Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to more efficient and sometimes less official way of making a request for a job.

Usage: E.g. Jobsdb見到好多agent公司幫公司請人，一apply班agent就打來phone call，唔理你是唔是工作時間都打來，即刻問長問短... 不如直接同公司apply. (On JobsDB, you see a lot of recruitment agencies hiring for companies; the moment you apply, the agents call you—often without caring whether it’s during office hours—and immediately they start grilling you with questions... You're better off applying directly to the company.)

Synonym: 申請

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3975336/page/1

Definition: Derived from 'add oil' in Cantonese, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to express encouragement and support for another person.

Usage: Ga yau! You can win this game!

Synonym: 加油

Definition: A tag-switching phrase overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to create a western appeal.

Usage: E.g. You know, 我成日去做gym緊係fit啦, you know。 E.g. 我係上等人咁緊係成日夾雜英文啦, you know?

Reference: https://travel.ulifestyle.com.hk/news/detail/12179/明明無r音都要捲舌-5大令人頂唔順的偽abc特徵/1

Definition: Often used as '搞爛gag', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a lame joke or broken joke.

Usage: E.g. 你唔好成日喺到搞爛gag啦！一Ｄ都唔好笑！

Reference: https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/爛Gag

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having enough money to buy something without indicating one's ability to cope with such burden.

Usage: E.g. 點解要鍾意自己 afford 唔起嘅 luxury? (Why love luxury that you can't afford?)

Synonym: 負擔得起; 買得起

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3vop4Epm7/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to 'menstruation' in English.  However, it is also used as 'M記' to refer to McDonald\'s.

Usage: E.g. 唔好話我聽兒家先黎M麻？ E.g. 今次真係M到阿媽都唔認得喇！E.g. 今日又食M記？唔好喇掛！

Definition: A shortened term of the word 'confirm' in English, used to maximise communicative efficiency and to get the listener to confirm ASAP.

Usage: E.g. 下個月個party既日期firm左未呀？ E.g. 你下次個appointment firm左未呀？ E.g. Firm左未呀？快Ｄ啦。

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to state a problem or something that needs to be addressed and dealt with.

Usage: E.g. 當然如果錢對你嚟講唔係一個concern，或者呢啲worldly pleasures 對你嚟講你毫無興趣，咁你當然可以去搵更加大嘅意義。例如做吓義工，幫吓社會嘅人。(Of course if money is not a concern for you, or if these worldly pleasures are of no interest to you, then you can certainly search for greater meaning in life. For example, you can go volunteering and help people in the society.)

Synonym: 問題; 需要關注嘅事

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3039721/page/2

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kong students use to ask what the heck someone is talking about. Even though it looks like a westernised expression, spring actually refers to testicles and is quite rude when used as an expression.

Usage: E.g. Ho lun dor jargon ar. Up mud spring ar? (So many f***ing jargon. What the testicles are you saying?)

Synonym: 噏乜春

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/熱爆話題/364993/konglish瘋狂洗版-ga-yau係點解-即睇港式英語大測試

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say good morning because they cannot pronounce the Cantonese equivalent words '早晨' properly.

Usage: E.g. ＡＢＣ：Jo sun!　本土香港人：吓？你講咩話？ ＡＢＣ：Good morning!

Synonym: 早晨