Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A more informal and linguistically efficient way of saying the Cantonese equivalent term '上傳'. Often pronounced as 'po' instead of 'post'.

Usage: E.g. 喂，你今次po張相好鬼靚喎。

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the extent someone is shortsighted in degree units.

Usage: E.g. You are shortsighted? What is your eye degrees?

Synonym: prescription, diopters, 度數

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmy095Db9U&t=190s

Definition: Known as 'JM tone', this is a code-mixing word that Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man use to refer to reserving someone, even though it is criticised as Fake ABC English due to a most likely wrong word usage.

Usage: E.g. 上天會deserve一個好好嘅人等緊我。(意思：reserve)

Reference: https://inews.hket.com/article/1522091/Janice%20Man英文教室%20%20教你練成JM%20Tone

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish codemixing term that refers to a person who has never been in a relationship before. I.e. Available = 0.

Usage: E.g. Nei dou year 4 lah, ng hai lum ju a0 grad har wah. （你都Year 4啦，唔係諗住A0 grad吓話。）

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/article/283411?utm_source=01appshare&utm_medium=referral

Definition: Short for 'job description', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kong HR departments like to use to refer to the piece of text that describes the job nature and responsibilities of a position in a company, which may be long or short depending on how much they want an applicant to know about the job.

Usage: E.g. 又話會send份JD比我睇？你send左去邊度？(I thought you were going to send me the JD to have a look? Where did you send it to?)

Synonym: 工作內容

Reference: https://english.cool/job-description/

Definition: Originated from a Hong Kong TV advertisement in the 90's, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a second chance, which is most known for warning someone that there is no second chance in life.

Usage: E.g. 香港的公益廣告曾有一句廣告詞「生命無『Take two』」很深入人心，意思是說「生命沒有第二次機會，要珍惜生命」(Hong Kong's public service advertisements once had a well-known slogan "There is no 'Take two' in life", which means "there is no second chance in life, we must cherish life".)

Synonym: 第二次機會

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1674492649207500800.html

Definition: Derived from 'good game' in English, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a bad situation, such as not completing work before a deadline. (完蛋了)

Usage: E.g. 今晚做唔哂Ｄ野真係ｇｇ喇。點算呀？(完蛋了)

Reference: https://www.csb.gov.hk/hkgcsb/eon/190/190/190_3.html

Definition: (textspeak) Derived from '狗噏' meaning 'dog uttering', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to talking non-sense, like bullsh*t. It is also often pronounced as '鳩噏' as a vulgar expression.

Usage: E.g. Stop 9up and bragging about your achievements all the time! (唔好成日喺到鳩噏車大炮啦!)

Synonym: 狗噏, 鳩噏

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/9up

Definition: Also known as 'human router', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an employee whose role is simply to help people communicate or transfer information from one to another, without providing much of a real value or asset to the company.

Usage: E.g. 成日話 developer 人難溝通。好多 project manager 溝通咪一樣麻麻地。講野又無 developer 咁直接 淨係識遊花園/做 router。人際關又唔係特別好 (It is often said that developers are difficult to communicate with. But in fact, many project managers communicate just as poorly, as they don't talk as directly as a developer, as they often beat around the bush and act like a router. Their interpersonal skills are also not particularly good.)

Synonym: 人類路由器

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who has an interest in the same gender without making it sound so clear and explicit in case someone is eavesdropping. At other times, it can be used to describe something as awkward such as a plot in a story or film.

Usage: E.g. A: 我想問你一個問題：你係咪gay架? B: 唔好喇掛，我唔想搞gay。 (A: I want to ask you a question: Are you gay? B: No thanks, I don't want to be gay.) E.g. A: 今次套電影好睇嗎？B: 我覺得啲劇情好gay囉。(A: Do you like the movie this time? B: I think the story is really gay.)

Synonym: 同性戀, 搞gay

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1088/