Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: With a literal meaning of pig‘s intestines, this is a code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is lazy and has no progress in life. It originates from the swear word '撚樣‘ and is used as a euphemism for calling someone a dick face.

Usage: E.g. Ditch me again?! This guy is such a fun cheung! (又放我飛機？呢條友仔正粉腸!)

Synonym: 粉腸

Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/粉腸

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to 'semester' and can hardly be replaced '學期'.

Usage: E.g. 大學生：唔知今個sem考成點呢？ 你：份project幾時交呀？同學：sem尾先至交呀。

Synonym: 學期

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 that native Hong Kongers use to refer to getting fired from a job. (炒魷魚 - caau2 jau4 jyu2)

Usage: E.g. I messed up at work today and I got stir-fried squid!!!

Synonym: 炒魷魚

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-老細炒咗我魷-stir-fried-me-squid/

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak.

Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!

Synonym: 搭雞棚

Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam

Definition: This is an Englishised term of the Cantonese words '著數', which refers to advantages that one can offer.

Usage: E.g. 如果我幫你，你會比我D咩ｊｅｔｓｏ先？

Synonym: 著數

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/hk-magazine/article/2038083/what-exactly-jetso

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe people who are really just minding their own business but not necessarily alone or single.

Usage: E.g. 呢間bar啲人點呀？係唔係個個都好individual咁樣呀？ (How are the people in this bar? Are they all really just minding their own business?)

Synonym: 單獨

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@matthew_lam1116/post/DAcSyqdScem?hl=zh-hk

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a friend who gets along with you very well, even though it does not always mean it is someone who you can have a deep talk with, unlike '老best' in Cantonese meaning old best friend.

Usage: E.g. 我同我“Best Friend”玩咗好多年，但實際上我從來都無同過佢講我嘅心事，心入面仲會成日妒忌佢，成日當佢係我競爭對手，究竟咁樣仲叫唔叫best friend 呢.... (E.g. I played with my "Best Friend" for years, but in fact I have never shared what is in my heart with him, and would often be jealous of him and treat him as my competitor Is that still called a best friend?)

Synonym: 最好朋友

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/705900/page/1

Definition: A more linguistically efficient code-mixing term that refers to 'my favourite' in English. Originated from Hong Kong actor Ron Ng (吳卓羲).

Usage: E.g. 呢到既牛腩河係至正架！簡直係ｍｙ ｆａｖｉｔ！E.g. 吳卓羲：「Tailin, 賣飛佛（泰林，我的最愛）」

Synonym: 賣飛佛; 我的最愛

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/賣飛佛

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to state a problem or something that needs to be addressed and dealt with.

Usage: E.g. 當然如果錢對你嚟講唔係一個concern，或者呢啲worldly pleasures 對你嚟講你毫無興趣，咁你當然可以去搵更加大嘅意義。例如做吓義工，幫吓社會嘅人。(Of course if money is not a concern for you, or if these worldly pleasures are of no interest to you, then you can certainly search for greater meaning in life. For example, you can go volunteering and help people in the society.)

Synonym: 問題; 需要關注嘅事

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3039721/page/2