Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

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: Often used together with ‘開心’ meaning happy, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to experiencing something with others, which means the sharing must very likely be happy or joyful unless it is omitted or stated otherwise.

Usage: E.g. 喂，我同你哋開心Share，呢個笑話太好笑啦 (Hey, I'm happy to share with you all. This joke is too funny!)

Synonym: 分享

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ_3EOyTfSy/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to negotiating terms and conditions of an employment agreement or contract in addition to just the salary.

Usage: E.g. Offer人工太低 簽約嗰陣仲有無得bargain? (If I am being offered a low salary, can I still bargain when signing the contract?)

Synonym: 講價

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1130972/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to making the remark "looks good to me" after doing a code review for a programmer, which means the work has been done properly.

Usage: E.g. Review完喇，ＬＧＴＭ！ϵ( 'Θ' )϶

Synonym: 睇落唔錯

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3878537/page/24

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to refer to a washroom or restroom in a direct manner without sounding too blunt.

Usage: E.g. Jessie, 你宜家好去定toilet呀, 如果陣間watching, Mami唔想stand up disturb到人呀。(Jessie, you should go to the toilet now. Later while watching movie, Mami doesn't want to stand up and disturb anybody.)

Synonym: 廁所

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZmrL7QghVL/?igsh=dHAyMGZjMG95aHNz (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person's mental state that is immediate for action without necessarily having done any preparation. When used in negation form 'not ready', it may mean that preparation is already done but the person is still not ready.

Usage: E.g. 如果一個女仔話鍾意你，但係未ready一齊，要我等，係咩意思 (If a girl says she likes you, but isn't ready to be together with you and asks you to wait, what does that mean?)

Synonym: 準備好

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3629688/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a more abstract way of referring to a person's relationship status without a partner than emphasizing the physical body as ‘單身’ denotes in Cantonese. Even though 'dog' is seen as a derogatory term, the phrase is often treated as a common everyday joke than it is really mocking someone seriously.

Usage: E.g. 無論班女仔fd幾大班，三個又好，五個又好，十幾個又好，都係得我係single dog (No matter how big my group of female friends is, three or five or ten, I am the single dog.)

Synonym: 單身狗

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/708381/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person's emotional state that can be driven by an atmosphere or a person.

Usage: E.g. 女朋友講完句野搞到我無晒mood (My girlfriend said something which made me lose my mood.)

Synonym: 心情

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/294607/page/3

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the process of finding an employee's former colleagues or managers to verify their job history, which can sometimes be very tedious.

Usage: E.g. 我就唔驚reference check去check我過去表現，但要我搵人做reference check 就好煩，尤其係個HR係咁催我交人 (I am not afraid of reference checks that check my past job performance, but asking me to find someone to do the reference check is very annoying, especially if the HR is urging me to hand over the person.)

Synonym: 資歷查核

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3576674/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by upper class Hong Kong girls who are really honest about how much money they spend.

Usage: E.g. 我需要啲咩啫，嚟嚟去去我咪又係食叉燒飯、意粉，I don't really spend money.（我根本唔花錢）對我嚟講無關係，我真係無嘢。(E.g. What do I really need? Wherever I go I just eat barbeque pork rice, pasta, I don't really spend money.(I don't spend money at all) Money doesn't matter to me, I really don't care.)

Synonym: 我根本唔花錢

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359289/jw王灝兒分手後啞忍兩年-眼濕濕平反拜金論-我仲使乜入tvb拍劇?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare