Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

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: Used as '立flag', this is a code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to being very vocal about what you want to do, but end up doing something that is completely opposite.

Usage: E.g. 佢又立flag話以後會減肥，點知佢就走左食buffet。

Synonym: 立flag

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

Definition: Pronounced with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that refers to 'calculator'.  Also used as 'cal機' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 唔該借個cal機比我呀？ E.g. 試下用caltor check吓個answer。

Synonym: 計數機

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers have unconsciously adopted to refer to a workplace because they have used Microsoft Office a bit too much growing up for doing homework and assignments.

Usage: E.g. 聽日要返office？唔係打八號風球咩？！(We need to go to office tomorrow? Isn't it gonna be typhoon 8?!)

Synonym: 辦公室

Reference: https://www.jobmarket.com.hk/m/Bastille/返Shift網民大呻轉返Office工仲辛苦：朝九晚六先係真地獄？

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term used to describe how poor (慘) someone is.

Usage: E.g. I cried coz I am very chaam. E.g. 今次考試肥左真係好chaam。 E.g. 做到扒左喺到咁真係ｃｈａａｍｃｈａａｍ豬。

Synonym: 慘

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/3056055/【港式英文】嫌米綫店「updup」及食客「wuddud」%20%20%20%20港女IG發文形容好「Chaam」

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask the waiter to get the bill.

Usage: E.g. Mai daan, mm goi! (埋單, 唔該!)

Synonym: 埋單

Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong court judges to refer to demonstrating and establishing the truth or validity of something by providing evidence and argument, which is especially strong to use in a court of law.

Usage: E.g. 官：呢個，如果因為part of the prosecution case 嘅話，你一定要prove 嘅。(Judge: If this is part of the prosecution case, you must prove it.)

Synonym: 證明

Reference: https://hkupress.hku.hk/image/catalog/pdf-preview/9789888528202.pdf

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Gen Z native Hong Kongers that refers to a person who loves food and likes to try different kinds of food. However, it is often used as a term similar to the level of a gourmet even though the person may not be a food expert.

Usage: E.g. 而家啲ig foodie以為自己真係食評家。(Nowadays the foodies on IG really think they are real gourmets.)

Synonym: 美食愛好者

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2093295/page/1

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For male version, see 'Robert')

Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Lulu喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they want to show how pleased they are towards someone’s achievements, but want to sound less show-off or exaggerated about their feeling.

Usage: E.g. 你考試咁高分，我好proud of你呀。(You scored so high in the exam. I am so proud of you.)

Synonym: 驕傲，自豪

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@grace_interest_english/post/DDthgzMyHsU