Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to meeting and spending time with people as a normal everyday activity without sounding so deliberate.

Usage: E.g. 有冇人其實唔想同同事social (Is there anyone who actually doesn't want to socialise with colleagues?)

Synonym: 社交; 交際

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3655725/page/2

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to a female janitor or cleaner.

Usage: E.g. My aunt is a sodiasm in Queen Elizabeth hospital.

Synonym: 掃地阿嬸

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: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to describe going on a trip by oneself without sounding so alone or single.

Usage: E.g. 放假時我比較鍾意solo trip，因為咩都唔洗煩。(I like going on solo trips during holiday because I don't need to bother with anything else.)

Synonym: 單獨旅行, 獨旅

Reference: https://www.elle.com.hk/life/solo-trip

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to avoid describing a problem as complicated because they have the intelligence to solve it. At other times, there is just not a word that covers all the meanings of intelligent, complicated and even elegant sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係復雜，只係太過sophisticated。如果你識將個問題分拆，你就會解答得到。 (This problem is not complicated, but just too sophisticated. If you know how to break down the problem, you will be able to solve it.)

Synonym: 複習

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/okiokifamily/posts/有人在影片留言反映-為什麼我們有時會中英夾雜-我們一早有注意到這個問題問所以上字幕的時候全部改成為中文只有極少數情況例外例如英文字-sophisticated-/1187675216048224/

Definition: An ultra polite code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who really know how to sincerely say sorry or apologise to someone.

Usage: E.g. Do姐：全部都錯。嗱，唔係sorly，係sorry，捲脷架。(Carol Cheng: All wrong. It's not sorly, it's sorry, you have to roll your tongue.)

Synonym: Sor, 對唔住

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPgONqRk7Qc/?igsh=NWZ3ODYzdjBydmdj (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to someone who has a habit of doing sports. However, it is also often used to describe someone or something as looking sporty.

Usage: E.g. 你覺得佢邊套最好睇。 第3套望落幾sporty幾健康 (Which one do you think is the best looking? The third one looks quite sporty and healthy.)

Synonym: 運動型

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2725538/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a more sequential and orderly way of describing the progression of something, especially when giving instructions.

Usage: E.g. 實際通常都係 step by step 咁去先會得到結果 中間所有野都唔理咪做唔到囉 (In practice, I usually go step by step in order to get results. I won't be able to do it if I don't care about everything in the middle.

Synonym: 逐步; 一步一步

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/kt4404.hk/posts/發覺原來自學-it-都幾難-分享自-lihkg-討論區-呢個-reply-值得深思好多人諗野學野做野都話自己係-result-oriented唔理個過程係點得到/4291301534246259/

Definition: Originated from the word 'start', this is a code-mixing term used by the Hong Kong government to refer to the starting point of a running track.

Usage: E.g. 再有政府設施串錯英文。「起點」英文串法由正確的「Start」變為「Strat」。(There is an English word mispelled in a government facility again. The word "Start" became "Strat".)

Synonym: 起點, start

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWMLrukj_sZ/?igsh=d2NkZXFvN3AycjZt (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to giving encouragement to someone or helping them emotionally. Sometimes, it can also extend to providing necessities for someone such as food and shelter.

Usage: E.g. 你嘅另一半比唔比到情緒support你架? (Is your spouse able to give you emotional support?) E.g. 其實父母最緊要既責任就係比到support比子女。(In fact, the most important responsibility of parents is being able to give support to children.)

Synonym: 支持; 鼓勵; 養活

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3641328/page/1

Definition: Often pronounced in two syllables as 'shu-ah' and used with ‘唔‘ (not), this is a cool sounding code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to express absolute uncertainty over a subject matter in an informal setting.

Usage: E.g. 佢係唔係好叻？我唔sure。(Is he really smart? I am not sure.) E.g. 今日會唔會落雨？我唔sure。(Will it rain today? I am not sure.) E.g. 佢阿媽係唔係女人？我唔sure。(Is his mom a woman? I am not sure.)

Synonym: 肯定

Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=30817621