Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does not know anyone. Originated from a game similar to Rummikub where pulling cards should add up to nine, but not over. Otherwise, the player will lose the game.

Usage: E.g. I have never been to this event before! Everyone was like 'three does not know seven'!

Synonym: 三唔識七

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to marking something in order to show that it is chosen or correct.

Usage: E.g. 快D tick點心紙啦。我好餓呀。(Tick the dim sum order form quickly. I'm so hungry.)

Synonym: 剔

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWL_RQQysfH/ (use mobile version)

Definition: Often mistaken as a Japanese dessert, this is an Italian code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who are on a diet but cannot resist the temptation of eating desserts such as cheesecakes so they pick tiramisu which contains a lot less fat.

Usage: E.g. 不如食埋tiramisu先埋單好嗎？我兒家減緊肥，不過唔算太過分啫？(What about eating a tiramisu before we get the bill? I am going on a diet, but I don’t think this would be too fat to eat?

Synonym: 提拉米蘇

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3766385/page/1

Definition: Pronounced as 'tee-suu', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers have grown up with and got used to instead of the equivalent term in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 請問有冇tissue呀？。E.g. 唔該比張tissue黎呀，唔該。

Synonym: 紙巾

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami to refer to a washroom or restroom in a direct manner without sounding too blunt.

Usage: E.g. Jessie, 你宜家好去定toilet呀, 如果陣間watching, Mami唔想stand up disturb到人呀。(Jessie, you should go to the toilet now. Later while watching movie, Mami doesn't want to stand up and disturb anybody.)

Synonym: 廁所

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZmrL7QghVL/?igsh=dHAyMGZjMG95aHNz (use mobile version)

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to the same item ‘廁所’ in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 老師，唔該可唔可以去toilet呀？ E.g. 咁多位，我去一去toilet先。

Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/hongkonglinguistics/Downhome/language-contact-in-hong-kong/cantonese-englishintra-sententialcode-switchinginhongkong

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a subject matter that is less socially loaded, people-oriented or even gossipy.

Usage: E.g. 成日都講人是非，可唔可以轉topic？(The conversation is always gossiping about others. Can we change the topic?)

Synonym: 話題

Reference: https://spencerlam.hk/blog/2022/02/01/group-discussion技巧/

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to the total amount of something, such as for goods and services.

Usage: E.g. 呢到total幾多錢呀?

Synonym: 總共

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers say in order to avoid bad luck, which is similar to '大吉利是' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Touchwood講句，如果件貨聽日唔準時到，請問要等到幾時呢？

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/733616/page/1

Definition: A chique sounding code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to going on a trip without quite knowing the particular destination.

Usage: E.g. A: 今次假期又去邊到呀? B: 唔知呀，我鍾意去呢到travel吓，又去嗰到travel吓，總之去到邊就邊囉。(A: Where will you go this holiday? B: I don't know. I just like to travel here and travel there, just wherever I travel then where I go.)

Synonym: 旅遊