Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A more neutral-sounding term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to '購物' or '買野', which signify the commitment to buying things.

Usage: E.g. 女朋友：我地聽日去商場啦。男朋友：吓？又買野？！女朋友：唔係呀。去shopping咋嘛。 E.g. 女朋友：我地聽日去shopping啦。男朋友：又買野？！女朋友：去window shopping咋嘛。

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/1177618/Cantonese_English_code_switching_research_in_Hong_Kong_A_survey_of_recent_research

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to something that is like an eyesore to oneself because he or she cannot withstand it anymore.

Usage: E.g. 你地做成日都打爛野。我真係no eye see喇。（冇眼睇）

Synonym: 冇眼睇

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Definition: A code-mixing term that is more appropriate to use than the equivalent term (培訓）in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 你新黎既話，公司係會有training比你。 E.g. A：我今晚要培訓呀。B：吓？你陪邊個呀？！(陪訓）

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

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by local Hong Kong students to refer to having no time for activities such as dinner or party, which doesn't necessarily mean they have no more time left in their lives such as due to a terminal illness.

Usage: E.g. A: Do you want to join the party tonight? B: I have no time.

Synonym: 我冇時間

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj7SHv4Jhw4

Definition: A tag-switching phrase overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to create a western appeal.

Usage: E.g. You know, 我成日去做gym緊係fit啦, you know。 E.g. 我係上等人咁緊係成日夾雜英文啦, you know?

Reference: https://travel.ulifestyle.com.hk/news/detail/12179/明明無r音都要捲舌-5大令人頂唔順的偽abc特徵/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that upper class Hong Kongers like to use when they want to sound like they are taking the time to choose something, rather than being so picky and indecisive.

Usage: E.g. A: 今個假期你會去邊呀？B: 我仲explore緊有咩options。(A: Where will you go this holiday? B: I am still exploring options.)

Synonym: 探索

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@christineknlau/post/DSXI_fNj5ES/christine呀我份工其實唔錯但總覺得缺少啲嘢-最近好多人同我講類似嘅話人工ok但冇挑戰性同事nice但冇growth公司穩定但好悶呢種感覺我稱之為care

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that Hong Kong expats use when they don't understand what someone is saying in Cantonese.

Usage: Hong Konger: 你叫咩名? Expat: Mm sick teng.

Synonym: 唔識聽

Reference: https://geoexpat.com/forum/53/thread22332-2.html

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used when you really care not to offend someone.

Usage: E.g. Frankly speaking呢，我覺得你唔夠ｑｕａｌｉ囉。 E.g. Frankly speaking呢，我對你既印象麻麻地囉。 E.g. Frankly speaking呢，我覺得你好扮野囉。

Definition: Derived from '公主病', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a female who acts like a princess all the time and possesses the worst possible qualities such as narcissism and materialism. It tends to associate with Hong Kong women and is quite stereotypical of '港女', the Kong girl.

Usage: E.g. 港男：Why are you scolding me like this? Do you have princess sickness? (你做咩喺度鬧我呀? 你係咪有公主病?)

Synonym: 公主病

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/49823/

Definition: Also written as '啹' in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term that refers to the feeling of accepting somebody who is an adversary.

Usage: E.g. 佢上次嬴我令到我好唔gur，不過今次我嬴返佢我就gur哂。

Synonym: 啹

Reference: https://words.hk/zidin/v/啹