Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to a mutual friend or a friend in common.

Usage: E.g. 佢係我地個common friend黎架。 E.g. 我地唔係好熟，不過有好多common friend。

Synonym: 共同朋友

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP2Tu1kqrQc&t=4s

Definition: A term that seems to originate from the English culture and can hardly be replaced by the Cantonese equivalent term '常識'.

Usage: E.g. 喂，你咁快就落搭，有冇common sense架？ E.g. 一睇就知係搵笨啦，你有冇common sense架？ E.g. 你好似有常識，不過冇common sense。

Synonym: 常識

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to illustrate the distance between two parties in terms of their communication, which is often due to their difference in job positions or departments in a company. Sometimes, it may be caused by forgeting to say "double confirm", which is a common phrase used by Hong Kongers at workplace to really make sure that certain information is correct.

Usage: E.g. 其實呢啲communication gap 大家可以做好D減少誤會，寫多兩句confirm is better。(As for these communication gaps, it is better for us all to try and minimise misunderstandings by saying 'confirm' more.)

Synonym: 溝通差距

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@purpzc/post/C-l0fNJyiZM?hl=en

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to contact lens.

Usage: E.g. 港女：我唔要戴眼鏡。我要戴con！

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to state a problem or something that needs to be addressed and dealt with.

Usage: E.g. 當然如果錢對你嚟講唔係一個concern，或者呢啲worldly pleasures 對你嚟講你毫無興趣，咁你當然可以去搵更加大嘅意義。例如做吓義工，幫吓社會嘅人。(Of course if money is not a concern for you, or if these worldly pleasures are of no interest to you, then you can certainly search for greater meaning in life. For example, you can go volunteering and help people in the society.)

Synonym: 問題; 需要關注嘅事

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3039721/page/2

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use as a more natural way to ask for another person's phone number.

Usage: E.g. 就快last day, 點拎個女同事contact好? (My last day is coming soon. What's the best way to get a female colleague's contact details?)

Synonym: 聯絡資料

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/789285/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to giving or providing something, in order to help achieve a goal.

Usage: E.g. 麻煩大家contribute一吓個discussion。

Synonym: 貢獻

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a duplicate of something, such as a document.

Usage: E.g. 份document整多幾份copy黎呀，唔該。

Synonym: 副本

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that even young and senior local Hong Kong students like to use to refer to duplicating information in the digital format because they were just never used to Chinese Windows.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：搵AI gen成編文出黎，再copy and paste落自己份功課到咪得囉。Ｂ：喂，你唔好教壞我喎？！(A: Just get the AI to generate some essay, then copy and paste it into your homework. Done! B: Hey, don't teach me a wrong habit!)

Synonym: 複製與貼上

Reference: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/香港語文

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to counting down on New Year’s Eve because they were never familiar with anything related to ‘數' since they never attended local schools that taught difficult Math in Chinese.

Usage: E.g. New Year’s Eve嗰日你會去邊到count down? (Where will you go for count down on New Year's Eve?)

Synonym: 倒數

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/lifestyle/east-hong-kong-sugar-anime-skyline-countdown-to-2026-party