Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is dumb, inexperienced, and immature.

Usage: E.g. Pay attention to what the person who is saying during the meeting! Stop acting like a primary school chicken!

Synonym: 小學雞

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagra (use mobile version)

Definition: Derived from '公主病', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a female who acts like a princess all the time and possesses the worst possible qualities such as narcissism and materialism. It tends to associate with Hong Kong women and is quite stereotypical of '港女', the Kong girl.

Usage: E.g. 港男：Why are you scolding me like this? Do you have princess sickness? (你做咩喺度鬧我呀? 你係咪有公主病?)

Synonym: 公主病

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/49823/

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term for 'professional'. (adjective)

Usage: E.g. 哇，你打tennis好pro呀。可以叫你一聲大佬嗎？ E.g. 耳機都買到咁靚？洗唔洗咁pro呀？

Synonym: 專業

Definition: Sometimes shortened and pronounced as ‘probay’, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the period of time at the start of a new job when one is being evaluated and tested to see whether they are suitable for the job.

Usage: E.g. 過唔到probation通常唔關工作能力事。多數關得罪人事。(Not passing probation usually does not have to do with one's working ability, but rather to with people issues.)

Synonym: 試用期, 緩刑

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3946396/page/2

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong students use to refer to '教授'.

Usage: E.g. 有咩唔識快D問Professor啦！ E.g. Professor到未架，咁耐既？

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

Definition: A generic code-mixing term that can used for a number of different items in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 你公司近排搞緊D咩project呀？（項目） E.g. 今次呢個project搞成點呀？（研究） E.g. 你諗住下次搞d咩project呀？（計劃） E.g. 小心D呀，唔見寫住project in progress咩？（工程）

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: A code-mixing term that Hong Kong salesman love to use as a strategy to advertise their products without sounding like they're doing it for the sake of spreading the word or selling their product.

Usage: E.g. 我地公司兒家做緊promotion。你唔買就走寶喇喂。(Our company is now doing promotion. If you don't buy, you'll miss out.)

Synonym: 宣傳，推廣

Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340689372_Code-Mixing_as_a_Promotion_Strategy_in_Shopping_Centres

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to describe people with high standards of social, moral and ethical behaviour which covers everything from the way they look, dress, and talk.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得呢個行業既人都係好proper。(I think everybody in this industry are so proper.)

Synonym: 規矩, 正當, 得體

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/4012349/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used in the workplace environment of Hong Kong to refer to a proposal document.

Usage: E.g. 老細叫你打嗰份proposal打完未呀？E.g. 今次份proposal太短喇，又唔夠detail。再打過啦。

Synonym: 計劃書

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to proactively keeping someone safe from damage or injury, which is usually something that they expect from a boyfriend.

Usage: E.g. 如果連我自己都唔為自己去解釋一下，咁邊個去protect我？邊個幫我解釋？冇。(If even I myself don't stand up for myself, who is going to protect me? Who will help me explain to others? No one.)

Synonym: 保護

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359628/jw王灝兒揭與破產前度葉韋彤分手真相-直言-佢做咗對唔住我嘅事?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare