Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to an office's tea area with a whole bunch of facilities such as a sink, fridge, microwave oven and much more.

Usage: E.g. A: 見過最癲嘅公司pantry有啲咩？B: 罐裝汽水，果汁，咖啡任飲，十幾款薯片，餅乾，果仁任食，沙律任食，杯麵任食。C: 老鼠 (A: What are the craziest things you have ever seen in a company's pantry? B: Canned soda, juice, all-you-can-drink coffee, a dozen chips, biscuits, all-you-can-eat nuts, all-you-can-eat salad, all-you-can-eat cup noodles. C: Rats)

Synonym: 茶水間; 食品貯藏室

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2166431/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to describe something that is going on simultaneously as another, such as a task or event. At other times, it can also be used to describe things happening outside of work such as love relationships.

Usage: E.g. 呢兩個task幫我睇吓可唔可以同時parallel咁樣進行。(Help me see whether the two tasks can proceed at the same time.) E.g. 點解拍拖唔可以Parallel咁進行？ (Why can't you date more than one person at the same time?)

Synonym: 同時間

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3070535/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a game where a player hits a plastic ball with holes in it using a small racquette, which usually appeals more to females who find playing tennis too difficult.

Usage: E.g. 早幾年啲女興行山（有對腳就行得）、做GYM（有手有腳就可以鳩做＋打卡）。之後就開始Tennis，但門檻較高，同埋太多女學極都係咁廢，三分鐘熱度就收皮。而家就開始pickle ball，因為夠易玩 (In the past few years, girls were interested in hiking (you can walk if you have feet) and doing gym (you can do it if you have hands and feet + take pictures). Then they started playing tennis, but the learning curve is higher, and too many were extremely useless even when they kept learning, or they just gave up after 3 minutes. Now they started playing pickleball because it's easy enough to play.)

Synonym: 匹克球

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3987075/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to refer to making someone happy, satisfied and giving them pleasure, which is really not an easy task for anyone to do, but at least it doesn't always mean to win someone's favour by flattery like '取悦' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 宣萱自揭離開無綫原因：原來可能要刷鞋，要please一啲你唔想please嘅人，咁我問自己得唔得？唔得。(Jessica Hester Hsuan reveals the reason for leaving TVB: It turns out that you may have to make up to people, to please those who you don't want to please, so I ask myself can I? No.)

Synonym: 使滿意, 開心; 取悦

Reference: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20260202/bkn-20260202190138911-0202_00862_001.html

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami as a more precise and technical way of referring to an ordered waiting line. Also, it is often complemented with the English word 'long' to exaggerate the lengthiness of a queue when scolding a child.

Usage: E.g. 講咗呢啲holiday就係咁多人queue，條queue就係咁long嘅，冇可能你自己乜嘢都玩晒㗎嘛，係咪呀Jayden？(I have already said these holidays should have so many people queuing up. The queue is just that long, do you know you cannot play everything yourself, right Jayden?)

Synonym: 隊；龍

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/4112744/Jayden之亂｜KOL拍片諷刺「Jayden媽」偽ABC育兒法%E3%80%80揭爆紅現象時間線-港媽式教仔金句

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they become aware of a situation and understand it so that they can learn from it and make a wise decision next time.

Usage: E.g. 你唔realise第一間既loss又點樣低價買入第二間? (If you don't realise the loss of your first house, then how can you buy the second one at a low price?)

Synonym: 意識；領悟；發覺

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3638415/page/8

Definition: A classy code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to arranging something for use at a later time, such as a table or room.

Usage: E.g. 唔該可唔可以幫我make個reservation留兩張枱？(Excuse me, can you help me make a reservation for two tables?)

Synonym: 預訂

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3981159/page/19

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami as a broad umbrella term for a variety of different places that serve food in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Hailey, Mami頭先同你講去restaurant之前去定toilet。我一早估到你會急架。你兒家睇吓條queue幾long？又要等又要wait喇！(Hailey, Mami just told you to go to the toilet before going to the restaurant. And I have expected that you want to go to the toilet now. But can you see how long the queue is right now? We have to wait and wait again!)

Synonym: 餐廳; 酒家; 飯店; 餐館; 食店

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

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe working for a job while looking for a better one. (騎牛搵馬 - ke4 ngau4 wan2 maa5)

Usage: E.g. Look for a job first! You can always ride an ox while looking for a horse!

Synonym: 騎牛搵馬

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a set of responsibilities and duties undertaken by a job position. At times, it may simply be a role that a person plays, but not one where much work is to be done.

Usage: E.g. 講廢role黎講，睇咗好耐一直覺得PM先最撚廢[sosad]十個有9個都唔知detail，又唔識domain野 ，解決問題又幫唔到手，同人講數因為唔熟啲野又講唔到咩好結果出黎 (Speaking of useless roles, I have observed for a long time and I always thought project manager is the most useless. It's like nine out of ten of them do not know the details or have domain knowledge. They also cannot solve problems or help others, and when they talk to people regarding issues they reach good results because they are not familiar with anything.)

Synonym: 工作角色; 職位

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3844073/page/4