Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to recommend a candidate for a vacant position.

Usage: E.g. 如果你識到朋友做呢行，可以refer佢比我地嗎？

Synonym: 推薦, 介紹

Reference: https://goop.ai/topic/2r3f/尋英文補習教學partner

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the process of finding an employee's former colleagues or managers to verify their job history, which can sometimes be very tedious.

Usage: E.g. 我就唔驚reference check去check我過去表現，但要我搵人做reference check 就好煩，尤其係個HR係咁催我交人 (I am not afraid of reference checks that check my past job performance, but asking me to find someone to do the reference check is very annoying, especially if the HR is urging me to hand over the person.)

Synonym: 資歷查核

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3576674/page/1

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the word 'register', such as registering for an account in an app to become a member.

Usage: E.g. 快D download個app再reg個account成為會員啦！

Synonym: 申請

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to '報告'.

Usage: E.g. 份report幾時搞掂呀？

Synonym: 報告

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize how much paper work needs to be done when conducting studies of a subject, rather than just merely studying as the Cantonese equivalent '研究' denotes.

Usage: E.g. 我兒家part-time喺大學做research，好忙架。(I am now part-time doing research at university, very busy.)

Synonym: 研究

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@146snk/post/DKQjVZnhSNU/香港嘅bachelor訓練根本就冇乜預你去做research所以根本唔會教你點申請mphilphd-點樣寫research-proposal-點樣approac

Definition: A classy code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to arranging something for use at a later time, such as a table or room.

Usage: E.g. 唔該可唔可以幫我make個reservation留兩張枱？(Excuse me, can you help me make a reservation for two tables?)

Synonym: 預訂

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3981159/page/19

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to show admiration, honour and politeness towards someone who they consider important regardless of age or level of authority.

Usage: E.g. 你一個人做完成個project辛苦曬啦，Respect！(Thank you for having finished the entire project on your own. Respect!)

Synonym: 尊重, 尊敬

Reference: https://www.elle.com.hk/life/popular-slangs

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to the numerical outcome of something rather than the consequence or ending of something.

Usage: E.g. 出嚟個result有70分。(The result which came out was 70 marks.)

Synonym: 數據; 結果

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3797010/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to changing something in order to improve or make it new again, such as a website.

Usage: E.g. 個website做revamp要幾耐？

Synonym: 翻新

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who only knows how to eat rice and nothing else. ie. A useless person.

Usage: E.g. He is so useless like a rice bucket!

Synonym: 飯桶