Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to noticing something in a more passive and less intentional way.

Usage: E.g. 我唔係唔知道發生咩事，只不過當時我唔係咁aware周邊既環境姐。(It's not that I don't know what was going on, but I was just not aware of my surrounding environment at that time.)

Synonym: 意識；知道；察覺；為意

Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/1chahae/difference_between_realize_and_be_aware_of/?tl=zh-hant

Definition: A term used by native Hong Kongers to divert one topic to another in a polite manner.

Usage: E.g. 係呀，個proposal已經搞掂了。Anyway, 我兒家要去開meeting。 E.g. 份proposal仲未搞掂？Anyways, 我兒家要食lunch喇。

Synonym: 點都好; 無論如何

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a social situation where one feels very strange and uncomfortable, rather than an embarrassing situation where one feels ashamed or humiliated, as the Cantonese equivalent term '尷尬' can take on any of those two meanings.

Usage: E.g. 本來咁多人約左出黎食飯點知得返你地兩個，會唔會覺得好awkward? (Originally many people were going to have a meal together, but only two of you came. Did it feel awkward?)

Synonym: 尷尬

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@janemanic.english/post/DHpmw9YRm-y/很多人分不清-embarrassedembarrassing-和-awkward雖然它們都有尷尬的意思但用法不同-embarrassed-形容人的感受例如-i-?hl=zh-hk

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.

Usage: E.g. 收皮啦！唔好再blow water！

Synonym: 吹水

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to avoid seeming as if you have almost forgotten to mention something.

Usage: E.g. By the way, 你可唔可以幫我搞掂埋呢份proposal? E.g. By the way, 你今晚幾時得閒呀?

Synonym: 順便講

Definition: Originated from business emails and often said without a ‘to’ at the end, this is a code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers would use in non-business settings when they really anticipate the happening of an event.

Usage: E.g. 我好look forward今餐會食咩。(I really look forward to what I will be eating for this meal.) E.g. 我好look forward今次既足球比賽。(I really look forward to this football match.)

Synonym: 期待

Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/42024/lookforwardto點用-後面動詞需要加ing-與lookingforwardto有甚差別-用法-例句

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: A set of code-mixing verbs that a Jayden Mami likes to forcefully use to educate their children on how to spend their time wisely on leisure and work.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀，Mami told you 唔好成日掛住play，要study多啲，同埋do完哂啲homework先watch TV啦！(Jayden, Mami told you not to always play, you need to study more, and you should finish your homework before you watch TV!)

Synonym: 玩; 讀書; 睇

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

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by a Jayden Mami to order their children to put away their phones authoritatively.

Usage: E.g. Jayden，媽咪 told you 㗎，講咗唔好睇咁耐 phone 呀，你對 eye 會好 tired 㗎！快啲 put away your phone，過嚟 finish 咗你份 homework 佢！(Jayden, Mami told you not to look at your phone for too long, or else your eyes will be very tired! Put away your phone quickly and come here to finish your homework!)

Synonym: 收埋你個電話

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXEBuVCDlpu/ (use mobile version)

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction.

Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui.

Synonym: 回水