Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that is used to describe something, a person, or state as being so-so, or just okay in quality.

Usage: E.g. A: How was the event? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: How are you today? B: Ma ma dei la. E.g. A: What do you think of this shirt? B: I think it's ma ma dei.

Synonym: 麻麻地

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases

Definition: The Hong Kong way of referring to a female police officer (女警官).

Usage: E.g. 女警：Target出現。全世界出動！下屬：Yes, Madam！

Synonym: 女警官

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

Definition: A code-mixing term used by all sorts of Hong Kongers to refer to the popular trading card game called Magic the Gathering.

Usage: E.g. A: 打唔打magic呀? B: 等我整吓我個deck先再同你揪。(A: Do you want to play magic? B: Let me sort out my deck first before I dual with you.)

Synonym: Magic the Gathering, 魔法風雲會

Reference: https://magic.wizards.com/zh-Hant

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 romanised code-mixing term that is used by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to refer to '米線', which is a type of noodles that is very popular in Hong Kong and China.

Usage: E.g. 港女：Im so broke so I went into a random updup maiseen place eat din alone...

Synonym: 米線

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/2254771/wuddud＝核突%E3%80%80港女「流利」港式英語投訴米線店考起網民

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is very similar to or combines very well with something or someone.

Usage: E.g. 哇，Ｄ顏色好match呀。 E.g. 你地簡直係perfect match呀！

Synonym: 配

Definition: Often pronounced as ‘mee-mee’ with a falling intonation, this is a code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to an idea, image or video that is spread quickly on the internet.

Usage: E.g. 有冇人覺得香港人整啲meme好撚尷尬？？？(Does anyone think the memes made by Hong Kong people are so f***ing awkward?)

Synonym: 迷因圖, 咪咪

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2213202/page/18

Definition: A code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers who prefer a QR code rather than a physical a food menu when they eat at a high class restaurant.

Usage: E.g. 入到居酒屋見到張menu唔識叫。(On entering the Izakaya restaurant, I saw the menu but didn't know how to order.)

Synonym: 餐牌

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3970505/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an important stage or event in the development of something. (里程碑)

Usage: E.g. 我地公司今年reach到個milestone！Let\'s celebrate!

Synonym: 里程碑

Reference: https://www.story001.com/post-196.html

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong girls love to use to ask their boyfriends whether they feel sad or regret about not having their presence at times, as ‘掛住‘ in Cantonese could just be merely thinking about someone without such emotions, which is not enough to satisfy a Hong Kong girl’s demands.

Usage: E.g. 呢幾日我地冇見。有冇miss我呀？ (We have not seen each other these several days. Do you miss me?)

Synonym: 掛住, 想念

Reference: https://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=17173491