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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

inch

Definition: Derived from '寸' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is cocky or arrogant.

Usage: E.g. 知道你叻喇!不過洗唔洗咁inch呀?(in廚)

Synonym: 寸

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/熱爆話題/159516/konglish-港式英語鬧爆疑似第三者-網民-香港人先會明嘅英文

size

Definition: Often pronounced with a '屎' (faeces) at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the overall dimensions of something.

Usage: E.g. 請問呢件衫有咩size呀?。

Synonym: 大小

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

off topic

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students as a casual way of labelling something as not related to the topic matter at hand.

Usage: E.g. off topic講兩句: 文理都緊要,理科是硬道理,但文科(文學、歷史;或者是哲學)才是中學教育中唯一認真(seriousness)的科目。(Let me make a few off-topic remarks: Both arts and sciences are important, with sciences being the most important, but arts (literature, history, or philosophy) are the only subjects in secondary education that require seriousness.)

Synonym: 跟話題無關

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yuxichau/post/C5vuQ64SgYQ?hl=en

written test

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a written test created by companies for job candidates, which can be easy or difficult depending on the situation. Sometimes, it can also be very 'chur' to do due to a company's limited time.

Usage: E.g. 一入到去未擺低袋就俾張紙我做 Written Test,限時 20 分鐘。(When I arrived and before I even put my bag down, they gave me a piece of paper to do a written test, which had a time limit of 20 minutes.)

Synonym: 筆試

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sangdongizary/post/DZmtCj0mGom?xmt=AQG0EL-oDne_ejxYTHR6FJqyzY8A-PLBBPXB5uoPeZ1QqFbjVadt9K2xVmBMMoskDQMsiRJc&slof=1

drop down

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC’s to mean 'jot down'.

Usage: E.g. 老師,唔該等一等。我要drop down埋D notes先擦黑板。

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

Return water (wui shui)

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction.

Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui.

Synonym: 回水

ni gor

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong expats when they want to order something in a restaurant but don't know how to read a menu.

Usage: E.g. Mm goi waiter! Ni gor please!

Synonym: 呢個, this

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

invite

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers often use to ask someone to go to an event in a polite and semi-formal manner.

Usage: E.g. A: 可唔可以叫埋我個friend黎?B: 好呀,等我invite埋佢啦。(A: Can you get my friend to come as well? B: Sure, let me invite him.)

Synonym: 邀請

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2051830/page/2

Nei g ng ng ngo kong mut?

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers when they want to ask whether someone understands what they are talking about.

Usage: E.g. Nei g ng g ngo kong mut? (Do you know what I am saying?)

Synonym: 你知唔知我講乜?

Reference: https://www.socialcareer.org/blogs/do-you-really-know-cantonese

reg

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the word 'register', such as registering for an account in an app to become a member.

Usage: E.g. 快D download個app再reg個account成為會員啦!

Synonym: 申請

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