Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a distinctive characteristic by which someone or something can be identified.

Usage: E.g. 中英夾雜絕對係香港人signature。 E.g. 呢碟菜就係呢間餐廳既signature。

Synonym: 標誌，招牌菜

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

Definition: A shortened term for the word 'socialise' in English, which may mean different things in various situations.

Usage: E.g. 喂，你so吓人好喎？(to show that you care about others) E.g. 喂，唔好成日掛住soＤ女仔啦。(to court somebody) E.g. 喂，後生仔要出黎soso吓先得架嘛。(to socialise) E.g. 喂，你最近好似唔係好so-so喎。(being social)

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: A code-mixing filler term that real ABC's in Hong Kong love to use in all kinds of situations.

Usage: E.g. 係呀，我男朋友對我幾好架，like...成日買衫比我啦，同我出街啦，like...總知好到形容唔到啦。 E.g. 外國生活幾好架，like...我成日可以踩單車啦，去shopping mall買野啦，like...總知好到數唔哂啦。 E.g. 係呀。It's like... It's like... you know? 你知我想講咩架？

Synonym: 即係

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Miss Hong Kong celebrity Grace Chan to refer to an "unknown liquid" that was splashed on her son’s head by a woman while watching a Spiderman movie in a cinema.

Usage: E.g. 陳凱琳指兒子被淋Cream受驚已報警：而據悉在觀眾散場時，該名女子疑因不滿而突然發難，涉嫌直接向陳凱琳兒子的頭部潑淋不明乳狀液體，隨後迅速離開現場。愛子心切的陳凱琳在諮詢後，已於翌日前往中區警署報案 (Grace Chan reported to the police after her son was splashed by cream: It is reported that as the audience was leaving, a woman apparently dissatisfied suddenly lashed out, allegedly pouring an unknown liquid directly on the head of Grace Chan’s son before quickly fleeing. Deeply concerned for her son, Grace Chan sought advice and filed a police report at Central Police Station the next day.)

Synonym: 忌廉

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3600942/陳凱琳回應影院風波-證二仔被淋Cream已報警好心痛-兒子疑踢凳惹女觀眾發難

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to visual look or pattern of something rather than the planning and structure of how something works.

Usage: E.g. 有冇潮人講既呢對鞋個design 個設計精髓 (Any trendy person is talking about the design of this shoe, or the design essence?)

Synonym: 設計

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3008007/page/1

Definition: A posh way of saying that you admire someone's work or effort, in order to show your high social status or higher education background.

Usage: E.g. 我好appreciate你個idea. Well done. E.g. 我好appreciate你做既野。不過，你都唔可以迫我accept你個apology。

Synonym: 欣賞

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express worry about something.

Usage: E.g. 最近公司既野收入令到我好concern。

Reference: https://www.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/職場英語-盤點辦公室改不掉的中英夾雜-double-comfirm是錯的/1301-25515

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: An ultra polite code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who really know how to sincerely say sorry or apologise to someone.

Usage: E.g. Do姐：全部都錯。嗱，唔係sorly，係sorry，捲脷架。(Carol Cheng: All wrong. It's not sorly, it's sorry, you have to roll your tongue.)

Synonym: Sor, 對唔住

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPgONqRk7Qc/?igsh=NWZ3ODYzdjBydmdj (use mobile version)