Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a unique or distinct competitive edge that a person or company has over others, which is often something that they were born with or started with. The phrase also tends to be more positive and optimistic than the Cantonese equivalent terms, even though some may think the opposite is true.

Usage: E.g. 林作：個世界就係唔公平。你要做既，就係要用任何你身上有可能既unfair advantage。如果你唔識用你靚仔呢樣野，令人覺得你靚仔D，至少比你做intern，咁你就係傻仔。(Jo Lam: The world is unfair as we know it. What you need to do is to make use of any sort of unfair advantage that you intrinsically have. If you don't know how to make use of your advantage in having good looks or make others think you are better looking so that they would at least give you a job as an intern, then you are an idiot.)

Synonym: 不公平的優勢; 不平等的優勢

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2975035002684251

Definition: Purportedly to have come from JobsDB applications, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a less direct way of informing someone the very small chance of good news happening, such as the extension of an employee's contract.

Usage: E.g. 下屬：請問我大唔大可能會續約？ 上司：暫時黎講，續約係會unlikely。(Employee: May I ask how likely my contract will extend? Employer: As of now, the chance of extending your contract is unlikely.)

Synonym: 唔大可能; 冇可能

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2591532/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone as kind and friendly, even though it can just be a good manner posture sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 跟住呢個係我自身經歷左warm嘅事: 一個人去食譚仔點知叫得太辣流晒鼻水但搵唔到紙巾, 同枱隔離有個人遞左紙巾俾小妹 (Then this is my own experience of a warm thing: I went to Tam Jai restaurant to eat by myself and I somehow ordered too spicy so I got a running nose but could not find tissue. Then someone from another table handed me tissue.)

Synonym: 温暖; 熱心; 熱情

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2513918/page/3

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to the school that a person had graduated from. However, working class and grassroots Hong Kongers may know this term but not use it because it sounds too Latin than English. Hence, they find ‘mother school’ is more sensible and practical to use.

Usage: E.g. 你既alma mater係邊間學校？

Synonym: 母校, mother school

Reference: https://youtube.com/shorts/Br8CWgYQNak?si=aFaIMvdv2YSnCxvh

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they admire or recognise the value of someone or something and want to show gratitude at the same time.

Usage: E.g. 好appreciate你咁短時間去練廣東話，真係好彩你聲底好靚，同埋你音樂感好好，即使廣東話唔係你最擅長嘅。(I really appreciate that you learned Cantonese in such a short period of time. It's very fortunate that you have a great voice and a very good music sense, even though Cantonese is not your strength.)

Synonym: 欣賞；感激；多謝

Reference: https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20260122/1769072872519/《中4》藝人代表「貓女郎」引發腹式呼吸之爭-肥媽被取笑鬧爆周國豐

Definition: A posh way of saying that you admire someone's work or effort, in order to show your high social status or higher education background.

Usage: E.g. 我好appreciate你個idea. Well done. E.g. 我好appreciate你做既野。不過，你都唔可以迫我accept你個apology。

Synonym: 欣賞

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to address a middle-aged woman who wants to sound younger because '姨姨' in Cantonese somehow sounds old.

Usage: E.g. A: 點解香港咁多盲毛，好多人見到女性唔係着校服嘅就叫人阿姨！尤其啲阿叔阿婆次次鳩叫。好心盲毛唔識分就叫人姐姐/小姐/阿妺！叫後生啲點都好過叫老咗呀。B: Hi Auntie. (A: Why are there so many blind idiots in Hong Kong? Many people address women as 'ah yi' whenever someone who is not wearing school uniform! Especially the uncles and grannies! Could these blind idiots say sister, miss, or sis?! Addressing someone as younger is better than old. B: Hi Auntie.)

Synonym: 姨姨; 阿姨

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2839861/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show how easygoing they can be.

Usage: E.g. Hey bro！不如一齊食飯啦？ E.g. Hey bro！放工一齊打波呀？

Synonym: 兄弟

Definition: A code-mixing term that only upper class Hong Kongers know how to use to refer to a meal where people serve themselves the food because of the French origin of the word which makes it so hard to pronounce properly.

Usage: E.g. A: 放假不如食buffet呀？B: 你指蒲飛？(A: What about eating buffet during holiday? B: You mean po-fei?)

Synonym: 蒲飛

Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/生日飯-餐廳-推介-推薦-生日餐廳-235652146.html

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong Legislative Council members to refer to a lease condition where the lot owner is required to complete the development within a specified period and obtain an Occupation Permit from the Building Authority. However, it is not to be confused with 'environmental permit'.

Usage: E.g. 劉文君發言後，林筱魯再提醒發言表達專業用語時要考慮公眾能否理解。劉文君說：「頭先官員都有用building covenant㗎！enviromental permit我唔知你哋中文叫做咩嘢。」(After Lau's speech, Lin reminded him to consider whether the public would understand such professional terminology. Lau said, "The officials used building covenant just now! I don't know what you meant by 'environmental permit' in Chinese.")

Synonym: 建築規約

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20260211/bkn-20260211164003550-0211_00822_001.html