Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express worry about something.

Usage: E.g. 最近公司既野收入令到我好concern。

Reference: https://www.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/職場英語-盤點辦公室改不掉的中英夾雜-double-comfirm是錯的/1301-25515

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to describe something that is very annoying and frustrating to the point where it causes constant trouble or inconvenience, even though it has nothing to do with someone's butt.

Usage: E.g. 之後見到Front desk同事，話果間房客係”pain in the arse”, 佢不停投訴，個個都想佢快L d check out,但佢不停extend (Then I saw my front desk colleague, saying that the guest was ”pain in the arse”. He kept complaining, and everyone wanted him to check out quickly, but he kept extending his stay at the room.)

Synonym: 令人討厭或痛苦的

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BBRT_1BUrh/

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that a Jayden Mami likes to repeatedly use to order their children to show gratitude to someone.

Usage: E.g. Katherine, 人地比野你, 你要講 thank you, 你要say thank you, 快D say thank you. (Katherine, when people give you something, you need to say thank you, you have to say thank you. Say thank you quickly!)

Synonym: 講多謝

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVAkhPqj83Z/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of work done for companies independently with much flexibility and freedom, which resembles the origin of the word that referred to a medieval mercenary who would fight for whoever paid them the most.

Usage: E.g. 接邊間公司既freelance做先最賺錢呀？緊係呢間啦！(Which company should I earn me the most doing a freelance job for? Definitely this company!)

Synonym: 自由工作

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@duoproduction/post/C_pdWgzS9qd

Definition: Known as 'JM tone', this is a code-mixing word that Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man use to refer to reserving someone, even though it is criticised as Fake ABC English due to a most likely wrong word usage.

Usage: E.g. 上天會deserve一個好好嘅人等緊我。(意思：reserve)

Reference: https://inews.hket.com/article/1522091/Janice%20Man英文教室%20%20教你練成JM%20Tone

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to sea urchin in a Japanese restaurant.

Usage: E.g. 當你碰上「海膽壽司」時，你可能會說Uni Sushi，但一些餐館會稱「海膽」為Sea Urchin來代替Uni (When you come across "sea urchin sushi", you will probably say Uni Sushi, but some restaurants will still use "sea urchin" to refer to uni.)

Synonym: 海膽; sea urchin

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

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 romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers when they cannot get the f**k out the train on the MTR. Literal meaning: Please move aside.

Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (唔該) *nobody moves* Mm ho yi si. (唔好意思) *nobody moves* Mm goi jeh jeh! (唔該借借) *people move out of the way*

Synonym: 唔該借借

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to the car brand Mercedes-Benz

Usage: Wow! Ban¹ ci⁴ ah!

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing idiom used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who refuses to concede despite knowing that they made the mistake in the first place. '死雞撐飯蓋' can also be shortened to '死撐' sometimes.

Usage: E.g. You know you've done wrong! Stop being like a dead chicken propping up the rice cooker lid!

Synonym: 死雞撐飯蓋

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