Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Pronounced as 'sik-q', this is a code-mixing term used to refer to the security staff of a building.

Usage: E.g. 同我快D叫'食Q'黎！

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: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a set of responsibilities and duties undertaken by a job position. At times, it may simply be a role that a person plays, but not one where much work is to be done.

Usage: E.g. 講廢role黎講，睇咗好耐一直覺得PM先最撚廢[sosad]十個有9個都唔知detail，又唔識domain野 ，解決問題又幫唔到手，同人講數因為唔熟啲野又講唔到咩好結果出黎 (Speaking of useless roles, I have observed for a long time and I always thought project manager is the most useless. It's like nine out of ten of them do not know the details or have domain knowledge. They also cannot solve problems or help others, and when they talk to people regarding issues they cannot reach any good results because they are not familiar with anything.)

Synonym: 工作角色; 職位

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not show gratitude to those who helped him/her after a goal is reached.

Usage: E.g. I have helped you reach your goal and you complete forget about me? So does that mean you finished the ritual and ditch the monk?

Synonym: 打完齋唔要和尚

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/打完齋唔要和尚

Definition: Known as Kongish and used as '有種' (have seed), this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to not being afraid or having the guts to do something.

Usage: E.g. If you have seed, then I will give you some colour see see! (有種)

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575

Definition: Derived from literal translation, this is an Englishised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a giraffe in a cute way.

Usage: E.g. A giraffe is actually a "long neck deer" in Cantonese.

Synonym: 長頸鹿

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUVzFQYEZ_R/?igsh=NjM5bzc1YXp5MWFi (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to ‘下午茶’, which is afternoon tea.

Usage: E.g. 今日下晝有冇時間high tea呀？ E.g. High唔high tea呀你？ (下午茶）

Synonym: 下午茶

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to emphasize the zero mark they got in a test or exam, which they like to honour themselves with because not only a chicken egg has the shape of the zero number, but also it has become a friendly treat that they are used to eating all the time.

Usage: E.g. Oh no! I got a zero chicken egg in my exam again!

Synonym: 零雞蛋

Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/零雞蛋

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a duplicate of something, such as a document.

Usage: E.g. 份document整多幾份copy黎呀，唔該。

Synonym: 副本

Definition: Originated from Gundam seed and used as '爆seed' (explode seed), this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to unleashing one's potential.

Usage: E.g. 呢鋪game我志在必得，各位我要出絕招爆seed啦！

Reference: https://saucemedia.net/interesting/香港過氣潮語-潮語-十卜-32355/7/