Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they went.

Usage: E.g. I will be blacklisting this guy who promised to attend the conference but went scuba diving!

Synonym: 潛水

Definition: (Jyutping) Ask for the reason of things happened

Usage: Dim gaai zeoi gan sing jat lok jyu? (點解最近成日落雨？） - Why it always rain recently?

Synonym: 點解, Why, 為什麼

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who disappeared for a long time and no one knows where they are.

Usage: E.g. A: Where did your classmate go? B: I think he dived under water.

Synonym: 潛水

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/cantonese-slang-of-the-week-diving-under-water

Definition: Often added with a 屎 (faeces), this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers use to refer to short pieces of information written down on paper.

Usage: E.g. 阿仔，上堂記住drop低D note屎呀！

Synonym: 筆記

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that foreigners use to utter the phrase 'thank you' in Cantonese when they receive a red packet during Chinese New Year.

Usage: E.g. Dor jeh! Gung hei fat choi!

Synonym: 多謝

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use to tell someone to hurry up. The particle 'la' is often added for emphasis.

Usage: Fai di la! The bus is here!

Synonym: 快D啦

Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html

Definition: With a literal meaning of pig‘s intestines, this is a code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is lazy and has no progress in life. It originates from the swear word '撚樣‘ and is used as a euphemism for calling someone a dick face.

Usage: E.g. Ditch me again?! This guy is such a fun cheung! (又放我飛機？呢條友仔正粉腸!)

Synonym: 粉腸

Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/粉腸

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'hot air', this is a romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to having overheat from eating too much spicy or fried foods, leading to pimples and freckles growing on your face or even buttocks. Also, yeet hay seems to only exist in Chinese medicine but not western medicine according to native Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to eat barbeque? B: No thanks, I am very yeet hay recently.

Synonym: 熱氣

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/C7PVDJZpVgq/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a person who does not do any work in a group project but gets credit for it.

Usage: E.g. Q: 大家見過最癲freerider係點？ A: 試過group project分工之後 個freerider唔見左人 唔聽電話 唔睇 group message 直到present完之後先出現 (Q: Has anyone seen what the craziest freerider is like? A: I used to work in a group project where the freerider disappeared and we could not reach him by phone or group message. Then the freerider appeared after the presentation finished.)

Synonym: 自由騎士

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2241139/page/7

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to steamed rice noodle rolls, which is a popular snack at street food vendors. However, this is not to be confused with ‘fun cheung’, which means ‘dick face’ in English.

Usage: E.g. Let‘s eat some fun cheung at a Chinese restaurant! Sorry, I mean cheung fun!

Synonym: 腸粉

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3318414/what-cheung-fun-different-types-chinese-rice-noodle-rolls-and-how-make-them