Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Pronounced as 'cleansing form', this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice Man to refer to the facial treatment item 'cleansing foam'.

Usage: E.g. 我通常眼同埋嘴就用左油既，即係remover，oil remover去落左先，跟住就會全面再用呢一個cleansing water再全面抺一次，跟住先至用落裝油全面再洗一次，再用cleansing form全面就再落裝咁樣。咁所以其實都有四五個step囉。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to an employment position. (工作)

Usage: E.g. Ａ：搵到job未呀? Ｂ：搵緊喇。\nE.g. Ａ：近排有接job嗎? Ｂ：好似好多人搶job。

Synonym: 工作

Reference: https://freehunter.hk/news/freelancer搵job三大必睇重點

Definition: Originated from the warning sounds of the bells when a tram is driving in Hong Kong, this is an Englishised code-mixing term which refers to the tram that can be taken in the Hong Kong Tramways on Hong Kong Island.

Usage: Let's take a tour of Hong Kong Island by taking the Ding Ding!

Synonym: 叮叮, 電車

Reference: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/attractions/hong-kong-tramways.html

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to the all sorts of thicknesses of bread served with toppings because they have eaten at Pizza Hut too many times and don't believe that pizza is merely '薄餅', which translates to thin bread in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. A: 想唔想食pizza? B: 好呀，不過我要食厚嗰隻芝心批喎。(A: Want to eat pizza? B: Sure, but I want to eat the thick kind of pizza with stuffed crust.)

Synonym: 薄餅

Reference: https://ufood.com.hk/restaurant/news/detail/20044615/全港10大Pizza推介-正宗意式口味-外脆內軟-邪惡拉芝/5

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer more specifically to the legal promises made by a company, especially in a contract or agreement.

Usage: E.g. bonus guarantee 有3個月？有d 公司好仆街係咪都話生意唔好減咁d 架wor (Is it guaranteed to have 3 months of bonus? Some companies are really an epic fail and say their business is not doing good then lower your salary.)

Synonym: 保證

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2863234/page/3

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' with the ''f' often mistaken as an English mistake while it is known as TH-fronting, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to show their sincere gratitude towards someone.

Usage: E.g. 今餐等我請啦。Fank you. (Let me treat you this meal. Thank you.)

Synonym: Thank you, 多謝

Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/linguistics/comments/12to083/curious_about_some_british_people_pronounce_th_as/

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to tell somebody to shut the f**k up. It is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '收皮' in order to tone down the directness of this very rude phrase. It originates from street vendors who used to pack their things up on wooden mats when police arrived back in those days of Hong Kong.

Usage: E.g. 喂，講完未呀？Collect skin啦。E.g. 真係頂你唔順呀，快D collect skin啦。

Synonym: 收皮

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/Cy8AD_WtaxO/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by grassroots Hong Kongers when they want to express gratitude for something they have received, such as an email with an attachment. However, the working class Hong Kongers realise that this is probably not such a suitable term for them to use so they say 'Noted/Received with thanks'.

Usage: E.g. Well-received with thanks.

Synonym: 收到

Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/35656/電郵技巧｜商用電郵｜職場英語-10個打工仔常犯的英文email錯誤-please-kindly-well-received-with-thanks-都係錯-內附正確寫法

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use when they report back to candidates on their interview result, which is more objective than the Cantonese equivalent that contains the phrase ‘評價‘, which tends to give people the feeling of being evaluated or judged.

Usage: E.g. 今日收到消息話你既面試表現都係positive架。(I received news today saying that your interview result was positive.)

Synonym: 正面評價

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2492328/page/36

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers which is a more generic and less vivid way of calling someone who is too preoccupied with talking about other people’s lives.

Usage: E.g. 唔好成日掛住gossip，專注啲做野啦！(Stop gossipping all the time and focus on your work!)

Synonym: 諸事八卦, 閒言閒語, 講是非

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2683169/page/1