Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A way to express how nice someone is on the surface.

Usage: E.g. 佢個人好nice，但係識耐左先知道原來係虛偽。E.g. 佢個人好nice，不過唔知個人好唔好呢？

Synonym: 友善

Definition: Often used as '升le' (呢), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to having made an advancement in something. (升級)

Usage: E.g. 哇！今次考試表現好左好多喎。簡直係升呢呀！

Synonym: 升級

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

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 more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ （intimate）.

Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架？E.g. 你有幾多個close friend？

Synonym: 親密

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to an employment position. (工作)

Usage: E.g. Ａ：搵到job未呀? Ｂ：搵緊喇。\nE.g. Ａ：近排有接job嗎? Ｂ：好似好多人搶job。

Synonym: 工作

Reference: https://freehunter.hk/news/freelancer搵job三大必睇重點

Definition: A more effortless way of apologising to someone without sounding so formal and serious. Sometimes, it is pronounced as 'sor-li'.

Usage: E.g. Sorry呀，踩親你。 E.g. Sorry呀，我遲到左。 E.g.你：對唔住！係我抵死，係我唔岩！朋友：唔洗咁隆重。你:SORRY囉。

Synonym: 對唔住

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/8666953/Common_usage_of_code-mixing_among_trilingual_Hong_Kongers

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the list of dishes available at a restaurant. (餐牌)

Usage: E.g. 伙記，唔該比個menu我睇呀。

Synonym: 餐牌

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the time period up to now without sounding so formal and elegant in social situations.

Usage: E.g. So far我覺得呢間餐廳幾好食, 但係service有D差囉。(So far I think the food in this restaurant is quite good, but the service is a little bad.)

Synonym: 目前為止, 至今

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3926896/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to a person with a mixed-race descent.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：你係唔係mix黎架？Ｂ：乜我似mix咩？多謝。E.g. Ａ：你係唔係mix黎架？Ｂ：係！當然係啦！我係澳門香港mix呀！

Synonym: 混血兒

Definition: A euphemistic way of telling somebody to eat sh*t (食屎).

Usage: E.g. 咁巴閉?! Eat c la!