Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A euphemistic way of saying to somebody that you want to teach them a lesson or show them what you've got. (比D顏色你睇)

Usage: E.g. 咁寸?! Let me give you some color see see!

Synonym: 比D顏色你睇

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that is used as an adverb to emphasize the intensity of an adjective, which is similar to ‘very’ in English.

Usage: E.g. Ho ging ah! (Very powerful) E.g. Ho ying ah! (Very good looking) E.g. Ho jeng ah! (Very good or awesome) E.g. Ho ho may! (Very delicious)

Synonym: 好

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“hou%2520ging,jeng”%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

Definition: A shortened code-mixing term that refers to 'certificate'.

Usage: E.g. 我終於考到張cert喇！

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)

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a more sequential and orderly way of describing the progression of something, especially when giving instructions.

Usage: E.g. 實際通常都係 step by step 咁去先會得到結果 中間所有野都唔理咪做唔到囉 (In practice, I usually go step by step in order to get results. I won't be able to do it if I don't care about everything in the middle.

Synonym: 逐步; 一步一步

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/kt4404.hk/posts/發覺原來自學-it-都幾難-分享自-lihkg-討論區-呢個-reply-值得深思好多人諗野學野做野都話自己係-result-oriented唔理個過程係點得到/4291301534246259/

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by native Hong Kongers to refer to getting high or excited.

Usage: E.g. 尋晚唱K唱到好high。 E.g. 你咪成日喺到自high啦。

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to starting a fight.

Usage: E.g. This is a school! Don't start a film here!

Synonym: 開片

Definition: A slightly more polite sounding code-mixing term that real ABC's in Hong Kong like to use instead the Cantonese equivalent '大佬', meaning 'big brother', even though the literal meaning is usually not taken when used, just like the word 'dude'.

Usage: E.g. Dude，你係到搞D咩呀？ E.g. Dude，你好還錢喇喎？ E.g. Dude，你以為你自己好型呀？

Synonym: 大佬

Definition: A more neutral-sounding term that native Hong Kongers use to refer to '購物' or '買野', which signify the commitment to buying things.

Usage: E.g. 女朋友：我地聽日去商場啦。男朋友：吓？又買野？！女朋友：唔係呀。去shopping咋嘛。 E.g. 女朋友：我地聽日去shopping啦。男朋友：又買野？！女朋友：去window shopping咋嘛。

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/1177618/Cantonese_English_code_switching_research_in_Hong_Kong_A_survey_of_recent_research

Definition: A code-mixing term used by the upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the Italian luxury brand. However, the grassroots Hong Kongers pronounce it as '飛甩雞毛', which means the chicken dropping its feathers.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：你著緊咩牌子？飛甩雞毛？Ｂ：係Ferragamo呀。

Synonym: 飛甩雞毛