Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers often use when they are excited to hear about another person's experience(s) in something, as the term is also countable as opposed to the Cantonese equivalent term.

Usage: E.g. 可以同大家share吓你既travelling experiences嗎? (Could you share your travelling experiences with all of us?)

Synonym: 經驗

Reference: https://urbanpixxels.com/best-things-to-do-in-hong-kong/

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers like to use when they want to sound like they are taking the time to choose something, rather than being so picky and indecisive.

Usage: E.g. A: 今個假期你會去邊呀？B: 我仲explore緊有咩options。(A: Where will you go this holiday? B: I am still exploring options.)

Synonym: 探索

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@christineknlau/post/DSXI_fNj5ES/christine呀我份工其實唔錯但總覺得缺少啲嘢-最近好多人同我講類似嘅話人工ok但冇挑戰性同事nice但冇growth公司穩定但好悶呢種感覺我稱之為care

Definition: Often complemented with '野' meaning 'thing', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to some freebie or reward that comes with buying something or writing a review for a purchase. At times, it can also refer to any additional work that is out of the scope of an employee's role that they don't frigging want to do.

Usage: E.g. 開po出文幫手宣傳，真係會有extra野送 (If you post an article to help advertise a product, there will really be extra things rewarded.) E.g. 外賣仔的工作係餐廳出貨後送貨去你屋企無責任做extra野 (The job of a delivery person is to deliver food to your home after the restaurant prepares it, and they have no responsibility to do anything extra.)

Synonym: 額外

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3951705/page/1

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the extent someone is shortsighted in degree units.

Usage: E.g. You are shortsighted? What is your eye degrees?

Synonym: prescription, diopters, 度數

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmy095Db9U&t=190s

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: Originated from sports and often used with a ‘咗’ in Cantonese denoting past tense, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to deceiving someone with a posture or misinformation rather than something like a fraud or scam, even though it can be serious at times causing real inconvenience to people.

Usage: E.g. 俾 "轉工要趁後生" 呢句嘢fake咗 (I got misled by the saying "Take the opportunity to change jobs while we are young".)

Synonym: fake咗

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3004954/page/2

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the all sorts of time spent with one's family, which aren't necessarily quality time but rather for the purposes of occasion.

Usage: E.g. 節日就黎到，記住唔好去旅行，留返啲時間一齊食飯同family time。(Holiday is coming. Remember not to go travelling but spare some time eating a meal together and having family time.)

Synonym: 家庭時間

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3704109/page/10

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having an instinct for what is stylish, which they believe can be developed through nurture.

Usage: E.g. 培養fashion sense前 買衫望多啲款襯下色 除左黑色，唔好由頭到腳都同一隻色 仲要諗下有咩鞋襯到衫 手袋都要襯 (To nurture fashion sense, have a look at more styles and matching colours when buying clothes. Do not choose the same color from head to toe except black. Also think about what shoes match the outfit. Handbags must also match.)

Synonym: 時尚感

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

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to describe a child who is chubby in a lighthearted way.

Usage: E.g. Fat boy，Mami同你講左好多次架喇，啲soup咁hot，仲咁快咁樣隊落去，要blow下先得架麻？(Fat boy, Mami told you so many times. The soup is so hot, and you still shove it into your mouth that fast. Blow it first you know?)

Synonym: 肥仔

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

Definition: A chic way of saying the word 'feel' in Cantonese, in order to avoid sounding old-fashioned.

Usage: E.g. 晨早樓樓係到食薯片，好唔岩ｆｅｅｌ喎。(noun) E.g. 喂，你今日著成咁，好ＭＫｆｅｅｌ喎。 (noun) E.g. 我ｆｅｅｌ到佢對我有意思。(verb) E.g. 我對你已經冇哂ｆｅｅｌ喇。 (noun)

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