Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the language channel that one is speaking in.

Usage: E.g. 做咩成日轉channel講英文呀？你喺到扮ABC呀？ E.g. 咪住。等我轉一轉channel講返中文先。

Definition: (adj.) A euphemistic way of saying 'cheap' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 喂，你唔洗咁cheap嘛？ E.g. 你正cheap精黎架！ E.g. Cheap到咁樣，我真係第一次見。

Synonym: 低俗

Definition: A word that seems to have originated from a Chinese emperor, due to it being mistakenly aired from a TVB episode.

Usage: 同朕check吓！(By TVB actor 陳豪)

Synonym: 查

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

Definition: (verb) A more suitable term for the Cantonese equivalent word '檢查', which sounds too formal and serious, like doing a body check.

Usage: E.g. 同我check吓份文件好嗎？

Synonym: 檢查

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

Definition: An ultra convenient code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to registering your arrival at a place like a hotel or airport, as the Cantonese equivalent '辦理入住手續' sounds too long and verbose.

Usage: E.g. 快D check in左先啦，至後再慢慢搵野食。

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use when they want to ask where a washroom is.

Usage: E.g. Chee sor hai bin? (廁所喺邊?)

Synonym: 廁所喺邊?

Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

Definition: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to refer to someone deciding not to do something because they are too frightened.

Usage: E.g. 我地講吓飲啤酒咋喎。你唔係咁快就chicken out嘛？

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1368997059457323008.html

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to mean 'relaxing' (adjective), while real ABC's use it as a verb meaning 'to relax'.  However, Fake ABC's use this term to mean feeling cold. (發冷）

Usage: E.g. 我覺得首歌好chill呀，好好聽。(relaxing) E.g. 我地一齊去chill一陣呀？(to relax) E.g. 我覺得好chill呀。閂細D aircon得嗎？(feeling cold)

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to pulling a face that looks pretentious in order to look cool.

Usage: E.g. 林峯：你睇吓我個樣夠唔夠chok？！

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a company stamp. (公司蓋章)

Usage: E.g. 可唔可以借個chop黎用吓?

Synonym: 公司蓋章

Reference: https://paper.hket.com/article/190909/行政人員英語詞窮%20見客口啞