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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 910 results

exposure

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to being able to gain experience of something by being in a particular environment rather than having physical contact with something. However, it is not to be confused with public exposure.

Usage: E.g. 學習語言要夠exposure。(Learning a language needs enough exposure.) E.g. 做開大行去細行一定唔慣,exposure 又細啲,資源又小啲。(It must be hard getting used to working in a small company if you came from a large company. There is less exposure and resources are also less.)

Synonym: 接觸

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2363704/page/1

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

security

Definition: Pronounced as 'sik-q', this is a code-mixing term used to refer to the security staff of a building.

Usage: E.g. 同我快D叫'食Q'黎!

arts

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to the DIY handicrafts that can be easily made by anyone, even though such crafts do require creativity to be unique enough like the fine arts sometimes.

Usage: E.g. A: 請問你地啲手工藝係咪真係幫到人舒緩壓力?你地係咪讀心理學架?B: 吓?我都想。其實我地都係偏向arts架。(A: May I ask whether your handicrafts really help people to relieve their stress? Do you study psychology? B: What? I wish I do. Actually, we lean more towards the arts.)

Synonym: 美術, 勞作

out of control

Definition: A code-mixing term used by entertainment judges as a neutral way of describing the state of something not being controlled rather than implying someone has gone wrong losing control of something.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得你有時可能自視太高,你頭先出嚟時用聲同埋所有嘅野,你係完全out of control,直情係一個好似唔識唱歌嘅人 (I feel you may think too highly of yourself sometimes, like when you first came out and used your voice and all that, you were completely out of control, as if you were a person who didn't seem to know how to sing at all.)

Synonym: 失控

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3570761/魔音女團莊子璇失準隨時出局陳熙蕊安慰喬美莎獲激讚-高學歷背景曾創百萬帶貨額

pack

Definition: A versatile code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to arranging, tidying or wrapping things into a container such as a luggage.

Usage: E.g. 姐姐,我愛你呀。返到屋企,呆左,姐姐知我3日後搬屋,幫我pack好晒d野 (Sister, I love you. I was speechless when I went home. My sister knew I would move to another house three days later so she helped me pack everything.)

Synonym: 執; 包

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

facial

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to getting a facial treatment.

Usage: E.g. 日日做facial塊面先至靚架麻。 E.g. 做緊facial咪鬼打黎啦。

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

à la carte

Definition: Originated from French, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to ordering single dishes individually.

Usage: E.g. 如果你唔鍾意叫set dinner,你可以叫 à la carte。(If you don't like to order the set dinner, you can order single dishes.)

Synonym: 單點; 散嗌; 散叫

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

pass

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use instead of '通過'.  Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'pass-si'.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試pa唔pass呀? E.g. 我今次pass-si呀!仲好高分添!

Synonym: 通過

Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922

Skype

Definition: Often pronounced as 'Skypy', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the instant messaging software 'Skype'.

Usage: E.g. 你幾時得閒呀?我想用Skypy打比你呀。

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/633876/港式英語-19個英文字港人常讀錯-釘橋-cam錢-janet讀到似中文

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