Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (idiom) Known as Kongish and derived from '五時花六時變‘, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is indecisive and prone to changing his or her plan all the time.

Usage: E.g. 你唔係話過鍾意呢件衫咩？你真係five o'clock flower six o'clock change呀。（五時花六時變）

Synonym: 五時花六時變

Reference: https://youtu.be/_3hhDIErE2g?si=SLsZUTCKhV5cfm8x

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that refers to singing karaoke.

Usage: E.g Gum man hui ng hui sing k? (今晚去唔去唱K?)

Synonym: 唱卡啦OK

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to pulling a face that looks pretentious in order to look cool.

Usage: E.g. 林峯：你睇吓我個樣夠唔夠chok？！

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-hea-chok-chur/

Definition: (adj.) An irreplaceable code-mixing term used to describe an unhappy state, especially when a person has been devastated by someone.

Usage: E.g. 喂，你知唔知人地係會好hurt架？ E.g. 喂，你咁講野人地係會好hurt架。 E.g. 點都好，你應該唔好hurt到人先岩。

Reference: https://medium.com/@girlslearnenglish/你說話會中英夾雜嗎-被-污名化-的中英夾雜-why-code-mixing-is-totally-fine-32eb1f280ca

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use in place of the Cantonese equivalent '交換'.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：我地swap一個球員好唔好？Ｂ：好呀，我同你swap啦。

Synonym: 交換

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to working overtime. Sometimes, it is used as '冬OT' (winter OT), which means 'don't OT'.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：死喇，咁多野做。唔知今晚要OT到幾時呢？Ｂ：冬ＯＴ！

Synonym: 加班

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

Definition: A romanised Cantonese phrase used by foreigners to bargain in a wet market, in order to get a bigger deal or low price. A 'la' is also usually added at the end for emphasis.

Usage: E.g. This is fifty dollars? Peng di la!

Synonym: 平D

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/travel/basic-cantonese-phrases-every-traveller-to-hong-kong-needs-to-know

Definition: A euphemistic way of telling somebody to eat sh*t (食屎).

Usage: E.g. 咁巴閉?! Eat c la!

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 Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the extent someone is shortsighted in degree units.

Usage: E.g. You are shortsighted? What is your eye degrees?

Synonym: prescription, diopters, 度數

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmy095Db9U&t=190s