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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 613 results

bend machine

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to describe having an overly powerful ability to do something, such as winning a game. Usage: E.g. I can't believe you are winning every game! Are you bending machine?!Synonym: 屈機Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-cantonese-slang-internet

dom

Definition: A code-mixing term that is abbreviated from the word 'condom'. Sometimes, it is called 'dom dom'. (dam4 dam2) Usage: E.g. 冇帶dom?!我唔同你做! E.g. 今日有冇帶dom dom呀?

promotion

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong salesman love to use as a strategy to advertise their products without sounding like they're doing it for the sake of spreading the word or selling their product. Usage: E.g. 我地公司兒家做緊promotion。你唔買就走寶喇喂。(Our company is now doing promotion. If you don't buy, you'll miss out.)Synonym: 宣傳,推廣Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340689372_Code-Mixing_as_a_Promotion_Strategy_in_Shopping_Centres

fai di

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to tell someone to hurry up. The particle 'la' is often added for emphasis. Usage: Fai di la! The bus is here!Synonym: 快D啦Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html

sworn brother

Definition: (vulgar) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to call someone a bastard or son of a bitch. Also has the meaning of gigolo, which originated from Fuzhou in China. (契弟) Usage: E.g. You are dead meat, sworn brother! (契弟) E.g. Oh gosh we are doomed. This time we are gonna be sworn brothers. (做契弟) E.g. So you’ve been treating me like a sworn brother all along? (當我契弟) E.g. Sworn brother walks slowly. (契弟走得摩)Synonym: 契弟Reference: https://baike.baidu.hk/item/%E5%A5%91%E5%BC%9F/7349815

timing

Definition: Pronounced with a rising intonation on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to doing something at exactly the right time, such as a love relationship. Usage: E.g. 其實愛情都幾講timing。有時要搵啱個timing先可以喺埋一齊。Synonym: 時機Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/60469/page/1

grad

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to the verb 'graduate'.  Sometimes, it is used as a noun. Usage: E.g. 同學:你唔係怕grad唔到呀嗎? 同事:你做左幾年野?。你:我係fresh grad黎架。Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

ma ma dei

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used to describe something, a person, or state as being so-so, or just okay in quality. Usage: E.g. A: How was the event? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: How are you today? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: What do you think of this shirt? B: I think it's ma ma dei.Synonym: 麻麻地Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases

sik farn

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘食飯’, which means eat rice. Usage: E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食左飯未呀?) E.g. Hor yee sik farn la. (可以食飯喇)Synonym: 食飯Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

Key

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used with “啱key”, which refers to whether you get along well with somebody. Explanation: like the key in a piece of music. Usage: Eg. 你同你朋友啱唔啱key呀?Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/啱key