Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A word that Hong Kong local students use to refer to a large piece of work, which is often done in group setting.

Usage: E.g. 今學期你有咩group project呀？（課題）

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

Definition: A euphemistic way of telling somebody to eat sh*t (食屎).

Usage: E.g. 咁巴閉?! Eat c la!

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that Hong Kongers use to refer to having low intelligence or being stupid. Also used as '低B' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 唔好咁low b係到周圍大叫啦！ E.g. 低B仔，你係咪仲未get要做咩呀？

Synonym: 低B

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a place to stay or live, which they believe should be provided by companies or schools that are accommodating.

Usage: E.g. 個人建議你有得報學校accommodation就報左先。(Personally, I suggest that you should apply for the school's accommodation if you can.) E.g. 你公司幫你搵咩accommodation？(What accommodation does your company provide?)

Synonym: 住宿

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3555364/page/32

Definition: Originated from '甩P' in Cantonese, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to losing one's probationary driving licence period in order to obtain a full driving licence.

Usage: E.g. 在香港新領取車牌後，需在汽車展示「P」字，司機擁有1年駕駛經驗方可獲正式駕駛執照，即俗稱「甩P」。(After receiving a new car licence in Hong Kong, the "P" sign is required to be displayed on a person's car. Drivers need to have one year of driving experience before they can obtain a full driving licence, commonly known as "lose P".)

Synonym: 甩P

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ6XwbejWAe/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers love to use to refer to anything that looks like a sauce.

Usage: E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架，係醋！(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's vinegar!) E.g. 半唐番: 可唔可以比啲sauce我? 香港人: 唔係sauce黎架，係豉油！(ABC: Can you pass me the sauce? Hong Konger: It's not sauce. It's see-yau!)

Synonym: 醬

Reference: https://auntieemily.com/soy-sauce-chow-mein/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong actor 楊偉倫 to express loyalty to his boss in the movie of Night King that he would absolutely go all out and brave any danger and obstacles.

Usage: E.g. 「我土地，學富五car，如果他朝有一日，你真的開鴨店的話，我赴湯蹈fire，做你頭牌！」(I'm Land, learned and knowledgeable like five cars. If one day you really open a male escort club, I'll brave any danger, go all out, and be your top male escort!)

Synonym: 赴湯蹈火

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/娛樂/夜王-黃子華-金句-1863616/3/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABCs in Hong Kong to refer to an Asian who speaks English. Ie. Yellow on the outside and white on the inside. （香蕉）

Usage: E.g. I am not a banana! I know how to speak Chinese!

Synonym: 香蕉

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to staying healthy and in good shape by doing physical exercise.

Usage: E.g. 平時食咁多野又忙住做野，要keep fit先得架！(If you eat a lot regularly and are busy working all the time, you should keep fit!)

Synonym: 保持身體健康

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Za8b2zE0uYg

Definition: A way to express how nice someone is on the surface.

Usage: E.g. 佢個人好nice，但係識耐左先知道原來係虛偽。E.g. 佢個人好nice，不過唔知個人好唔好呢？

Synonym: 友善