Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Said to have originated from 'copycat' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to someone who cheats or copies other people's answers in an exam. (出貓)

Usage: E.g. Don't dare to bring out the cat in an exam! (唔好咁大擔考試出貓！)

Synonym: 出貓

Reference: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3181508/cat-got-your-tongue-feline-inspired-cantonese-slang-all-kinds

Definition: Used as '立flag', this is a code-mixing term used by local student Hong Kongers to refer to being very vocal about what you want to do, but end up doing something that is completely opposite.

Usage: E.g. 佢又立flag話以後會減肥，點知佢就走左食buffet。

Synonym: 立flag

Reference: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/cantonese-slang-you-need-to-know-right-now

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say 'please', 'excuse me' or 'thank you', depending on the situation. (唔該)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (To call the waiter at a restaurant) E.g. Mm goi jeh jeh (Excuse me, please let me through) E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you very much!) E.g. Set A lunch, mm goi. (Set A lunch, please) E.g. Mm goi, where is the MTR? (May I ask where is the MTR?)

Synonym: 唔該

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520%E2%80%9Chou%2520ging,jeng%E2%80%9D%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

Definition: Pronounced as '痾打', this is a more elegant term that refers to the Cantonese equivalent（落單）for placing orders.  Sometimes, it is used by the police when giving instructions to the subordinates.

Usage: E.g. D野仲未黎既？我落左order好耐喇喎。快D吹吓佢。E.g. 警察：This is an order! Understand?! 下屬：Yes, sir!

Synonym: 落單

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to cover a range of criteria in an exam such as a person's thought or perspective, process of thinking, mental attitude, reasoning path, etc. Sometimes, it may be a term short for critical thinking.

Usage: E.g. 考作文好睇你個thinking。(A writing exam really tests your thinking.)

Synonym: 諗法; 思路; 思考; 思想; 思維

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2517481/page/2

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 used by a Jayden Mami when they want their children to become conscious when getting out of bed in the morning, in addition to just getting up physically as in '起身' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Angus, 起身wake up喇。What time is it now? (Angus, get up and wake up. What time is it now?)

Synonym: 醒; 起身

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZhrxjDgEKu/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to having missed something, such as a bus or a deadline.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀，我miss左最後班車喇！\nE.g. 唔知miss左deadline會點呢？

Synonym: 錯過左

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '大文件夾' to refer to a large-sized folder for keeping documents.

Usage: E.g. 如果folder唔夠大，搵個binder再放哂D文件入去。

Synonym: 大文件夾

Definition: Often used as '升le' (呢), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to having made an advancement in something. (升級)

Usage: E.g. 哇！今次考試表現好左好多喎。簡直係升呢呀！

Synonym: 升級

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