Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A shortened term for the word 'socialise' in English, which may mean different things in various situations.

Usage: E.g. 喂，你so吓人好喎？(to show that you care about others) E.g. 喂，唔好成日掛住soＤ女仔啦。(to court somebody) E.g. 喂，後生仔要出黎soso吓先得架嘛。(to socialise) E.g. 喂，你最近好似唔係好so-so喎。(being social)

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to starting a fight.

Usage: E.g. This is a school! Don't start a film here!

Synonym: 開片

Definition: A code-mixing filler term used by westernised Hong Kongers when they don't really find the other person's topic is all that interesting in a conversation.

Usage: E.g. A: 我平時鍾意寫app，去語言交流免費教人廣東話。B: 哦，interesting, interesting... (A: I like writing apps and going to language exchange to volunteer teaching people Cantonese regularly. B: Oh, interesting, interesting...) E.g. 我見外國人成日都用interesting 黎答人，仲要面無表情，會唔會係根本interesting 係外國一直都只係解： 哦⋯⋯. (I often see foreigners use 'interesting' as a response in a conversation, but without facial expression. Could it be that 'interesting' merely means like 'oh....' from a foreigner's perspective?)

Synonym: 很有趣, 哦

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1047783/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of drinking champagnes.

Usage: E.g. 今日係禮拜五晚，我地黎支ｃｈａｍｐａｇｎｅ嗱？！

Synonym: 香檳

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to 'dancing society'.

Usage: E.g. 同學：你參加左咩so呀？你：dan so囉。內地學生：什麼？你：唔好意思。係dancing society呀。

Synonym: 跳舞學會

Definition: (textspeak) Known as Martian language, this is a code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong local students when they want to ask what another person is doing.

Usage: E.g. nei joe mud? (What are you doing?)

Synonym: 你做乜?

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrQohDNJ9Gp/?img_index=3 (use mobile version)

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 used by local Hong Kong students to refer to the numerical outcome of something rather than the consequence or ending of something.

Usage: E.g. 出嚟個result有70分。(The result which came out was 70 marks.)

Synonym: 數據; 結果

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3797010/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to describe a child who is chubby in a lighthearted way.

Usage: E.g. Fat boy，Mami同你講左好多次架喇，啲soup咁hot，仲咁快咁樣隊落去，要blow下先得架麻？(Fat boy, Mami told you so many times. The soup is so hot, and you still shove it into your mouth that fast. Blow it first you know?)

Synonym: 肥仔

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

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is nice and kind, as well as an intimate relationship between a couple.

Usage: E.g. 哇，你真係好sweet呀！（貼心） E.g. 呢對情侶好sweet呀。（甜蜜）

Synonym: 貼心, 甜蜜