Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing filler term used by westernised Hong Kongers when they don't really find the other person's topic is all that interesting in a conversation.

Usage: E.g. A: 我平時鍾意寫app，去語言交流免費教人廣東話。B: 哦，interesting, interesting... (A: I like writing apps and going to language exchange to volunteer teaching people Cantonese regularly. B: Oh, interesting, interesting...) E.g. 我見外國人成日都用interesting 黎答人，仲要面無表情，會唔會係根本interesting 係外國一直都只係解： 哦⋯⋯. (I often see foreigners use 'interesting' as a response in a conversation, but without facial expression. Could it be that 'interesting' merely means like 'oh....' from a foreigner's perspective?)

Synonym: 很有趣, 哦

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1047783/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to contact lens.

Usage: E.g. 港女：我唔要戴眼鏡。我要戴con！

Reference: http://www.patrickchu.net/uploads/9/0/5/3/9053324/2007_free_ppt.pdf

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to a place to stay or live, which they believe should be provided by companies or schools that are accommodating.

Usage: E.g. 個人建議你有得報學校accommodation就報左先。(Personally, I suggest that you should apply for the school's accommodation if you can.) E.g. 你公司幫你搵咩accommodation？(What accommodation does your company provide?)

Synonym: 住宿

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3555364/page/32

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by Hong Kongers instead of '在家工作'.

Usage: E.g. 我今日真係爽呀，可以work from home。成日煲netflix都得啦！

Synonym: 在家工作

Definition: Pronounced as 'kaahn-taah' with a long back vowel and rising intonation, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a cashier's counter, information desk or service counter.

Usage: E.g. 小弟係個賣game仔，話說我今日放飯果陣緊係出去食飯啦，咁個counter緊係冇人啦 (I'm a game seller, and of course I went out to have lunch during my lunch break today, so there was no one looking after the counter.)

Synonym: 收銀處; 客戶服務中心; 櫃檯

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/740067/page/1

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is bragging about their achievements. (扮哂蟹 - baan6 saai3 haai5)

Usage: E.g. A: Stop acting like a crab! You think you are better than me?!

Synonym: 扮哂蟹

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-大頭蝦-big-head-prawn-language-hong-kong/

Definition: A code-mixing term that is more generic and appropriate to use in a number of different situations.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得你個idea好好呀！(主意） E.g. 你唔係一D idea都冇呀？（想法） E.g. 呢隻遊戲既idea算唔錯。(概念） E.g. 你提出既idea同我好唔同。（觀點） E.g. 廣告既idea就係要人買野。（目的）

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

Definition: A code-mixing term that a Jayden Mami uses to refer to a more playful misbehaviour in a lighthearted way rather than describing a child genuinely bad and unmanageable that the Cantonese equivalent terms tend to denote.

Usage: E.g. Jayden呀，唔好再咁naughty啦。你唔食菜，又唔飲湯，你唔會healthy架！(Jayden, don't be so naughty. If you don't eat vegetables and don't drink soup, you will not be healthy!)

Synonym: 曳；百厭

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/7397/

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: 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