Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase that is often used among local students in Hong Kong girl schools when they cannot understand what the teacher says in a lesson.

Usage: E.g. *Teacher explains what to do for the lesson* Student A: Nei ming ng ming gong mud ye? Student B: Ng ming.

Synonym: 你明唔明講乜野?

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/124322/集體回憶-90後最有共鳴火星文-禾刀吾g-3-你有無份

Definition: 1. (noun) A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to internet access. 2. (verb) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use to refer to social networking.

Usage: E.g. 今日公司network有D問題，成日search野都好慢，仲間唔中會斷。 E.g. 最近有冇出去同人network？

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by foreigners when they come across a local Hong Konger who thinks they know how to speak Cantonese. Literal meaning: I don't know how to speak Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Foreigner: Mm goi sai! Dor jeh! Hong Konger: Wow, your Cantonese is so good! Foreigner: Ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa.

Synonym: 我唔識講廣東話

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who sleeps very late and doesn't wake up early. Similar to 'night owl' in English. (夜貓/夜鬼)

Usage: E.g. Maintain good health by sleeping early! Don't be a night cat / night ghost!

Synonym: 夜貓/夜鬼

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/55996/

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to giving irrelevant responses to questions.

Usage: E.g. A：你去邊？ B：我知道。Ａ：Nine not following eight!

Synonym: 九唔搭八

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-nine-not-following-eight/

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kongers to establish trust with customers when promoting a business.

Usage: E.g. No bullsh*t let's go！跟住 HKTCG 我哋一齊贏！(Let's win together with HKTCG!)

Synonym: 少廢話，來吧

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@khdcheung/post/DX02bSTEc-M?xmt=AQF0lZjxc45QjrCh3--CSn7W3dC_HoSGA08fDOIdafdfko2qCBQj9p7NjCpfwaSQfVGackI&source_surface=35&slof=1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to express how serious a matter is and is no joke at all.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生：Sign the f***ing contract. No bullsh*t let's go.

Synonym: 廢話少講, 來吧

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDK59_Yhv6Y

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to something that is like an eyesore to oneself because he or she cannot withstand it anymore.

Usage: E.g. 你地做成日都打爛野。我真係no eye see喇。（冇眼睇）

Synonym: 冇眼睇

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they are really considerate about offending someone before or after saying something, such as making a comment or remark. However, it can be entirely offensive sometimes even though the person says no offense.

Usage: E.g. 成日開口埋口都講No Offense嘅人，其實先係最Offense。(The person who always says no offense is very often the person who is the most offensive.)

Synonym: 有怪莫怪, 無意冒犯

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100most/posts/毛牌觀察學-第五話成日開口埋口都講no-offense嘅人其實先係最offense要講offense嘢唔使咁就住嘅一係下次試吓改口講no-defense/1031481205006323/

Definition: A phrase used by native Hong Kongers to affirm that something is true or obvious, usually among friends and relatives in informal settings, especially with the particle 'la' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 今日出街記住載口罩。　你：Of course啦！ E.g. 女朋友: 哇，你好叻呀。　你：Of course啦！ E.g. 男朋友: 估唔到你咁醒目。　你：Of course啦！