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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


5 results found

reject

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers who believe that rejecting people is more comfortable than being a “peaceful good person” because being the latter often leads to more work with the same salary.

Usage: E.g. 識得 reject 嘅人,過得舒服過「隨和好人」好多 以前總係唔敢拒絕人,明明唔係自己範疇都照攬上身。最後發現:越好說話嘅人,工作量只會越來越多,人工就永遠原地踏步。學會定邊界,工作生活先有得救。(People who know how to reject, live much more comfortably than "easy-going good people". I used to always dare not reject people, despite the work not related to my job position. Then I finally realised: The better at talking a person is, the more the workload will become, and the salary will always be the same. So learn to set boundaries, so that work and life will be saved.)

Synonym: 拒絕

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAAf75hFnJ/

buy

Definition: Often expressed in negative form, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a less direct way of rejecting someone's idea without saying they don't believe, accept or agree with that person.

Usage: E.g. 我暫時唔係好buy你個idea,不過我會諗諗。(I don't really buy your idea at the moment, but I will think about it.)

Synonym: 相信; 接受; 同意

Reference: https://words.hk/zidin/buy

eat lemon

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to being rejected. (食檸檬)

Usage: E.g. This time eat lemon la,very chaam chaam pig.

Synonym: 食檸檬

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

mind

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to soften the tone when requesting for something, especially when the speaker does not want to be rejected.

Usage: E.g. 你:mind唔mind我跟返呢個客? 同事:唔mind。 (你:介唔介意我跟返呢個客? 同事:介意。) E.g. 你:mind唔mind我坐喺到? 陌生人:唔mind。(你:介唔介意我坐喺到? 陌生人:介意。) E.g. 你:mind唔mind等我一陣? 老細:唔mind。 (你:介唔介意等我一陣? 老細:介意。)

say no

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to express rejection politely without sounding so blunt.

Usage: E.g. 我發現幾多人返工唔識Say No。(I found out there are many people who don't know how to say no at work.) E.g. 唔好意思,我要揸車,所以要對酒精say no。(Sorry, I need to drive so I have to say no to drinking.)

Synonym: 講唔好

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3268602/page/1

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