Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a less official way of grumbling or whining about something just to vent off one's anger because doing this formally might just require a bit too much paperwork.

Usage: E.g. 我要complain你啲attitude囉，好差呀你哋公司，I won't come again. 叫你哋最大粒同我出嚟！我要complain！(I have to complain about your attitude, the bad things about your company, and I won't come again. Ask your most senior guy to come out! I want to complain!)

Synonym: 投訴

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/226740/page/6

Definition: A way to sound more certain and less hesitant when your friend/boyfriend/girlfriend is asking you whether you want to do something with him or her.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 聽日去唔去睇戲呀？ 你: Depends啦。 E.g. 女朋友: 係咪聽日去shopping呀? 你: Depends啦。 E.g. 女朋友: 係咪聽日去shopping呀? 你: 睇下點啦。　*啪！*

Synonym: 睇下點

Definition: Often complemented with '野' meaning 'thing', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to some freebie or reward that comes with buying something or writing a review for a purchase. At times, it can also refer to any additional work that is out of the scope of an employee's role that they don't frigging want to do.

Usage: E.g. 開po出文幫手宣傳，真係會有extra野送 (If you post an article to help advertise a product, there will really be extra things rewarded.) E.g. 外賣仔的工作係餐廳出貨後送貨去你屋企無責任做extra野 (The job of a delivery person is to deliver food to your home after the restaurant prepares it, and they have no responsibility to do anything extra.)

Synonym: 額外

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3951705/page/1

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'very urgent faeces', this is an Englishised code-mixing phrase that is used by native Hong Kongers when one urgently needs to poop. He or she is just so desperate to go to the washroom that the sh*t may already be coming out of the a**hole.

Usage: E.g. Hold gap see! Please excuse me for a minute!

Synonym: 好急屎

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/100063638007113/posts/1372326404898613/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that real ABC’s like to use to refer to toilet. (廁所）

Usage: E.g. Excuse me? Where is the chee sor?

Synonym: 廁所

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show how easygoing they can be.

Usage: E.g. Hey bro！不如一齊食飯啦？ E.g. Hey bro！放工一齊打波呀？

Synonym: 兄弟

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a neutral and factual way of referring to interview feedback of disapproval.

Usage: E.g. 今次interview既feedback都冇D咩negative野。(The interview feedback this time did not have anything negative.)

Synonym: 負面

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1058101/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to the car brand Mercedes-Benz

Usage: Wow! Ban¹ ci⁴ ah!

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐？(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月？(May I stay at your home for several months?)

Synonym: 逗留

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sammy.goew/post/DSP4G9Zkqqb/請問有冇香港人會喺曼谷stay多幾日是咁的我開場前寄存咗我部dji同腳架但係我走咗先醒起而寄存點依家已經閂咗-我又今晚機走求好心人幫我取回薄酬

Definition: Originated from Italian meaning 'milk', this is a code-mixing used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk, which they believe should not be as heavy as other kinds of coffee as the term '拿鐵' denotes, which has the literal meaning of 'carry metal'.

Usage: E.g. 唔該，我想要一杯tall size既latte。(Excuse me, may I have a tall sized latte?)

Synonym: 拿鐵

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3648151/page/1