Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to tell somebody to shut the f**k up. It is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '收皮' in order to tone down the directness of this very rude phrase. It originates from street vendors who used to pack their things up on wooden mats when police arrived back in those days of Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. 喂，講完未呀？Collect skin啦。E.g. 真係頂你唔順呀，快D collect skin啦。

Synonym: 收皮

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/Cy8AD_WtaxO/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used in place of '交'.

Usage: E.g. 同學：份功課幾時due呀？你：好似聽日due得喇喎。

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use when talking about work, as the Cantonese equivalent terms may denote a higher responsibility.

Usage: E.g. 呢件事你handle可以嗎？（處理） E.g. 咁多功課hand唔handle到呀？（應付） E.g. 公司既財政邊個handle架？（負責）

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to sending a copy of an email message to another recipient.

Usage: E.g. 份email記住cc埋比所有人。

Synonym: 抄送

Definition: Purportedly to have come from JobsDB applications, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a less direct way of informing someone the very small chance of good news happening, such as the extension of an employee's contract.

Usage: E.g. 下屬：請問我大唔大可能會續約？ 上司：暫時黎講，續約係會unlikely。(Employee: May I ask how likely my contract will extend? Employer: As of now, the chance of extending your contract is unlikely.)

Synonym: 唔大可能; 冇可能

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2591532/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to the fax machine (傳真機). Often used as 'fax機' or 'fax屎機'.

Usage: E.g. 部fax機work唔work呀？ E.g. 唔該幫我fax呢張野過去呀？ E.g. 請問收唔收到我張fax屎呀？

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used to describe something, a person, or state as being so-so, or just okay in quality.

Usage: E.g. A: How was the event? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: How are you today? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: What do you think of this shirt? B: I think it's ma ma dei.

Synonym: 麻麻地

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

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 Hong Kong students use to refer to '儲物櫃'.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀。我唔記得左我D野放左喺locker到。

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

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong restaurants love to use especially during public holiday to refer to the additional fee added to a bill because it sounds more classy than '服務費' and less explicit than '加一' or '加二' in Cantonese, which mean +10% and +20% respectively.

Usage: E.g. A: 吓？食個下午茶都要加二？ B: 今日係新年假期，所以有service charge。(A: What? There's +20% service charge even for an afternoon tea? B: Today is Chinese New Year holiday so there is service charge.) E.g. 到底邊個發明加一服務費？(Who on earth invented +10% service charge?)

Synonym: 加一, 加二, 服務費

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2268003/page/4