Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to a person who has never been in a relationship before. ie. Available 0.

Usage: E.g. A零在地下鐵是沒有出路的。(There is 'no way out' for an A0 person. *no such thing as an A0 exit in the MTR subway*)

Synonym: Available 0; 未拍過拖

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BuKkfnduQ/

Definition: Short for the place name 'Mong Kok', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who blindly follows latest fashion trends and is somewhat like a street punk with their hair dyed.

Usage: E.g. 你今日個造型好MK喎。(Your look is very Mong Kok style today.)

Synonym: 旺角; Mong Kok

Reference: https://cantowords.com/dictionary/MK

Definition: A noun-turned-adjective code-mixing term used to describe someone who is manly.

Usage: E.g. 哇！你今日冇剃鬚好ｍａｎ呀！ E.g. 得閒去吓gｙｍ鍛鍊吓肌肉先至夠mａｎ架嘛。

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like use to refer to marking or jotting things down. (標記）

Usage: E.g. 記住mark低個schedule比我睇吓先。阿媽：老師上堂講既野有冇mark低呀？

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is a yellow-skinned Asian but speaks English very well. I.e. Yellow on the outside but white on the inside like a bamboo stick. (竹升)

Usage: E.g. Please don’t treat me like a bamboo stick! (竹升) I know how to speak Chinese!

Synonym: 竹升

Definition: An overused code-mixing term by real ABC's in Hong Kong when they want to give praise or compliment to something, just like the word '正' in Cantonese but stronger.

Usage: E.g. 哇，今次個concert真係awesome！ E.g. Woah! Awesome!

Synonym: 正

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe having a habit of joining events sometimes or occasionally without sounding they like to quit and join again all the time.

Usage: E.g. 我最近好忙呀，所以on and off咁樣join啲events囉。(I have been very busy, so I joined events on and off.)

Synonym: 斷斷續續

Reference: https://blog.english4u.net/blog2.aspx?id=1830

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe an experience as pleasurable. However, it can also be used to refer to having romantic feelings towards a person.

Usage: E.g. 呢間bar好有feel。(This bar has a good vibe.) E.g. 唔好意思，我對你冇feel。(Sorry, but I don’t have any feelings for you.)

Synonym: 感覺; 氣氛; 心情

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNvk8qHZBN-/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize that something is not a complex problem.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係rocket science。再一齊諗諗佢就解決得到。

Reference: https://www.mi-learning.com/itsnotrocketscience-meaning/

Definition: Transliterated from '冇厘頭' meaning 'with no source', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is used to describe something that makes no sense. It originated from a type of slapstick humour associated with Hong Kong popular culture in the late 20th century, most notably in Steven Chow's (周星馳) movies.

Usage: E.g. I think this story is mo lei tau! But it gives me a very good laugh! (我覺得呢個故事簡直係冇厘頭！不過真係好搞笑！)

Synonym: 冇厘頭

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_lei_tau