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: A romanised Cantonese phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to call the minibus driver to stop at the next bus stop. (有落)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi yau lok! (唔該，有落)

Synonym: 有落

Definition: Often added with a '屎' (faeces), this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a salesperson.

Usage: E.g. A: 點解好多人唔識分sale 同sell 呢2個字 B: 我諗係因為sales sale屎sell屎sale野sell野. (A: Why do so many people cannot differentiate between sale and sell? B: I think it is because sales sell sh*t and sale thing sell thing.)

Synonym: sale屎

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3146390/page/1

Definition: A generic code-mixing term that can used for a number of different items in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 你公司近排搞緊D咩project呀？（項目） E.g. 今次呢個project搞成點呀？（研究） E.g. 你諗住下次搞d咩project呀？（計劃） E.g. 小心D呀，唔見寫住project in progress咩？（工程）

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 term that real ABC's like to use to show how easygoing they can be.

Usage: E.g. Hey bro！不如一齊食飯啦？ E.g. Hey bro！放工一齊打波呀？

Synonym: 兄弟

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers when they ask whether one has enough money for expense rather than having sufficient money itself.

Usage: E.g. 今個月cov唔cover到租金? (Can you cover the rent this month?)

Synonym: 足夠支付

Reference: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/zht/詞典/英語-漢語-繁體/cover

Definition: Derived from the idiom '傾國傾城', this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase used to describe women that are so devastatingly beautiful that they can make a country or city fall.

Usage: E.g. The girls in this club are so fall country fall city!

Synonym: 傾國傾城

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to exercise done in the gym. Even though it is often used as '做gym' (do gym), it is not to be confused with 'doing the gym' because the gym is actually the place where people do exercise in native English.

Usage: E.g. 想唔想一齊做gym? (Want to work out / do exercise in the gym together?)

Synonym: 健身; 健身室; 健身室運動

Reference: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/做gym

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that refers to chatting casually or bragging about something.

Usage: E.g. 收皮啦！唔好再blow water！

Synonym: 吹水

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term meaning to continue doing or retain control of something.

Usage: E.g. 日日keep fit先會健康架。 E.g. 你D身材keep得幾好喎。 E.g. 我地以後keep contact啦。 E.g. 不如keep in touch好唔好？

Synonym: 保持

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