Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term.

Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)

Synonym: 溝

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term meaning to continue doing or retain control of something.

Usage: E.g. 日日keep fit先會健康架。 E.g. 你D身材keep得幾好喎。 E.g. 我地以後keep contact啦。 E.g. 不如keep in touch好唔好？

Synonym: 保持

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxrKXQowtvk

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used with “啱key”, which refers to whether you get along well with somebody. Explanation: like the key in a piece of music.

Usage: Eg. 你同你朋友啱唔啱key呀？

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/啱key

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to get someone to hurry up, which is similar to the phrase 'chop chop' in English. (Also see 'ja ja lum'.)

Usage: E.g. La la lum get your homework done! E.g. Leave now or you'll miss the train! La la lum la!

Synonym: 嗱嗱臨

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.

Synonym: 利是

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer to '靚', which describes something as beautiful or good-looking.

Usage: E.g. No, but seriously it’s really lang, you are the one who said hou ce right?

Reference: http://www.lingref.com/isb/4/039ISB4.PDF

Definition: Originated from Italian meaning 'milk', this is a code-mixing used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk, which they believe should not be as heavy as other kinds of coffee as the term '拿鐵' denotes, which has the literal meaning of 'carry metal'.

Usage: E.g. 唔該，我想要一杯tall size既latte。(Excuse me, may I have a tall sized latte?)

Synonym: 拿鐵

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3648151/page/1

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to something that is so funny that one can die from having too much laughter.

Usage: E.g. Laugh die me喇！真係好搞笑呀。（笑死我）

Synonym: 笑死我

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong university students love to use instead of '講座', which means a formal talk on a subject by a professor.

Usage: E.g. 其實上lecture根本浪費時間。

Synonym: 講座

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/475538/page/2

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to express disbelief at someone in fulfilling a promise. (比個官你做)

Usage: E.g. You say you will return your money by tomorrow? I let you be the government official!

Synonym: 比個官你做