Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used as an interjection to express frustration or annoyance when something surprising occurs. (哎呀)

Usage: E.g. Aiya! I missed the bus! E.g. Aiya! I dropped the cake! E.g. Aiya! I just needed one more mark to pass the test!

Synonym: 哎呀

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/seven-cantonese-phrases-that-should-be-in-the-oed

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '罨耷', which usually refers to a place being shabby or in poor condition.

Usage: 港女：Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone but then I realize the place is too dirty and updup...

Synonym: 罨耷

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud＝核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

Definition: (textspeak, vulgar) A code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers when they laugh so f***ing hard that they could literally or figuratively trip and fall on the street. Sometimes, the acronym be translated into different versions in order to act like euphemism for a swear word phrase.

Usage: E.g. sldpk (少年的拼勁) (Hong Kong artist Lam Ka-hin used “sldpk” in a post on his social media, justifying his usage with a Cantonese word pun to refer to the swear word phrase indirectly.)

Synonym: 笑撚到仆街; 少年的拼勁; 成龍打保錡

Reference: https://tyr-jour.hkbu.edu.hk/2024/12/15/canto-slang-connects-gen-zers-in-hong-kong/

Definition: A generic term for a number of different Chinese words of equivalent meaning, sometimes used to tone down your directness and also to maximise communicative efficiency.

Usage: E.g. 老師: 老師唔expect你１００分，不過盡左力就得喇。（要求） E.g. 朋友: 今日係我生日。我expect你都比下面掛。（預料） E.g. 我冇expect過今次考試會考成咁。（預期） E.g. 上司對你冇咩expectation，總之搞掂Ｄ野就得喇。（期望）

Synonym: 要求; 預料; 預期; 期望

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to cover a range of criteria in an exam such as a person's thought or perspective, process of thinking, mental attitude, reasoning path, etc. Sometimes, it may be a term short for critical thinking.

Usage: E.g. 考作文好睇你個thinking。(A writing exam really tests your thinking.)

Synonym: 諗法; 思路; 思考; 思想; 思維

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2517481/page/2

Definition: An a lot more gentle and caring way of telling someone to take care of themselves compared to the Cantonese equivalent. Explanation: 你自己照顧自己—＞以後你自己搞掂喇—＞你自己食自己—＞慘慘豬（＠Ｖ＠）

Usage: E.g. 媽咪要去旅行喇。你自己take care喇。 E.g. 以後take care喇。Sayorara.

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that local student Hong Kongers use to address a female teacher. Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'missy'.

Usage: E.g. Miss，請問呢條問題點答？

Synonym: 先生

Definition: A convenient English phrase used by native Hong Kongers to avoid going into negative detail about someone who does not understand you.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 喂，你講野好唔make sense喎。你：真的嗎？ E.g. 我覺得你講野make sense，不過我唔係太明。 E.g. 你講野都唔make sense，廢鬼事再聽你講。

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to persuading someone forcefully to do or achieve something.

Usage: E.g. 資優學生唔需要push佢地做，係咁依點下就ok。(There is no need to push talented students, as you just need to guide them casually.)

Synonym: 逼迫;催逼

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/337010/page/1

Definition: Often pronounced as ‘cummun’, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express how common something is without making it sound unpopular or nothing special.

Usage: E.g. 做呢個行業好common架咋。(This occupation is so common!)

Synonym: 普遍, 普通

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/C04Br91vuJT/ (use mobile version)