Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Pronounced as 'se-fun' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a shortened term used to refer to the 7-Eleven convenience store.

Usage: E.g. 今日放工記得去seven買野呀。 E.g. 我要去seven交電話費。

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term.

Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)

Synonym: 溝

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

Definition: Purportedly to have come from online competitive gaming where a player brings his team to victory, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to helping and leading someone to achieve something. At times, it can also refer to being able to dress effectively which covers everything from head to toe, including hair.

Usage: E.g. 日系唔只著衫 要化埋妝同髮型同襯埋accessories 要full gear先會carry得到 (Japanese fashion isn't just about wearing clothes. You have to put on make-up, have a certain hairstyle as well as matching accessories. You must have full gear in order to carry this fashion.)

Synonym: 駕馭

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/475055/page/9

Definition: A tag-switching phrase often used by Native Hong Kongers for clarifying on matters. However, it can sometimes be overused by Fake ABC's to strike a western impression on others.

Usage: E.g. 份project未搞掂呀。I mean，我岩岩做完要check吓先。 E.g. 港女：你應該食少D野。I mean，你應該減吓肥至岩。 E.g. 香港人：你講咩話？偽ABC：I mean，well... I mean，我覺得你身材唔係好fit囉I mean。

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

Definition: A more neutral-sounding code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe someone's personality as humorous, especially when they are not sure whether to give praise to someone.

Usage: E.g. 佢係mix黎既，講野個tone都幾溫柔，然後性格都幾funny吓。

Synonym: 搞笑

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used as an interjection to express surprise, which is equivalent to ‘wow’ in English.

Usage: E.g. Wa! People mountain people see! (So many f***ing people)

Synonym: 哇

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to vocabulary that they simply need to memorise for tests and exams but don't really use in their everyday life.

Usage: E.g. 另外就係成日都喺度死記硬背vocab, 好複雜咁樣教文法，聽到都頭痛。(The other thing is that we always needed to memorise vocabulary like rote-learning, and grammar is also being taught in a very complicated way, which is a headache to listen to.)

Synonym: 詞彙

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BANtUhMr8G/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others.

Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!

Synonym: 犯太歲

Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a physical inspection of a site in order to discuss the scope of work with contractors and foresee any potential problems.

Usage: E.g. 進行project之前要做好site visit，以便理解好成個scope。

Synonym: 實地考察

Definition: An irreplaceable code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the kind of love relationship that one can get while being a teenager or kid.

Usage: E.g. 咁細個就談戀愛？Puppy love呀？ E.g. 唔好成日掛住puppy love啦。讀好D書先啦。

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