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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

concern

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express worry about something.

Usage: E.g. 最近公司既野收入令到我好concern。

Reference: https://www.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/職場英語-盤點辦公室改不掉的中英夾雜-double-comfirm是錯的/1301-25515

updup

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '罨耷', which usually refers to a place being shabby or in poor condition.

Usage: 港女:Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone but then I realize the place is too dirty and updup...

Synonym: 罨耷

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud=核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

number

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a telephone number.

Usage: E.g. 香港人:可唔可以交換number呀?內地人:咩number呀?香港人:緊係電話number啦。

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

Franchesca

Definition: Originated from the Cantonese movie 'Night King' starring Dayo Wong, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong actress Kay Choi who played the role of a nightclub lady and used it as her name, which was somewhat translated from the place Kwai Fong in Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. 我叫Franchesca!今年19歲半,四捨五入都係 19 歲,嚟自香港葵芳。(I am Franchesca. I am 19 and a half years old, or 19 if rounded down. I come from Kwai Fong in Hong Kong.)

Synonym: 葵芳

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/D100Radio/posts/我叫franchesca今年19歲半四捨五入都係-19-歲嚟自香港葵芳江少真人靚過上鏡新一季虎豹獵奇打響頭炮嘉賓就係電影夜王裏飾演葵芳而爆紅嘅演員-蔡蕙琪-ka/1565701778891323/

consistent

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something happening or behaving the same way as before over time.

Usage: E.g. 我:‘I need to stay consistent!’ 講英文人:Consistent 廣東話係乜嘢?(Me: I need to stay consistent! English speaker: What is consistent in Cantonese?)

Synonym: keep住

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@tracywongdc/post/DE-HfeUuJEx

gym

Definition: Often used as 'doing the gym' (做gym) in Cantonese, this refers to doing exercise in the gym.  Sometimes, it is used as 'gym room', which people may mistaken as '健身室室'.

Usage: E.g. 一唔一齊去做gym呀? E.g. 我仲喺gym room呀,遲D再call你啦。

Synonym: 健身室

snake king

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to slacking off at work.

Usage: E.g. Don't be such a snake king all the time! Get some work done!

Synonym: 蛇王

work hard play hard

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers who suspect that Hong Kongers should think equally more about playing hard than just working hard in order to achieve work life balance.

Usage: E.g. 林作:個個都講work hard play hard,work life balance。其實work hard我都懷疑好多香港人都已經做到,但係play hard係咪真係做到? (Jo Lam: Everyone talks about work hard play hard and work life balance. In fact, I suspect many Hong Kong people can already 'work hard', but what about 'play hard'?)

Synonym: 努力工作,盡情玩樂

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@jolamchok/post/DZ7vZQvEu-N?xmt=AQG0CXq4cs_lvE9lalZblnSIMOpYE8FFkxn2iPI5ppvBkQgGVDW4mGrHcOZJpC5yTFDRogoV&slof=1

alma mater

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the school that a person had graduated from. However, working class and grassroots Hong Kongers may know this term but not use it because it sounds too Latin than English. Hence, they find ‘mother school’ is more sensible and practical to use.

Usage: E.g. 你既alma mater係邊間學校?

Synonym: 母校, mother school

Reference: https://youtube.com/shorts/Br8CWgYQNak?si=aFaIMvdv2YSnCxvh

small potato

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers who want to sound humble yet not so insignificant when they are being asked what position they work in a company.

Usage: E.g. A: 哇!你間公司好出名喎。 B: 係呀,不過我只係small potato。(A: Wow! Your company is very famous. B: Yes, but I am just a small potato.)

Synonym: 小角色

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/4063839/page/1

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