Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: An abbreviated code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to following someone on social media.

Usage: E.g. 你fo左我IG未？快D fo啦!

Definition: 1. (adj) This is a code-mixing word that refers to being outdated. 2. (verb) To instruct someone to be eliminated or get out of the room.

Usage: E.g. 你兒家先聽呢首歌？你真係好out呀。(adj) E.g. 你同我out！(verb)

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

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term added to the end of verbs to express the meaning of completely or to a large extent. (晒 - saai3)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you so much!) 唔該晒 E.g. Dor jeh sai! (Thank you very much!) 多謝晒 E.g. Jo sai! (Done everything!) 做晒 E.g. Sik sai! (Eaten everything!) 食晒 E.g. Mo sai! (No more left!) 冇晒

Synonym: 晒

Reference: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/1592/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to making the remark "looks good to me" after doing a code review for a programmer, which means the work has been done properly.

Usage: E.g. Review完喇，ＬＧＴＭ！ϵ( 'Θ' )϶

Synonym: 睇落唔錯

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3878537/page/24

Definition: (idiom) Known as Kongish and derived from '五時花六時變‘, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is indecisive and prone to changing his or her plan all the time.

Usage: E.g. 你唔係話過鍾意呢件衫咩？你真係five o'clock flower six o'clock change呀。（五時花六時變）

Synonym: 五時花六時變

Reference: https://youtu.be/_3hhDIErE2g?si=SLsZUTCKhV5cfm8x

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe strenuous tasks that are almost impossible to complete.

Usage: E.g. Getting my son to do homework is like pulling a cow up the tree!

Synonym: 拉牛上樹

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

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to avoid the use of sensitive negative vocabulary when they want to describe a situation where there can be anger or resentment involved when disagreement happens.

Usage: E.g. A: 雖然我地達唔到共識，但係大家都唔好有hard feeling, ok? B: OK，明白。 (A: Even though we did not reach a consensus, we should not have any hard feelings okay? B: Okay, understood.) E.g. A: 雖然我地達唔到共識，但係大家都唔好有怨恨, ok? B: 講咩呀你？我幾時有怨恨？！ (A: Even though we did not reach a consensus, we should not have any resentment okay? B: What are you talking about? When did I have resentment?!)

Synonym: 憤怒, 怨恨, 不快

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3777161/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami as a broad umbrella term for a variety of different places that serve food in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Hailey, Mami頭先同你講去restaurant之前去定toilet。我一早估到你會急架。你兒家睇吓條queue幾long？又要等又要wait喇！(Hailey, Mami just told you to go to the toilet before going to the restaurant. And I have expected that you want to go to the toilet now. But can you see how long the queue is right now? We have to wait and wait again!)

Synonym: 餐廳; 酒家; 飯店; 餐館; 食店

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

Definition: With 'I' for introvert and 'E' for extrovert, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers who are very knowledgeable or obsessed about the MIBT (Myerrs Briggs type indicator) or the 16 personalities test.

Usage: E.g. A: 你係I人定E人？B: 我唔係好知，有可能係雙面E人。(A: Are you an introvert or extrovert? B: I don't know. Maybe I am a two-faced extrovert.)

Synonym: Introvert, extrovert

Reference: https://resources.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/37733/mbti-i人同e人區別-10種情境解析-一秒分辨你係-i人定e人

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity Louis Koo (古天樂) in the TVB episode 'A Step into the Past' (尋秦記) when he was transported into the past to the days of Qin Dynasty.

Usage: E.g. *Wakes up and finds an army of horsemen rushing towards him* Sh*t!

Synonym: 弊, 死喇

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edrNB8DXhmQ