Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who is useless and is a waste of money to raise him or her up. (食濕米 or 食塞米)

Usage: E.g. You cannot get anything done at all today? Do you eat wet rice? (你係咪食塞米?)

Synonym: 食濕米, 食塞米

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/%E9%A3%9F%E5%A1%9E%E7%B1%B3

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by Hong Kong KOL Janice (janicewanwan) who is known for playing "Jayden’s mother" to emphasize the correctness of her teachings as a typical modern mom, which she says must be correct.

Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜有助 children 盡快 pick up English。Mommy told you 嘅一定是 correct 的. (Chinese-English code-mixing aids children in picking up English more quickly. Whatever Mommy told you must be correct.)

Synonym: 媽媽告訴你

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60339385/jayden之亂-中英夾雜潮文橫掃社交平台-諷刺港媽真實育兒方式?utm_campaign=native&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01webshare#google_vignette

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that is often mistaken as grammatically incorrect due to the word 'very' being considered redundant, as 'delicious' already denotes the meaning of very yummy. However, it originates from '好好味' in Cantonese, which means 'very very tasty'.

Usage: E.g. 哇，Ｄ野食真係very delicious呀。

Synonym: 好好味

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: Derived from '一波三折', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe an unexpected event with twists and turns. Literal meaning: A wave that is split into three segments.

Usage: E.g. 呢排真係好黑仔呀。簡直係one ball seventy percent off呀。(一波三折)

Synonym: 一波三折

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/58665/

Definition: Originated from Japanese TV show, this is an Englishised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a teenage-like person who often only lives in their own world and does things just to satisfy themselves, or even acting as if they have secret powers.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生吊威也求婚女友未say yes硬戴戒指網民：太中二了 (Derek Chung proposed to his girlfriend with a wire stunt and put the ring on her while she has not even said yes. Netizens commented: "Such secondary two syndrome!")

Synonym: 中二病

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1239684264415029/

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to giving irrelevant responses to questions.

Usage: E.g. A：你去邊？ B：我知道。Ａ：Nine not following eight!

Synonym: 九唔搭八

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-nine-not-following-eight/

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: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use instead of saying '開會' or having a '會議'.

Usage: E.g. 我聽日九點鐘有個meeting。開完meeting再搵你呀？

Synonym: 會議

Reference: https://theinitium.com/roundtable/20170226-lifestyle-mix-chn-eng/

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to describe something as more inferior in quality than another without saying it's of bad quality.

Usage: E.g. 我去過呢間bar。It's even worse!

Synonym: 更加差

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3047481/page/1