Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Originated from 'my pleasure', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots Hong Kongers to express their enjoyment in helping someone when they have used 'You are welcome' too often. Also, saying the Cantonese equivalent '我的榮幸' may just sound too formal and exaggerated for a small favour done for someone.

Usage: E.g. A: Thank you哂你呀！B: My preeessure.

Synonym: 我的榮幸, my pleasure

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3178884/page/39

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone or something as dull and boring such as having no relationship, which definitely has nothing to do with 'dry dating' in native English.

Usage: E.g. 我近排冇拖拍好dry呀。(I recently haven't been dating, so dry!) E.g. 唔好成日自己一個人咁dry啦。(Don't be always by yourself, so dry!)

Synonym: 沒新鮮感，很無聊，枯燥乏味

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwE7IA18CY&t=50s

Definition: (vulgar, textspeak) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who's idiotic and stupid. It originated from the Cantonese words '憨鳩' because the '鳩' (penis) has a similar pronunciation as the number 9 in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Why did you piss on me? Are you on9? (憨鳩) E.g. Don't be so on99 and watch where you're going! (憨鳩鳩)

Synonym: 憨鳩

Reference: https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=28512

Definition: Translated from the punning of ‘粟米肉粒飯’ (shuk mai yuk lup fan), this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a rice dish with creamed corn and pork served in Hong Kong Cha Chaan Tang restaurants.

Usage: E.g. Excuse me, may I have a ‘show me your love rice’?

Synonym: 粟米肉粒飯

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/12/kongish-a-new-language-of-hong-kongers/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that real ABC’s like to use to refer to toilet. (廁所）

Usage: E.g. Excuse me? Where is the chee sor?

Synonym: 廁所

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

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 romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to ask a shopkeeper how much something costs, which is extremely effective when bargaining for a lower price at wet markets. It can also be shortened to 'gay cheen' (幾錢).

Usage: E.g. Gay dor cheen? (幾多錢?) E.g. Gay cheen? (幾錢?)

Synonym: 幾多錢?

Reference: https://homekong.com.hk/blogs/read/helpful-cantonese-phrases-to-know

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to computer that has become unresponsive, due to a halt or freeze.

Usage: E.g. 部電腦新買架喎，咁易hang機？！ E.g. 係咪唔夠RAM所以hang左呀？

Synonym: 當機

Definition: Originated from a supermarket chain in Hong Kong, this is a code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to tell somebody to go to hell, as the name can be abbreviated to 'PK', which resembles the swear word '仆街' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 想搵我笨？！Go to Park'n Shop!

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)