Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers say in order to avoid bad luck, which is similar to '大吉利是' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Touchwood講句，如果件貨聽日唔準時到，請問要等到幾時呢？

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/733616/page/1

Definition: A Kongish expression used to describe someone who is so reckless that he or she is almost getting himself killed or into a big trouble.

Usage: You spent all your money on gambling? Do you know how to write the die character?!

Synonym: 你唔知個死字點寫

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity tutors to refer to a collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal.

Usage: E.g. 狀元培育向來都是team work. （Nurturing top scorers has always been team work.)

Synonym: 團體合作

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRGmhTQjT1N/?igsh=NWtoNHZ6OGRyOW8x (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers when they want to tell somebody to be ready to do something anytime without making them feel ordered to do the task.

Usage: E.g. 聽日放工記住隨時standby，有可能有客搵你。(Remember to standby tomorrow after work, as there may be customers who need you.)

Synonym: 待命；候命

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3476706/page/1

Definition: A way to avoid losing face or embarassment when you do not know how to answer the boss's question. However, it can be considered unprofessional if used too much at a workplace.

Usage: E.g. 你：我搵過好多次，但係somehow條數搵唔到。老細:哦，係呀？（你：我搵過好多次，但係唔知點解條數搵唔到。老細:咁實有原因架喎？） E.g. 你：個printer somehow壞左呀。老細:哦。（你：個printer唔知點解壞左呀。老細:我唔想聽到唔知點解！）

Synonym: 唔知點解

Definition: A classic Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to picking up, chatting up and courting someone, especially girls. Even though this is considered a more serious term than 'flirting', it is still very often used to describe someone who is just chatting up the opposite sex but not necessarily looking for romance, especially for the long term.

Usage: E.g. Tonight go ng go kau lui? (Want to pick up girls tonight?)

Synonym: 溝

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,39072

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: A code-mixing term used by real ABC Hong Kongers to refer to someone deciding not to do something because they are too frightened.

Usage: E.g. 我地講吓飲啤酒咋喎。你唔係咁快就chicken out嘛？

Reference: https://www.tkww.hk/epaper/view/newsDetail/1368997059457323008.html

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term that refers to 'together' in English.

Usage: E.g. Nei zi chin mai wah seung do new pt, my frd arm arm told me kui find gun ppl, go tgt oj ng oj? (你之前咪話想做新Part Time，我朋友同我講佢搵緊人，一齊去好唔好？)

Synonym: together

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/283411/大學生打字用火星文-10句港式英文拼音大挑戰-測試你識幾多

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to changing something in order to improve or make it new again, such as a website.

Usage: E.g. 個website做revamp要幾耐？

Synonym: 翻新