Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (textspeak) Transliterated from ‘好多’ meaning ‘a lot’ or ‘many’, this is a Kongish code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to complain about the excess of homework.

Usage: E.g. Ho dor gong for ah! (好多功課呀！)

Synonym: 好多

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use when they want to illustrate a point from a certain person’s role, but without much emphasis on what it means to be in that role entirely.

Usage: E.g. 或者只係as一個消費者去against for尊重及權益：呢個只係好first step嘅抗議。我地有權維護自己利益，再而就罷買 (Or just as a consumer to against for respect and rights - This is just a very first step protest. We have the right to uphold our own interests and then boycott as a consumer.)

Synonym: 作為

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/113938/page/23

Definition: An Englishised code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to a person who likes to say nice things to flatter someone, especially for the sake of promotion in a workplace. Also known as kissing someone's arse.

Usage: E.g. You're such a shoe polisher!

Synonym: 擦鞋仔

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcsWOeRgxlW/?igsi=MzhpcGs0NzZ2b3h0 (use mobile version)

Definition: Originated from Mandarin meaning 'I love you', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to '唔要你' in Cantonese, which means "Don't want you" in English.

Usage: E.g. A: 今日係520喔！點解您孤伶伶一個人呢？B: 哈哈哈哈哈，你個問題咁得意架咩？(A: Today is May 20th! Why are you so lonely? B: Hahahaha, why is your question so interesting?)

Synonym: 唔要你

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1pTDlz4Vns

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to sending things over the internet. ('發送')

Usage: E.g. 你可唔可以send張相比我呀？

Synonym: 發送

Definition: Pronounced as 'long tie lo see', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots class Hong Kongers for greeting someone they have not seen for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 喂！Ｌｏｎｇ　ｔｉｅ　ｌｏ　ｓｅｅ！

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is very similar to or combines very well with something or someone.

Usage: E.g. 哇，Ｄ顏色好match呀。 E.g. 你地簡直係perfect match呀！

Synonym: 配

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong parents when they want to train their kids to be more well-behaved and organised without sounding so harsh and verbose.

Usage: E.g. 你今次考試考到咁低分。以後要discipline啲去溫書，知唔知？！(You got such a low mark in the exam this time. From now on, you should have more discipline to study, understand?)

Synonym: 有紀律

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something that is so obvious that there is no need to ask anyone about it, especially after finding out the wrong of somebody. 'Ah Gui' is a name that originated from an infamous official (李世桂) in the Qing Dynasty.

Usage: E.g. It must be him who let out the secrets! No need to ask Ah Gui!

Synonym: 唔洗問阿貴

Reference: https://www.kamadelivery.com/blog/posts/香港10大俗語-地道文化背景大解構/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they admire or recognise the value of someone or something and want to show gratitude at the same time.

Usage: E.g. 好appreciate你咁短時間去練廣東話，真係好彩你聲底好靚，同埋你音樂感好好，即使廣東話唔係你最擅長嘅。(I really appreciate that you learned Cantonese in such a short period of time. It's very fortunate that you have a great voice and a very good music sense, even though Cantonese is not your strength.)

Synonym: 欣賞；感激；多謝

Reference: https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20260122/1769072872519/《中4》藝人代表「貓女郎」引發腹式呼吸之爭-肥媽被取笑鬧爆周國豐