Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to ‘out of budget’, which is used by working class Hong Kongers in business meetings.

Usage: 做project management只睇兩樣。第一就係有冇outside個scope，第二就係有冇out bud。

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to ‘out of syllabus’, which is used by local school students in Hong Kong.

Usage: Past paper條題目out c左。

Synonym: 非考試範圍

Definition: Said to have originated from 'copycat' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who cheats or copies other people's answers in an exam. (出貓)

Usage: E.g. Don't dare to bring out the cat in an exam! (唔好咁大擔考試出貓！)

Synonym: 出貓

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3181508/cat-got-your-tongue-feline-inspired-cantonese-slang-all-kinds

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often misused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to mean 'outfit'.

Usage: E.g. BB豬，我今日個ｏｕｔｌｏｏｋ係咪好靚呀？

Synonym: 外表

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to describe something that is not yet done or paid.

Usage: E.g. 依家仲有咩case係outstanding?

Synonym: 未解決

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an office's tea area with a whole bunch of facilities such as a sink, fridge, microwave oven and much more.

Usage: E.g. A: 見過最癲嘅公司pantry有啲咩？B: 罐裝汽水，果汁，咖啡任飲，十幾款薯片，餅乾，果仁任食，沙律任食，杯麵任食。C: 老鼠 (A: What are the craziest things you have ever seen in a company's pantry? B: Canned soda, juice, all-you-can-drink coffee, a dozen chips, biscuits, all-you-can-eat nuts, all-you-can-eat salad, all-you-can-eat cup noodles. C: Rats)

Synonym: 茶水間; 食品貯藏室

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2166431/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to describe something that is going on simultaneously as another, such as a task or event. At other times, it can also be used to describe things happening outside of work such as love relationships.

Usage: E.g. 呢兩個task幫我睇吓可唔可以同時parallel咁樣進行。(Help me see whether the two tasks can proceed at the same time.) E.g. 點解拍拖唔可以Parallel咁進行？ (Why can't you date more than one person at the same time?)

Synonym: 同時間

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3070535/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use instead of '通過'.  Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'pass-si'.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試pa唔pass呀？ E.g. 我今次pass-si呀！仲好高分添！

Synonym: 通過

Reference: https://www.studocu.com/hk/document/city-university-of-hong-kong/world-englishes/lecture-3-city-university-of-hong-kongen5714-world-englishes-and-the-social-context-of/20063922

Definition: Purportedly to have originated from the name of a disposable diaper, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Konger use as a euphemistic way to refer to a person's buttocks, which is very appropriate to say when talking to toddlers.

Usage: E.g. 唔好曳啊，曳就打PAT-PAT (Don't be naughty, or else I will hit your buttocks)

Synonym: 屁股

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/PAT-PAT

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use instead of '圖案'.

Usage: E.g. 件衫個pattern幾靚喎。喺邊到買架？ E.g. 同學：喂，你覺得每次Ｄ ＭＣ題目會有咩pattern呀？

Synonym: 圖案