 'bitch' and 'situation', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a situation where a person's patience runs out and starts being bitchy.

Usage: E.g. 意思:喺無可奈何既情況下,只能做個bitch。(Meaning: In a situation where one feels helpless, the only way out is to be a bitch.)

Synonym: 逼人太甚的處境

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdED72bCcze/?img_index=1&stkn=MjRibnk3MnBmYjFl (use mobile version)

boss

Definition: Often pronounced as '波士', this is a more polite sounding code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to '老闆', especially when working in a corporate company.

Usage: E.g. 做波士就好啦。我地呢班打工仔一世做奴隸。

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

Q-train

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the new generation of electric multiple unit trains in the Hong Kong MTR produced by CRRC Qingdao Sifang.

Usage: E.g. 成型友大嗌Q train萬歲,搞到我差D以為Q train有還不完的恩情。(My friends kept shouting "Long live Q train!" which almost made me think Q train had an endless debt of gratitude to repay.)

Synonym: 市區綫願景列車

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@mr_luck_kinda_sucks/post/DWc9xJUk5qx?xmt=AQF05j-tBGLeYI6vBDAQQ-VN1sIrTbCEBlqWN97wggHxlDpvP-bUA91RIuhOZeQCanqxrsU&slof=1

protect

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to proactively keeping someone safe from damage or injury, which is usually something that they expect from a boyfriend.

Usage: E.g. 如果連我自己都唔為自己去解釋一下,咁邊個去protect我?邊個幫我解釋?冇。(If even I myself don't stand up for myself, who is going to protect me? Who will help me explain to others? No one.)

Synonym: 保護

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359628/jw王灝兒揭與破產前度葉韋彤分手真相-直言-佢做咗對唔住我嘅事?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

saranghae

Definition: Orginated from the Korean phrase 'saranghae' meaning 'I love you', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to wasting someone's f***ing time.

Usage: E.g. 我好鍾意睇韓劇,但係有時我覺得D劇情幾saranghae。(I really like watching Korean drama, but sometimes the plot is quite a waste of f***ing time.)

Synonym: 嘥撚氣

Reference: https://www.edigest.hk/社會熱話/愛你嘥氣?-五個似廣東話的韓文-265/2/

happy

Definition: (verb.) An adjective-turned-verb code-mixing term meaning to enjoy oneself.

Usage: E.g. 做人久唔久都要happy一吓先得架嘛。 E.g. 今個週末一齊去happy吓好嗎? E.g. 聽日放工一齊去happy hour啦!(歡樂時光)

the show must go on

Definition: Became known by the TVB episode 'The Queen of News', this is a code-mixing phrase said by working class Hong Kongers to encourage people to continue doing what they have set out to do, even if it means taking risks and receiving consequences.

Usage: E.g. 冇人敢報等我嚟吖!萬一touchwood報錯咪賴落我度咯,I have nothing to lose。我宗旨好簡單,the show must go on。(If no one dares to report this, then I'll do it! If the news turn out to be wrong, then blame it on me, touchwood. I have nothing to lose. My goal is very simple, the show must go on.)

Synonym: 表演必須繼續

Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/topic/detail/20021530/新聞女王-高海寧重現主播喊住報死訊新聞一幕-雙眼通紅淚珠滑落與現實如出一轍/1

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。

Synonym: 典禮

router

Definition: Also known as 'human router', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an employee whose role is simply to help people communicate or transfer information from one to another, without providing much of a real value or asset to the company.

Usage: E.g. 成日話 developer 人難溝通。好多 project manager 溝通咪一樣麻麻地。講野又無 developer 咁直接 淨係識遊花園/做 router。人際關又唔係特別好 (It is often said that developers are difficult to communicate with. But in fact, many project managers communicate just as poorly, as they don't talk as directly as a developer, as they often beat around the bush and act like a router. Their interpersonal skills are also not particularly good.)

Synonym: 人類路由器

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4

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