Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to someone who has a habit of doing sports. However, it is also often used to describe someone or something as looking sporty.

Usage: E.g. 你覺得佢邊套最好睇。 第3套望落幾sporty幾健康 (Which one do you think is the best looking? The third one looks quite sporty and healthy.)

Synonym: 運動型

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2725538/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to tell somebody to be ready to do something anytime without making them feel ordered to do the task.

Usage: E.g. 聽日放工記住隨時standby，有可能有客搵你。(Remember to standby tomorrow after work, as there may be customers who need you.)

Synonym: 待命；候命

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3476706/page/1

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to starting a fight.

Usage: E.g. This is a school! Don't start a film here!

Synonym: 開片

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers like to use to refer to remaining in a place for a short period of time but don’t plan to live for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 你近排去韓國stay左幾耐？(How long did you stay in Korea recently?) E.g. 可唔可以去你屋企stay幾個月？(May I stay at your home for several months?)

Synonym: 逗留

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@sammy.goew/post/DSP4G9Zkqqb/請問有冇香港人會喺曼谷stay多幾日是咁的我開場前寄存咗我部dji同腳架但係我走咗先醒起而寄存點依家已經閂咗-我又今晚機走求好心人幫我取回薄酬

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to going on a vacation near one's home.

Usage: E.g. 年尾要清假，但封左關又唔去得旅行，唯有去酒店staycation啦。

Synonym: 宅度假

Reference: https://hkdic.my-helper.com/Staycation/

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2)

Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!

Synonym: 炒魷魚

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/

Definition: (verb/adj.) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a less intense emotional state due to trivial matters.

Usage: E.g. 好Struggle買唔買ps5。 (Really struggling on whether to buy Playstation 5.) E.g. 我仲struggle緊今晚食D咩好。(I'm still struggling on what to eat tonight.)

Synonym: 掙扎

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3519800/page/1

Definition: A salutation often used by real ABC Hong Kongers to ask how somebody is doing. However, it is often overused by Fake ABC's to strike a western impression on others. (Also used as "what's up")

Usage: E.g. 喂，ｓｕｐ ｍａｎ？ E.g. 偽ＡＢＣ：Ｓｕｐ ｍａｎ， ｓｕｐ， ｓｕｐ， ｓｕｐ．．．人們：得喇。唔好成日唔係又ｓｕｐ又喺到ｓｕｐ啦。好煩呀。

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to refer to an easy task, which is equivalent to 'piece of cake' in English.

Usage: E.g. A: Thanks for helping me out! B: No problem! Sup sup sui la!

Synonym: 濕濕碎

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

Definition: A generic term for a number of equivalent Cantonese words used to avoid absolute certainty.

Usage: E.g. 件貨suppose今日到。(預期-expectedly/predictably) E.g. 我suppose你係岩既。 (假設-guess) E.g. 警察係suppose要保護市民。 (應該-should)