Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to 'secondary two syndrome' in Cantonese, which is someone in their second year of high school and acting childish, as if they are living in their own world. The term was first popularised by the comedian Hikaru Ijuin in a Japanese radio show in 1999.

Usage: E.g. My older brother has jung yi beng – he thinks he is a hero who can save the world.

Synonym: 中二病

Reference: https://www.youngpostclub.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3147729/sup-sup-sui-start-new-school-year-these-cantonese-slang

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a meal set offered by a karaoke lounge bar or club.

Usage: E.g. 今日去唔去食K lunch呀？一百蚊又可以唱又食，好鬼死抵。(Do you want to have K lunch today? Can sing and eat at the price of just $100, so frigging cheap.)

Synonym: 卡啦OK午餐

Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/activity/detail/20009510/唱k推介2024丨全港16大卡啦ok好去處-最平-36起-日文k都有-附地址-收費詳情

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a Hong Kong girl with negative characteristics such as being materialistic, demanding, narcissistic, and suffering from 'princess sickness', and so on. The list of negative things can probably go on and on so it is better for the person reading this to search the internet themselves.

Usage: E.g. I am sick of my girlfriend! She is a Kong girl! E.g. Can you stop being a Kong girl for a day? I need some freedom. E.g. Kong girl: Will you buy me an LV handbag?

Synonym: 港女

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/7-signs-to-tell-if-youre-a-real-kong-girl

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to describe someone as unwilling to do something without placing a direct character judgement.

Usage: E.g. 學校啲homework完全冇做過呀Jayden。你咁lazy，媽咪angry架喇。下個月你birthday，冇得去disneyland架喇。(You have not done any homework from school, Jayden. If you are so lazy, Mami will be angry. And it's your birthday next month. I don't think we can go to Disneyland.)

Synonym: 懶惰

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXO4QiuMV4t/ (use mobile version)

Definition: Often mistaken as grammatically incorrect and seen as redundant with ‘out’ conforming to ‘列出‘ in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to jotting down a number of items on a piece of paper or device.

Usage: E.g. 你可以先list out所有項目，然後研究每一個點樣做。(You may first list out all the items, then study how each one can be done.)

Synonym: 列出

Reference: https://ludwig.guru/s/list+out

Definition: Derived from literal translation, this is an Englishised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a giraffe in a cute way.

Usage: E.g. A giraffe is actually a "long neck deer" in Cantonese.

Synonym: 長頸鹿

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUVzFQYEZ_R/?igsh=NjM5bzc1YXp5MWFi (use mobile version)

Definition: Originated from '甩P' in Cantonese, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to losing one's probationary driving licence period in order to obtain a full driving licence.

Usage: E.g. 在香港新領取車牌後，需在汽車展示「P」字，司機擁有1年駕駛經驗方可獲正式駕駛執照，即俗稱「甩P」。(After receiving a new car licence in Hong Kong, the "P" sign is required to be displayed on a person's car. Drivers need to have one year of driving experience before they can obtain a full driving licence, commonly known as "lose P".)

Synonym: 甩P

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ6XwbejWAe/ (use mobile version)

Definition: Derived from the noun ‘maintenance’, this is a code-mixing verb used to refer to carrying out maintenance work on something in order to keep it running without errors and issues.

Usage: E.g. D code寫簡短啲，main就容易做啲啦。(Write simpler code so you can carry out maintenance more easily.)

Synonym: Maintenance，維護

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2545265/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a less judgemental way of describing someone as unkind or unfriendly but not to the point of being so harsh and critical.

Usage: E.g. 其實香港人而家可唔可以唔好咁mean? (Can Hong Kong people actually be less mean nowadays?)

Synonym: 刻薄; 衰

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/_siW0xsDc/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by foreigners when they come across a local Hong Konger who thinks they know how to speak Cantonese. Literal meaning: I don't know how to speak Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Foreigner: Mm goi sai! Dor jeh! Hong Konger: Wow, your Cantonese is so good! Foreigner: Ngo mm sik gong gwong dong wa.

Synonym: 我唔識講廣東話

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know