Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing term made popular by the phrase '一齊企硬唔Take嘢' (Stand firm together and don't take drugs), which was a slogan used by an anti-drug campaign launched by the Security Bureau in Hong Kong and is now imitated by many companies to sell their own products.

Usage: E.g. 一齊企硬eat車仔麵。(Stand firm together and eat cart noodles.)

Synonym: 企硬

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWFz2k6GXcF/ (use mobile version)

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 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: 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 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)

Definition: A code-mixing term that real ABC's like to use to show that they are always glad to do a favour for someone.

Usage: E.g. Sure！No problem！拜托喺我身上啦。 E.g. Sure！我同你去Starbucks買杯咖啡啦。 E.g. Sure！我幫你比住錢先啦。

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use in place of the Cantonese equivalent '交換'.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：我地swap一個球員好唔好？Ｂ：好呀，我同你swap啦。

Synonym: 交換

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is nice and kind, as well as an intimate relationship between a couple.

Usage: E.g. 哇，你真係好sweet呀！（貼心） E.g. 呢對情侶好sweet呀。（甜蜜）

Synonym: 貼心, 甜蜜