Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a situation where they are in some serious trouble. Sometimes, '大鑊' can be emphasized to a vulgar expression '大撚鑊', which literally translates to 'big penis wok' and means the person is in rather deep sh*t.

Usage: E.g. I forgot to bring my wallet! Big wok! (大鑊) E.g. Omg I lost all my money! This time is really big penis wok! (今次真係大撚鑊)

Synonym: 大鑊

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/03/30/ED1103300032.htm

Definition: Pronounced as 'bee-lee-bah-la', this is a code-mixing onomatopoepic phrase used by native Hong Kongers in a 90's limerick to describe someone talking a lot, loudly or fast.

Usage: E.g. XXX（人名）未夠18歲學人揸飛機，跌落屎坑執玻璃，返到屋企唔忿氣，BiLiBaLa放臭屁，阿媽以為漏煤氣，原來衰仔放緊屁。(E.g. XXX (name) learned to drive a plane under 18 years old, and fell into the toilet to pick up the glass. He returned home feeling resentful, then kept talking a lot and made a stinky fart. His mother thought there was a gas leak, but it turned out that the bad boy was farting.)

Synonym: 嗶哩叭啦

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/830396/i-don-t-know-食鬆糕下句-香港人20首小學雞打油詩-你識幾多首?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the visually appealing exterior of something, such as the figure of a person.

Usage: E.g. 2023年落選港姐郭珮文，參選時憑著驕人的35C身材獲封「最強Body」(Juliana Kwok, a Miss Hong Kong contestant in 2023, was dubbed the "Ultimate Body" during the competition thanks to her impressive 35C figure.)

Synonym: 身體

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3585362

Definition: A more broad and general code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having concern, kindness and empathy towards others but not to the point of being so loving.

Usage: E.g. 之前都識左個男仔, 一開始都好nice 好caring, 突然有一日係車鬧左我成個鐘。(I used to know a guy who was very nice and caring at the start, but there came a day where he suddenly scolded me for an hour in the car.)

Synonym: 關心別人；有愛心

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3665573/page/28

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to make something clear or to seek clarification from another person.

Usage: E.g. 我想clarify一吓呢個task係做咩。(I want to clarify what is to be done in this task.) E.g. 我想clarify一吓，係唔係九點開會？(Just to clarify, are we having a meeting at 9 o'clock?)

Synonym: 澄清; 釐清; 講清楚; 問清楚

Reference: https://hk.amazingtalker.com/questions/7500

Definition: Pronounced as 'cleansing form', this is a code-mixing term used by celebrity Janice Man to refer to the facial treatment item 'cleansing foam'.

Usage: E.g. 我通常眼同埋嘴就用左油既，即係remover，oil remover去落左先，跟住就會全面再用呢一個cleansing water再全面抺一次，跟住先至用落裝油全面再洗一次，再用cleansing form全面就再落裝咁樣。咁所以其實都有四五個step囉。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to going to bars and clubs because they find the Cantonese equivalent terms a lot more suitable for a mature audience.

Usage: E.g. A: 去唔去clubbing呀？B: 你指係邊啲？A: 緊唔係夜總會啦！(A: Do you want to go clubbing? B: Which type are you referring to? A: Of course not nightclubs!)

Synonym: 夜店，夜總會

Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/夜總會

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone as not having good judgement rather than lacking general knowledge, even though it can refer to both of these things when scolding someone.

Usage: E.g. Common sense 常人應該刷覺到既感通/道理 eg. 今日個女同事打扮得特別靚噴曬香水,放工應該有約會, 個晚最好唔好叫人OT (Common sense is what ordinary people should be aware of using their senses or reasoning. For example, if a female colleague dressed particularly well and sprayed perfume today, then you can guess they probably have a date after work. So you better not ask her to work overtime that night.) E.g. 你有冇common sense架？呢啲咁既野你自己google吓咪得囉！(Do you have common sense? For this kind of stuff you just need to google it yourself!)

Synonym: 常識

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/718878/page/3

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a less official way of grumbling or whining about something just to vent off one's anger because doing this formally might just require a bit too much paperwork.

Usage: E.g. 我要complain你啲attitude囉，好差呀你哋公司，I won't come again. 叫你哋最大粒同我出嚟！我要complain！(I have to complain about your attitude, the bad things about your company, and I won't come again. Ask your most senior guy to come out! I want to complain!)

Synonym: 投訴

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/226740/page/6

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use as a more natural way to ask for another person's phone number.

Usage: E.g. 就快last day, 點拎個女同事contact好? (My last day is coming soon. What's the best way to get a female colleague's contact details?)

Synonym: 聯絡資料

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/789285/page/1