Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use when they want to express their well-educated guess or opinion on a subject matter without sounding so formal and bookish.

Usage: E.g. 呢個program我覺得in general係幾學到野。(I think I can really learn from this program in general.)

Synonym: 一般而言

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3990504/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong university students love to use instead of '講座', which means a formal talk on a subject by a professor.

Usage: E.g. 其實上lecture根本浪費時間。

Synonym: 講座

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/475538/page/2

Definition: Often said with an extra 'you' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to make sure that the other person really gets the thank you message.  Sometimes, it is uttered as 'fank q' or 'fank q you', especially by the grassroots class Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. 今次搬屋真係好thank you你呀！ E.g. 恭喜發財！*逗利是* Thank you你呀！ E.g. 朋友：尋日嗰五舊水還返比你。　你：Fank q你呀！

Synonym: 多謝

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/網絡熱話/一句英文分辨港人身份-ctb12-652218/3/

Definition: A noun phrase-looking code-mixing verb that native Hong Kongers use to refer to someone who did not turn up at an event or occasion.

Usage: E.g. 大日子遲到同no show無分別 (On an important occasion, there is no difference between being late and not showing up.)

Synonym: 冇到, 缺席

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844386/page/9

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong companies to refer to reorganising a company's team structure as well as an excuse to lay off its workers for some obscure reason.

Usage: E.g 對唔住，公司 restructure，唔再有你做緊個 role，亦冇適合位置啱你，所以會遣散你。(Sorry, the company restructured. It no longer has the role you are working for and there is no suitable position for you, so you will be dismissed.)

Synonym: 結構調整

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BADzEOCk1Z/

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to a programmer or developer especially if they are one themselves because it makes them sound like a profession.

Usage: E.g. A: 你做咩IT行業? 寫program嗰D? B: 唔係。我係engineer。(What kind of IT industry are you from? Are you a programmer? B: No, I am an engineer.)

Synonym: 工程師

Reference: https://tecky.io/zh_Hant/blog/Programmer-分多少種-2022-23/

Definition: A code-mixing term used to mean fashionable and attractive.  However, it can also refer to being snobby sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 哇，你載左太陽眼鏡好cool呀。 E.g. 唔好成日係到扮cool啦。你以為你自己好型咩？

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

Definition: Often used as an idiom, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a stupid person. (For female version, see 'Lulu')

Usage: E.g. 唔好當我係Robert喎! (Stop treating me like a stupid person!)

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong local teachers must say at the beginning of every class in order for students to stop chatting.

Usage: E.g. Miss Cheung: Good morning class! Entire class: "Good morning Miss Cheung."

Synonym: 早安，同學們

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/348088/page/1

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers when someone sneezes, which is similar to 'Bless you!' in English. (大吉利是)

Usage: E.g. A: Ack-choo! B: Big tangerine and red packets!

Synonym: 大吉利是