Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: An a lot more gentle and caring way of telling someone to take care of themselves compared to the Cantonese equivalent. Explanation: 你自己照顧自己—＞以後你自己搞掂喇—＞你自己食自己—＞慘慘豬（＠Ｖ＠）

Usage: E.g. 媽咪要去旅行喇。你自己take care喇。 E.g. 以後take care喇。Sayorara.

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '辦公室'.

Usage: E.g. 聽日返office定係work from home呀？

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

Definition: 1. (adj) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to describe a person being clever or quick to notice things. Sometimes, it is used as 'sharp醒'. 2. (adj) Used to describe someone's appearance as being too eye-catching.

Usage: E.g. 哇，乜今日咁sharp醒呀？咁快做哂D野？ E.g. 呢件衫Ｄ顏色太sharp喇。

Reference: http://www.cmi.hku.hk/Ref/Article/article02/01.html

Definition: Pronounced as 'lig', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to computer lag.

Usage: E.g. 部機好似唔夠RAM，好lag機呀。

Definition: (textspeak, vulgar) A Kongish code-mixing term derived from '痴撚線', which is used to describe someone who has gone crazy or insane. (Also see 'chi sin'.)

Usage: E.g. CLS公司俾得果幾千蚊人工仲要人日日OT..

Synonym: 痴撚線

Reference: https://hkdic.my-helper.com/CLS/

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to refer to a social event.

Usage: E.g. 最近公司有咩function要搞？

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to the red packets of cash given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Even though the first character of the phrase should be pronounced as 'lai' or 'lei' with a short vowel in Cantonese, it is often pronounced as 'laai' with a long vowel when in romanised form, leading to the expression sounding like 'laai see' (瀨屎), which means to poop in one's pants in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Expat: Have you got any lai see during Chinese New Year? HK'er: Laai see? Sure! I have laaaai see today. Just kidding.

Synonym: 利是

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/2007/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having enough money to buy something without indicating one's ability to cope with such burden.

Usage: E.g. 點解要鍾意自己 afford 唔起嘅 luxury? (Why love luxury that you can't afford?)

Synonym: 負擔得起; 買得起

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3vop4Epm7/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to marking something in order to show that it is chosen or correct.

Usage: E.g. 快D tick點心紙啦。我好餓呀。(Tick the dim sum order form quickly. I'm so hungry.)

Synonym: 剔

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

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to emphasize that something is not a complex problem.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係rocket science。再一齊諗諗佢就解決得到。

Reference: https://www.mi-learning.com/itsnotrocketscience-meaning/