Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to avoid describing a problem as complicated because they have the intelligence to solve it. At other times, there is just not a word that covers all the meanings of intelligent, complicated and even elegant sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係復雜，只係太過sophisticated。如果你識將個問題分拆，你就會解答得到。 (This problem is not complicated, but just too sophisticated. If you know how to break down the problem, you will be able to solve it.)

Synonym: 複習

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/okiokifamily/posts/有人在影片留言反映-為什麼我們有時會中英夾雜-我們一早有注意到這個問題問所以上字幕的時候全部改成為中文只有極少數情況例外例如英文字-sophisticated-/1187675216048224/

Definition: A shortened form of 'sorry' that is often used by Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. Sor，唔小心踩到你。 E.g. *碰到人* Sor，sor，sor。

Synonym: Sorry, 對唔住

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that refers to describing a matter as something else, especially in politics.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生：阿林作好鍾意將件事spin到同政治有關。

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐？(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月？(May I stay at your home for several months?)

Synonym: 逗留

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sammy.goew/post/DSP4G9Zkqqb/請問有冇香港人會喺曼谷stay多幾日是咁的我開場前寄存咗我部dji同腳架但係我走咗先醒起而寄存點依家已經閂咗-我又今晚機走求好心人幫我取回薄酬

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to going on a vacation near one's home.

Usage: E.g. 年尾要清假，但封左關又唔去得旅行，唯有去酒店staycation啦。

Synonym: 宅度假

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

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2)

Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!

Synonym: 炒魷魚

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to refer to an easy task, which is equivalent to 'piece of cake' in English.

Usage: E.g. A: Thanks for helping me out! B: No problem! Sup sup sui la!

Synonym: 濕濕碎

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show that they are always glad to do a favour for someone.

Usage: E.g. Sure！No problem！拜托喺我身上啦。 E.g. Sure！我同你去Starbucks買杯咖啡啦。 E.g. Sure！我幫你比住錢先啦。

Definition: Often added after '一定', this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to being absolutely certain that you will win, like in a bet or game.

Usage: E.g. 今次D牌咁靚，一定sure win啦！ E.g. 你咁有學歷同咁smart，面試一定sure win啦！

Synonym: 必勝

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/61304/

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use in place of the Cantonese equivalent '交換'.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：我地swap一個球員好唔好？Ｂ：好呀，我同你swap啦。

Synonym: 交換