Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something that is so obvious that there is no need to ask anyone about it, especially after finding out the wrong of somebody. 'Ah Gui' is a name that originated from an infamous official (李世桂) in the Qing Dynasty.

Usage: E.g. It must be him who let out the secrets! No need to ask Ah Gui!

Synonym: 唔洗問阿貴

Reference: https://www.kamadelivery.com/blog/posts/香港10大俗語-地道文化背景大解構/

Definition: Often complemented with '跌' meaning 'decrease'', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe the state of becoming worse and being out of shape, like a decrease in wattage of a device.

Usage: E.g. Sophie 搞咩，同GM 一齊後跌曬Watt, 由女神變平民，噤熄自己嘅光…冇曬自己。(What's wrong with Sophie? After being with GM, she became out of shape entirely. From a goddess to a commoner, she turned off the spotlight on her... and lost herself completely.)

Synonym: 瓦; 功率

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BBmvzp26S-/

Definition: Pronounced as 'call-lee' with a rising tone on the second syllable, this code-mixing term is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the English word 'qualification'. Often used together with the word 'show' to mean 'show off'.

Usage: E.g. 你冇qualie就唔好係到扮哂野啦。 E.g. 你唔好係到掛住show qualie啦，兄弟。 E.g. 睇唔出你咁有qualie喎。

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use instead of '跳過'.

Usage: E.g. 條題目好難。skip左先啦。

Synonym: 跳過

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/生活/中英夾雜-港式廣東話-gt12-772959/

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that refers to giving irrelevant responses to questions.

Usage: E.g. A：你去邊？ B：我知道。Ａ：Nine not following eight!

Synonym: 九唔搭八

Reference: https://zolimacitymag.com/pop-cantonese-nine-not-following-eight/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they admire or recognise the value of someone or something and want to show gratitude at the same time.

Usage: E.g. 好appreciate你咁短時間去練廣東話，真係好彩你聲底好靚，同埋你音樂感好好，即使廣東話唔係你最擅長嘅。(I really appreciate that you learned Cantonese in such a short period of time. It's very fortunate that you have a great voice and a very good music sense, even though Cantonese is not your strength.)

Synonym: 欣賞；感激；多謝

Reference: https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20260122/1769072872519/《中4》藝人代表「貓女郎」引發腹式呼吸之爭-肥媽被取笑鬧爆周國豐

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used by people in the IT sector to refer to a computer bug (漏洞).

Usage: E.g. 唔係掛？今次個program有咁多bug？！

Synonym: 漏洞

Definition: A highly efficient code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use when they want to do a short summary of what happened in a period of time without sounding so repetitive, old school and verbose as '概括重述' denotes.

Usage: E.g. 不如我地一齊recap一下今個week做左咩？(What about doing a recap of what we did this week?)

Synonym: 概括重述

Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20052634/香港職場中英夾雜用語-內地網民舉30個例子-表示識粵語都無法理解

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to treating someone a meal, such as lunch or dinner.

Usage: E.g. Can you invite you to dinner today?

Synonym: 請

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkP4AAqaKTk

Definition: A classic code-mixing term often used with the word 'case' to get someone to follow up on something in a professional manner.  However, it is now often associated with the 'follow' used in social media.

Usage: E.g. 唔該同我follow吓個case呀。 E.g. 呢個case follow成點呀？ E.g. 快D follow我個IG啦！

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