Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to describe something that is very annoying and frustrating to the point where it causes constant trouble or inconvenience, even though it has nothing to do with someone's butt.

Usage: E.g. 之後見到Front desk同事，話果間房客係”pain in the arse”, 佢不停投訴，個個都想佢快L d check out,但佢不停extend (Then I saw my front desk colleague, saying that the guest was ”pain in the arse”. He kept complaining, and everyone wanted him to check out quickly, but he kept extending his stay at the room.)

Synonym: 令人討厭或痛苦的

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BBRT_1BUrh/

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase that westernised Hong Kongers use to refer to an easy task, which is equivalent to 'piece of cake' in English.

Usage: E.g. A: Thanks for helping me out! B: No problem! Sup sup sui la!

Synonym: 濕濕碎

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-guide-hong-kong-descriptive-slang-phrases

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Miss Hong Kong celebrity Grace Chan to refer to an "unknown liquid" that was splashed on her son’s head by a woman while watching a Spiderman movie in a cinema.

Usage: E.g. 陳凱琳指兒子被淋Cream受驚已報警：而據悉在觀眾散場時，該名女子疑因不滿而突然發難，涉嫌直接向陳凱琳兒子的頭部潑淋不明乳狀液體，隨後迅速離開現場。愛子心切的陳凱琳在諮詢後，已於翌日前往中區警署報案 (Grace Chan reported to the police after her son was splashed by cream: It is reported that as the audience was leaving, a woman apparently dissatisfied suddenly lashed out, allegedly pouring an unknown liquid directly on the head of Grace Chan’s son before quickly fleeing. Deeply concerned for her son, Grace Chan sought advice and filed a police report at Central Police Station the next day.)

Synonym: 忌廉

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/film-drama/3600942/陳凱琳回應影院風波-證二仔被淋Cream已報警好心痛-兒子疑踢凳惹女觀眾發難

Definition: Often said with a rising intonation on the second syllable, this is a code-mixing term that Hong Konger badminton coaches like to use to refer to the exact point in time of something because the Cantonese equivalent ‘時機’ somehow sounds less accurate.

Usage: E.g. 描準個ball，睇好個timing打落去，咁先得架嘛。(Aim at the ball, watch for the right timing and hit it. You got it?)

Synonym: 時機

Definition: A tag-switching phrase overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong to create a western appeal.

Usage: E.g. You know, 我成日去做gym緊係fit啦, you know。 E.g. 我係上等人咁緊係成日夾雜英文啦, you know?

Reference: https://travel.ulifestyle.com.hk/news/detail/12179/明明無r音都要捲舌-5大令人頂唔順的偽abc特徵/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to express a choice in something without stating their favour or to avoid sounding picky.

Usage: E.g. 我今晚既preference係食西餐，但係又唔代表我成日都鍾意。(My preference is western cuisine tonight, but that doesn't mean I like it all the time.)

Synonym: 偏愛; 偏好; 優先選擇

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3316788/page/27

Definition: Derived from '公主病', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that refers to a female who acts like a princess all the time and possesses the worst possible qualities such as narcissism and materialism. It tends to associate with Hong Kong women and is quite stereotypical of '港女', the Kong girl.

Usage: E.g. 港男：Why are you scolding me like this? Do you have princess sickness? (你做咩喺度鬧我呀? 你係咪有公主病?)

Synonym: 公主病

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/49823/

Definition: A code-mixing term that waiters love to use to refer to the last order that customers can make in a restaurant before it closes. (最後訂單)

Usage: E.g. 今次last order，有D咩想落就好落喇。 E.g. Waiter: 今次最後訂單。 Customer: 吓？咩訂單話？

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

Definition: A more subtle way for Hong Kongers to refer to the undergarment worn by women, as the Cantonese equivalent term '胸圍' may sound too explicit and embarrassing in mentioning the female's body part.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀，我今日唔記得左載bra添。

Synonym: 胸圍

Reference: https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/pure-data/pub/201902353/201902353_1.pdf

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a type of leave that is often taken for the sake of avoiding work.

Usage: E.g. Annual leave 意思: 我咁難得放假，希望你地唔好搵我。(The meaning of annual leave is that if I can hardly have a holiday, I hope that you will not find me.)

Synonym: 年假

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdED72bCcze/?img_index=2&stkn=MjRibnk3MnBmYjFl (use mobile version)