Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to describe going on a trip by oneself without sounding so alone or single.

Usage: E.g. 放假時我比較鍾意solo trip，因為咩都唔洗煩。(I like going on solo trips during holiday because I don't need to bother with anything else.)

Synonym: 單獨旅行, 獨旅

Reference: https://www.elle.com.hk/life/solo-trip

Definition: Often pronounced with a '屎' (faeces) at the end of the word, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to having the ability to recognise something good. ('有品味')

Usage: E.g. 哇，你識揀呢件衫，真係好有taste呀！

Synonym: 品味

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

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a more abstract way of referring to a person's relationship status without a partner than emphasizing the physical body as ‘單身’ denotes in Cantonese. Even though 'dog' is seen as a derogatory term, the phrase is often treated as a common everyday joke than it is really mocking someone seriously.

Usage: E.g. 無論班女仔fd幾大班，三個又好，五個又好，十幾個又好，都係得我係single dog (No matter how big my group of female friends is, three or five or ten, I am the single dog.)

Synonym: 單身狗

Reference: https://amp.lihkg.com/thread/708381/page/1

Definition: Known as Kongish and a much stronger version of 'chi sin' (痴線), this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers describe someone who is crazy, or a situation that is outrageous or unbelievable. (黐孖筋 - ci1 maa1 gan1) Literal meaning: To have your twin wires sticking together, causing short circuit in the brain.

Usage: E.g. Why did you scold me?! Are you chi ma gun??!! E.g. Chi ma gun! Don't dare to drive after drinking alchohol again!!

Synonym: 黐孖筋

Definition: Often used as the short form 'SL', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a day where an employee is sick and needs to notify their company of their absence, which they often have a hard time explaining to their boss that they were really sick on that day.

Usage: E.g. 最撚仆街係SL完第二日就會俾老細問候你有冇事，然後你做乜嘢老細都會黑面 (The most f***ing stupid thing is that the next day after your sick leave you will be greeted by the boss asking if you are okay, and then no matter what you do the boss will still be dissatisfied.)

Synonym: 病假

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3995179/page/3

Definition: Originated from Italian meaning 'milk', this is a code-mixing used by upper class Hong Kongers to refer to the type of coffee made with espresso and hot steamed milk, which they believe should not be as heavy as other kinds of coffee as the term '拿鐵' denotes, which has the literal meaning of 'carry metal'.

Usage: E.g. 唔該，我想要一杯tall size既latte。(Excuse me, may I have a tall sized latte?)

Synonym: 拿鐵

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3648151/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami as a broad umbrella term for a variety of different places that serve food in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Hailey, Mami頭先同你講去restaurant之前去定toilet。我一早估到你會急架。你兒家睇吓條queue幾long？又要等又要wait喇！(Hailey, Mami just told you to go to the toilet before going to the restaurant. And I have expected that you want to go to the toilet now. But can you see how long the queue is right now? We have to wait and wait again!)

Synonym: 餐廳; 酒家; 飯店; 餐館; 食店

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaINmQPARlx/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used to refer to a computer document (文件).

Usage: E.g. 唔該你send份document過黎呀。記住要pdf喎。

Synonym: 文件

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

Definition: A term used by native Hong Kongers to divert one topic to another in a polite manner.

Usage: E.g. 係呀，個proposal已經搞掂了。Anyway, 我兒家要去開meeting。 E.g. 份proposal仲未搞掂？Anyways, 我兒家要食lunch喇。

Synonym: 點都好; 無論如何

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: Originated as 'beat patrol' from London Metropolitan Police, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use as 'walking the beat', which refers to patrolling a designated area on foot as a police officer.

Usage: E.g. 警員今日要行 beat。(Police officers need to go on patrol today.)

Synonym: 行咇

Reference: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2018/12/04/WH1812040003.htm