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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 946 results

OBA

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to 'Occupied but Available' in boy-girl relationships.

Usage: E.g. Occupied but Available (有伴侶但仍接受追求,即可一腳踏N船)(In a relationship but is still accepting new relationships, meaning that you can be in an N number of relationships at the same time.)

Synonym: Occupied but Available

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2812430/page/8

explode rock

Definition: Known as Kongish and sometimes used as 'to go rock blasting', this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to going for a wee. (爆石)

Usage: E.g. Please wait a moment. I need to go rock blasting!

Synonym: 爆石

fly an airplane

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who fails to show up in an event. Also, used as 'to fly somebody an airplane'.

Usage: E.g. We all agreed to go shopping this weekend. Please don't fly airplane! (放飛機) E.g. I know you are busy, but don't fly me an airplane again! (放我飛機)

Synonym: 放飛機

I / E

Definition: With 'I' for introvert and 'E' for extrovert, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers who are very knowledgeable or obsessed about the MIBT (Myerrs Briggs type indicator) or the 16 personalities test.

Usage: E.g. A: 你係I人定E人?B: 我唔係好知,有可能係雙面E人。(A: Are you an introvert or extrovert? B: I don't know. Maybe I am a two-faced extrovert.)

Synonym: Introvert, extrovert

Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/37733/mbti-i人同e人區別-10種情境解析-一秒分辨你係-i人定e人

hello

Definition: Often pronounced as 'ha-lo', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to greet somebody instead of '你好', which sounds too formal sometimes.

Usage: E.g. Ha-lo,我叫Peter。你叫咩名?

Synonym: 哈佬

pretend to be a pig to eat a tiger

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to acting dumb and innocent in order to win someone, such as in a card game.

Usage: E.g. I know you've got an ace up your sleeves! Stop pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger!

Synonym: 扮豬食老虎

Reference: https://ling-app.com/yue/cantonese-slang-words/

leng

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that Hong Kong expats use to describe a female who is pretty, or a male who is handsome, or an object that is good-looking.

Usage: E.g. You look very leng today! (你今日好靚呀!) E.g. Wa! This dress ho leng ah! (哇!呢條裙好靚呀!) E.g. You are so leng jai! (你好靚仔呀!)

Synonym: 靚

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,91

hold gap see

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'very urgent faeces', this is an Englishised code-mixing phrase that is used by native Hong Kongers when one urgently needs to poop. He or she is just so desperate to go to the washroom that the sh*t may already be coming out of the a**hole.

Usage: E.g. Hold gap see! Please excuse me for a minute!

Synonym: 好急屎

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100063638007113/posts/1372326404898613/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

book

Definition: To reserve something, such as an appointment or place, without sounding like it's a date.

Usage: E.g. 請問你幫我book左個appointment未? E.g. 聽日book左枱未呀?(訂枱)

Synonym: 訂; 約

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

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

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