Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the process of finding an employee's former colleagues or managers to verify their job history, which can sometimes be very tedious.

Usage: E.g. 我就唔驚reference check去check我過去表現，但要我搵人做reference check 就好煩，尤其係個HR係咁催我交人 (I am not afraid of reference checks that check my past job performance, but asking me to find someone to do the reference check is very annoying, especially if the HR is urging me to hand over the person.)

Synonym: 資歷查核

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3576674/page/1

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

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize how much paper work needs to be done when conducting studies of a subject, rather than just merely studying as the Cantonese equivalent '研究' denotes.

Usage: E.g. 我兒家part-time喺大學做research，好忙架。(I am now part-time doing research at university, very busy.)

Synonym: 研究

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@146snk/post/DKQjVZnhSNU/香港嘅bachelor訓練根本就冇乜預你去做research所以根本唔會教你點申請mphilphd-點樣寫research-proposal-點樣approac

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a set of responsibilities and duties undertaken by a job position. At times, it may simply be a role that a person plays, but not one where much work is to be done.

Usage: E.g. 講廢role黎講，睇咗好耐一直覺得PM先最撚廢[sosad]十個有9個都唔知detail，又唔識domain野 ，解決問題又幫唔到手，同人講數因為唔熟啲野又講唔到咩好結果出黎 (Speaking of useless roles, I have observed for a long time and I always thought project manager is the most useless. It's like nine out of ten of them do not know the details or have domain knowledge. They also cannot solve problems or help others, and when they talk to people regarding issues they cannot reach any good results because they are not familiar with anything.)

Synonym: 工作角色; 職位

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4

Definition: Also known as 'human router', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an employee whose role is simply to help people communicate or transfer information from one to another, without providing much of a real value or asset to the company.

Usage: E.g. 成日話 developer 人難溝通。好多 project manager 溝通咪一樣麻麻地。講野又無 developer 咁直接 淨係識遊花園/做 router。人際關又唔係特別好 (It is often said that developers are difficult to communicate with. But in fact, many project managers communicate just as poorly, as they don't talk as directly as a developer, as they often beat around the bush and act like a router. Their interpersonal skills are also not particularly good.)

Synonym: 人類路由器

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term added to the end of verbs to express the meaning of completely or to a large extent. (晒 - saai3)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you so much!) 唔該晒 E.g. Dor jeh sai! (Thank you very much!) 多謝晒 E.g. Jo sai! (Done everything!) 做晒 E.g. Sik sai! (Eaten everything!) 食晒 E.g. Mo sai! (No more left!) 冇晒

Synonym: 晒

Reference: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/1592/

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

Definition: A person that talks too much or gossips

Usage: Don't be such a saliva man! Please mind your own business.

Synonym: 口水佬

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/41520/

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe a person who is perverted. (鹹濕)

Usage: E.g. Don't be so salty wet watch girls all the time la.

Synonym: 鹹濕

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to express rejection politely without sounding so blunt.

Usage: E.g. 我發現幾多人返工唔識Say No。(I found out there are many people who don't know how to say no at work.) E.g. 唔好意思，我要揸車，所以要對酒精say no。(Sorry, I need to drive so I have to say no to drinking.)

Synonym: 講唔好

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3268602/page/1