Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (adj.) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to describe the small miniscule parts of something or something as being comprehensive.

Usage: E.g. 因為隻舞係我哋自己編，Sean同大Hugo編，佢哋知道個detail位係邊，佢哋講得好清楚，所以就好快上手啦 (Because the dance was being arranged by us - Sean and Hugo. They knew the detailed parts of it and explained it very well so we could learn it so quickly.) E.g. 洗唔洗咁detail呀？ (Does it need to be that detailed / comprehensive?)

Synonym: 細緻; 詳細

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZHDDcIFiMy/?igsh=MW00bDQyZ2ZvdHkwMQ== (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to negotiating terms and conditions of an employment agreement or contract in addition to just the salary.

Usage: E.g. Offer人工太低 簽約嗰陣仲有無得bargain? (If I am being offered a low salary, can I still bargain when signing the contract?)

Synonym: 講價

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1130972/page/1

Definition: (verb) A more suitable term for the Cantonese equivalent word '檢查', which sounds too formal and serious, like doing a body check.

Usage: E.g. 同我check吓份文件好嗎？

Synonym: 檢查

Reference: https://holiday.presslogic.com/article/224449/港式-廣東話-中英夾雜-口語-香港人-搭lift-食lunch

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that overseas educated Hong Kongers use when they want to express their well-educated guess or opinion on a subject matter without sounding so formal and bookish.

Usage: E.g. 呢個program我覺得in general係幾學到野。(I think I can really learn from this program in general.)

Synonym: 一般而言

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3990504/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a more abstract way of referring to a person's relationship status without a partner than emphasizing the physical body as ‘單身’ denotes in Cantonese. Even though 'dog' is seen as a derogatory term, the phrase is often treated as a common everyday joke than it is really mocking someone seriously.

Usage: E.g. 無論班女仔fd幾大班，三個又好，五個又好，十幾個又好，都係得我係single dog (No matter how big my group of female friends is, three or five or ten, I am the single dog.)

Synonym: 單身狗

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/708381/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a restaurant located inside a school or company. However, it is worth noting that the origin of the word is from Europe and should not to be confused with ‘can-ting’ or ‘can-teng’ in Mandarin or Cantonese (餐廳), which start with the ‘ts’ sound instead of ‘k’ sound in ‘can’.

Usage: E.g. 今日好多人呀！快啲落canteen霸位啦！(There are so many people today! Let's go to the canteen to hog the seats first!)

Synonym: 飯堂; 食堂 ; 餐廳

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

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fi-lo' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that is more generic to be used for a number of different items in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 唔該copy呢個file比我。（電腦檔案） E.g. 買多個file儲住D紀錄。（文件夾） E.g. 警察：我哋會睇返呢單case既file。（檔案）

Synonym: 文件夾; 檔案

Reference: https://aclanthology.org/O09-5003.pdf

Definition: A code-mixing term used to refer to holding something physically (揸), but with the meaning of waiting for the return of something as well.

Usage: E.g. Hold住個電話先。 E.g. 個project兒家hold住左，因為要同個客傾返好先。

Synonym: 揸

Reference: https://repository.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/item/cuhk-321644

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone being a scapegoat or taking the blame for something that they did not do.

Usage: E.g. I did not cheat in the exam and you made me eat dead cat??!

Synonym: 食死貓

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Definition: To reserve something, such as an appointment or place, without sounding like it's a date.

Usage: E.g. 請問你幫我book左個appointment未? E.g. 聽日book左枱未呀？（訂枱）

Synonym: 訂; 約

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf