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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 783 results

rrrrr

Definition: An ultra rhotic expression that is added onto the ending of Cantonese characters, which is adopted by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to create an ABC accent. Also known as 'JM tone'. Usage: E.g. 呢一區我淨係試過兩rrrrrrn間餐廳。E.g. 有時候我都幾想rrrrrn去吓旅行。Reference: https://medium.com/@atsunakai/jm-tone-%E5%8D%B3%E4%BF%82-94e3532186e1

sing k

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that refers to singing karaoke. Usage: E.g Gum man hui ng hui sing k? (今晚去唔去唱K?)Synonym: 唱卡啦OK

vely good

Definition: Often pronounced as 'vely gud', this is a code-mixing expression that grassroots Hong Kongers like to use when they cannot think of any other way to complement or give praise to something.  'Vely' (very) can also be used with other words such as 'delicious', even though delicious already denotes the meaning of excellence in food quality. Usage: E.g. 哇,今次做得好。Vely gud! E.g. 哇,D牛扒真係vely delicious呀!

positive

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use when they report back to candidates on their interview result, which is more objective than the Cantonese equivalent that contains the phrase ‘評價‘, which tends to give people the feeling of being evaluated or judged. Usage: E.g. 今日收到消息話你既面試表現都係positive架。(I received news today saying that your interview result was positive.)Synonym: 正面評價Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2492328/page/36

fank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' with the ''f' often mistakened as an English mistake while it is known as TH-fronting, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to show their sincere gratitude towards someone. Usage: E.g. 今餐等我請啦。Fank you. (Let me treat you this meal. Thank you.)Synonym: Thank you, 多謝Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/12to083/curious_about_some_british_people_pronounce_th_as/

job hunting

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to the activity of finding a job, which definitely sounds more fun, exciting and challenging than the Cantonese equivalent terms '求職' and '找工作'. Usage: E.g. A: 你搵到工嗎? B: 冇呀,我仲喺到job hunting。Synonym: 求職, 找工作Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/1opsow8/job_hunting_socialising_in_hk/

seafood ghost

Definition: Known as Kongish and transliterated from '屎忽‘ meaning buttocks, this is a code-mixing phrase used to describe someone who always doesn't do what he or she says will do, somewhat like a faggot or asshole in English. Usage: E.g. This guy is such a seafood ghost! We always save him a seat at the restaurant but he never turns up!Synonym: 屎忽鬼Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/%E5%B1%8E%E5%BF%BD%E9%AC%BC

match

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is very similar to or combines very well with something or someone. Usage: E.g. 哇,D顏色好match呀。 E.g. 你地簡直係perfect match呀!Synonym: 配

common sense

Definition: A term that seems to originate from the English culture and can hardly be replaced by the Cantonese equivalent term '常識'. Usage: E.g. 喂,你咁快就落搭,有冇common sense架? E.g. 一睇就知係搵笨啦,你有冇common sense架? E.g. 你好似有常識,不過冇common sense。Synonym: 常識Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

potential

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to display your level of knowledge, as if you come from higher education background. Usage: E.g. 老闆:我覺得呢個idea好有potential。快D走去落實啦。 E.g. 我覺得你個人好有potential。不過就寸左D。
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