Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person who is a yellow-skinned Asian but speaks English very well. I.e. Yellow on the outside but white on the inside like a bamboo stick. (竹升)

Usage: E.g. Please don’t treat me like a bamboo stick! (竹升) I know how to speak Chinese!

Synonym: 竹升

Definition: Often expressed as two separate words ‘cheese’ and ‘cake’, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who have more than a regular habit of going to Starbucks or Pacific Coffee to eat cheesecake.

Usage: E.g. A: 唔該，我想要十個blueberry cheeeeese cake. B: 唔好意思，冇咁多個。(Excuse me, may I have ten blueberry cheesecakes? B: I’m sorry, but there aren’t that many.)

Synonym: 芝士蛋糕

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/760451/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to showing loving kindness towards a person to a point where you could be having a crush on that person.

Usage: E.g. 素海霖：你太care我 care到我覺得你鍾意我 (Erena So: You care too much about me to the point where I feel you like me)

Synonym: 關心

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3587216

Definition: Transliterated from '玻璃心' meaning 'heart made of glass', this is a code-mixing phrase used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to someone who can be easily hurt and broken, just like as fragile as glass.

Usage: E.g. He is very manly but he is actually a polly shum when it comes to love.

Synonym: 玻璃心

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a person's mental state that is immediate for action without necessarily having done any preparation. When used in negation form 'not ready', it may mean that preparation is already done but the person is still not ready.

Usage: E.g. 如果一個女仔話鍾意你，但係未ready一齊，要我等，係咩意思 (If a girl says she likes you, but isn't ready to be together with you and asks you to wait, what does that mean?)

Synonym: 準備好

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/3629688/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used in place of '交'.

Usage: E.g. 同學：份功課幾時due呀？你：好似聽日due得喇喎。

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe any unfortunate event such as an accident.

Usage: E.g. If I have any winter melon tofu, I will sue your company!!!

Synonym: 冬瓜豆腐

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/39119/

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used instead of '典禮'.

Usage: E.g. 同學：個ceremony好耐呀，完未架？ 同學：你幾時去grad ceremony呀？ 你：我黎唔到個ceremony呀。

Synonym: 典禮

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe a man whose wife is cheating on him.

Usage: E.g. Why did you have to cheat on me and let me wear the green hat for so long?!!

Synonym: 載綠帽

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash+hudson&utm_content=www.instagra (use mobile version)

Definition: Often added with a ‘lor’ (囉) denoting a tone of reluctance, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they want to say sorry or apologize to someone.

Usage: E.g. Ａ： 喂，你踩到我隻腳喎！Ｂ：SOR囉。(A: Hey, you stepped on my foot! B: SOR LOR.)

Synonym: 對唔住，sorry

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DScomA6EVMW/?img_index=1&igsh=MWNwaWNrd2tkM3JtYg== (use mobile version)