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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

solicitor

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of lawyer occupation that mostly deals with documents but actually goes to court proceedings at times.

Usage: E.g. A: 你係咪做solicitor? 咁咪唔洗上court? B: 都要上court架,少啲咋麻。(A: Are you a solictor? Does that mean you don't need to go to court? B: I need to go to court, but relatively less.)

Synonym: 事務律師

Reference: https://cph-legal.com/2022/03/how-to-ace-a-job-interview-at-a-law-firm/

please

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to making someone happy, satisfied and giving them pleasure, which is really not an easy task for anyone to do, but at least it doesn't always mean to win someone's favour by flattery like '取悦' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 宣萱自揭離開無綫原因:原來可能要刷鞋,要please一啲你唔想please嘅人,咁我問自己得唔得?唔得。(Jessica Hester Hsuan reveals the reason for leaving TVB: It turns out that you may have to make up to people, to please those who you don't want to please, so I ask myself can I? No.)

Synonym: 使滿意, 開心; 取悦

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20260202/bkn-20260202190138911-0202_00862_001.html

chi ma gun

Definition: Known as Kongish and a much stronger version of 'chi sin' (痴線), this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers describe someone who is crazy, or a situation that is outrageous or unbelievable. (黐孖筋 - ci1 maa1 gan1) Literal meaning: To have your twin wires sticking together, causing short circuit in the brain.

Usage: E.g. Why did you scold me?! Are you chi ma gun??!! E.g. Chi ma gun! Don't dare to drive after drinking alchohol again!!

Synonym: 黐孖筋

let you be the government official

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to express disbelief at someone in fulfilling a promise. (比個官你做)

Usage: E.g. You say you will return your money by tomorrow? I let you be the government official!

Synonym: 比個官你做

fail

Definition: Often transliterated and pronounced as the loan phrase '肥佬' meaning 'fat guy', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe getting an unsuccessful result when doing something. Sometimes, it can be shortened to '肥' (fat) as a verb.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀!今次考試肥左佬! E.g. 唔係掛?考咁多次都肥?!

Synonym: 肥佬

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/16296/

for some reason

Definition: A useful alternative if your boss is tired of hearing the word 'somehow' when you want to avoid saying 'I don't know' to a question.

Usage: E.g. For some reason個file corrupt左。 E.g. For some reason個printer壞左。 E.g. For some reason今次個客唔搵我地。

cls

Definition: (textspeak, vulgar) A Kongish code-mixing term derived from '痴撚線', which is used to describe someone who has gone crazy or insane. (Also see 'chi sin'.)

Usage: E.g. CLS公司俾得果幾千蚊人工仲要人日日OT..

Synonym: 痴撚線

Reference: https://hkdic.my-helper.com/CLS/

try

Definition: A less cliche and irritating sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to quickly test or experience something first, in order to know whether it is suitable for them in the long term.

Usage: E.g. 有新game出左?等我try吓先。 (A new game came out? Let me try first.) E.g. 買左件衫比我?等我try try先。 (Bought a shirt for me? Let me try try first.)

Synonym: 嘗試, 試

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2866301/page/17

cheat

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to any sort of dishonest behaviour by men that is unforgivable.

Usage: E.g. 所以當我上網見到啲人寫嗰啲咩唔願意共咩苦,唔係我唔肯共患難,唔係我唔同甘共苦喎,而家係……佢cheat喎!(So when I saw some people's comments on the internet saying that we were not willing to share our suffering, it's not that I refused to share the hardships, it's not that I didn't share the joys and sorrows. It's that... he cheated!)

Synonym: 欺騙

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60360165/jw剖白被背叛仍硬食拜金標籤真相-痛斥網絡風氣-永遠女仔就係雞?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

sales

Definition: Often added with a '屎' (faeces), this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a salesperson.

Usage: E.g. A: 點解好多人唔識分sale 同sell 呢2個字 B: 我諗係因為sales sale屎sell屎sale野sell野. (A: Why do so many people cannot differentiate between sale and sell? B: I think it is because sales sell sh*t and sale thing sell thing.)

Synonym: sale屎

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3146390/page/1

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