Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used as an interjection to express surprise, which is equivalent to ‘wow’ in English.

Usage: E.g. Wa! People mountain people see! (So many f***ing people)

Synonym: 哇

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone as kind and friendly, even though it can just be a good manner posture sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 跟住呢個係我自身經歷左warm嘅事: 一個人去食譚仔點知叫得太辣流晒鼻水但搵唔到紙巾, 同枱隔離有個人遞左紙巾俾小妹 (Then this is my own experience of a warm thing: I went to Tam Jai restaurant to eat by myself and I somehow ordered too spicy so I got a running nose but could not find tissue. Then someone from another table handed me tissue.)

Synonym: 温暖; 熱心; 熱情

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2513918/page/3

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to money and lots of different things.

Usage: E.g. Blow water. (吹水 - to chat casually or brag about something) E.g. Measure water. (磅水 - to give money) E.g. Return water. (回水 - to return money) E.g. Clear water. (通水 - to give secret info like a test) E.g. Draw water. (抽水 - to get profit or benefit for free) E.g. One lump of water. (一舊水 - one hundred dollars) E.g. What water? (乜水 - who the heck are you?)

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/679575/%E5%BB%A3%E6%9D%B1%E8%A9%B1%E8%80%83%E8%B5%B7%E4%BD%A0%E3%80%80%E3%80%8C%E6%B0%B4%E3%80%8D%E5%AD%97%E6%9C%89%E5%B9%BE%E5%A4%9A%E7%A8%AE%E6%84%8F%E6%80%9D%EF%BC%9F

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is easily deceived or fooled.

Usage: E.g. Some people say Hong Kong is an international water fish city! (國際水魚都市)

Synonym: 水魚

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a man whose wife is cheating on him.

Usage: E.g. Why did you have to cheat on me and let me wear the green hat for so long?!!

Synonym: 載綠帽

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.instagra (use mobile version)

Definition: Known as Kongish and derived from the bowl-shaped Chinese frying pan '鑊' (wok), this is a measure word that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a number of different bad situations.

Usage: E.g. Big wok! (大鑊 - big trouble has occurred) E.g. Big wok explosion! (爆大鑊 - someone revealed a big secret) E.g. Carry wok. (孭鑊 - To take the blame for someone) E.g. Slip a wok. (跣一鑊 - To set somebody up for some trouble) E.g. To make you a wok. (整你一鑊 - To give someone a trouble) E.g. Let's be cooked together in a wok! (同你一鑊熟 - To get someone else into the same trouble as you)

Synonym: 鑊

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-big-wok-%E5%A4%A7%E9%91%8A-language/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '核突', which refers to something that is aesthetically unpleasant or ugly.

Usage: E.g. 港女：Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone but then I realize the place is too dirty and updup and ppl ard me dou ho dirty and wuddud...

Synonym: 核突

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud＝核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is cool, handsome, or stylish. (型 - ying4)

Usage: E.g. Wa! You look so ying today! (型)

Synonym: 型

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

Definition: Derived from '你大我?‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they feel that someone is bluffing them by a display of confidence.

Usage: E.g. You big me? 我big返你and give you some color you see呀！(你大我？我大返你再比D顏色你睇呀！）

Synonym: 你大我?

Definition: (textspeak) Originated from the numbers 6 and 7 sounding similar to '碌柒' meaning 'a stick of dick', this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to describe someone as very dumb and brainless, like a dickhead.

Usage: E.g. 唔好成個6 7咁樣企喺到啦！(Don't be like a dickhead just standing there!)

Synonym: 碌柒

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DR_ewS2k4Yy/ (use mobile version)