Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish codemixing term that refers to a person who has never been in a relationship before. I.e. Available = 0.

Usage: E.g. Nei dou year 4 lah, ng hai lum ju a0 grad har wah. （你都Year 4啦，唔係諗住A0 grad吓話。）

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/article/283411?utm_source=01appshare&utm_medium=referral

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a softer way of not responding to someone without acting like that person isn't there at all.

Usage: E.g. 畀男朋友ignore到灰 (I am being ignored by my boyfriend to the point of being very sad.)

Synonym: 無視

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/361401/page/5

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a year where one’s Chinese zodiac offends or clashes with the God of Tai Sui, which means the fortune of the year will not be as smooth as others.

Usage: I was born in the year of the snake and I am fan tai sui this year! Let’s go to the temple to pray for protection and peace!

Synonym: 犯太歲

Reference: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tai-sui/

Definition: Often added with a ‘咗’ like the ‘-ed’ form in English for past tense, this is a code-mixing term that is used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to having completed something, such as an event or project.

Usage: E.g. 你地finish咗個project未呀？ E.g. 終於finish咗個event！

Synonym: 完成

Reference: https://www.businesstimes.com.hk/articles/157451/創新科技獎學金2024-挑選25位傑出大學生-每人最高15萬港元獎學金/

Definition: A code-mixing term that the Hong Kong actor Dicky Cheung (張衛健) loves to use in the "Journey of the West" Cantonese TV episode, in order to display the almighty character of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King.

Usage: E.g. Yo！打妖精咋麻，洗乜驚呀？！

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtl4WF0RwWI&t=224s

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the computer file that is sent along with an email message.

Usage: E.g. 我搵唔到你個email既attachment。可以再send多次嗎？

Synonym: 附件

Reference: https://hk.ulifestyle.com.hk/topic/detail/20052582/香港職場30個中英夾雜用語-內地網民-自己會粵語也聽不懂/1

Definition: Originated from the Hong Kong Olympics sprint athlete '刁俊希', this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they feel like they cannot bother giving a f*** about something.

Usage: E.g. Should I study for this exam? Felix Diu!

Synonym: 費撚事屌

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@lovelovehannigram/post/DH8tkORpNQ2

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term for 'professional'. (adjective)

Usage: E.g. 哇，你打tennis好pro呀。可以叫你一聲大佬嗎？ E.g. 耳機都買到咁靚？洗唔洗咁pro呀？

Synonym: 專業

Definition: Originated from French, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to ordering single dishes individually.

Usage: E.g. 如果你唔鍾意叫set dinner，你可以叫 à la carte。(If you don't like to order the set dinner, you can order single dishes.)

Synonym: 單點; 散嗌; 散叫

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2011/12/21/ED1112210026.htm

Definition: With a literal meaning of 'hot air', this is a romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to having overheat from eating too much spicy or fried foods, leading to pimples and freckles growing on your face or even buttocks. Also, yeet hay seems to only exist in Chinese medicine but not western medicine according to native Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to eat barbeque? B: No thanks, I am very yeet hay recently.

Synonym: 熱氣

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/C7PVDJZpVgq/ (use mobile version)