Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a simulated military battle game where air guns are used. It is more appropriate to use than the Cantonese equivalent ‘野戰‘ because fighting a wild battle has sexual connotations in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 男：不如一齊打war game好嗎？ 女：好呀 (Boy: What about playing war game together? Girl: Sure!) E.g. 男：不如一齊打野戰好嗎？女：*啪！* (Boy: What about fighting a wild battle together? Girl: *Slap!*

Synonym: 野戰

Reference: https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/lin/cbrc/cbcl/doc/ppt/david_li.pdf

Definition: A shortened term for 'long distance' meaning to have a long distance relationship with someone.

Usage: E.g. 我plan左去working holiday。到陣時要同男朋友long d喇。

Synonym: 遠距離戀愛; 異地戀

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uik5GWvXiLA&t=210s

Definition: A code-mixing term that is often used with “啱key”, which refers to whether you get along well with somebody. Explanation: like the key in a piece of music.

Usage: Eg. 你同你朋友啱唔啱key呀？

Reference: https://shyyp.net/hant/phrase/啱key

Definition: 1. (noun) A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers love to use to refer to internet access. 2. (verb) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like to use to refer to social networking.

Usage: E.g. 今日公司network有D問題，成日search野都好慢，仲間唔中會斷。 E.g. 最近有冇出去同人network？

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who is nice and kind, as well as an intimate relationship between a couple.

Usage: E.g. 哇，你真係好sweet呀！（貼心） E.g. 呢對情侶好sweet呀。（甜蜜）

Synonym: 貼心, 甜蜜

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe having a habit of joining events sometimes or occasionally without sounding they like to quit and join again all the time.

Usage: E.g. 我最近好忙呀，所以on and off咁樣join啲events囉。(I have been very busy, so I joined events on and off.)

Synonym: 斷斷續續

Reference: https://blog.english4u.net/blog2.aspx?id=1830

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to emphasize the reality of a situation, as even lovers have a working relationship sometimes. In other cases such as a workplace, it is simply to match the working atmosphere.

Usage: E.g. 你：我地之間唔係好work呀，你明唔明呀？男／女朋友：明白。（你：我地之間唔係好得呀，你明唔明呀？男／女朋友：你講緊邊方面唔得呀？！） E.g. 你：個program唔work呀。老細:哦。（你：個program唔得呀。老細:又唔得！）

Definition: A word that Hong Kong local students use to refer to a large piece of work, which is often done in group setting.

Usage: E.g. 今學期你有咩group project呀？（課題）

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: This is a code-mixing term that is used instead of the Cantonese equivalent '文件夾' to refer to a physical folder or a virtual folder on a computer.

Usage: E.g. 喺你個desktop上面開個folder，然後將你既file放入去。 E.g. 老師：唔該把所有功課放喺你個文件夾入面。同學：吓？文件夾？老師，你係邊到黎架？

Synonym: 文件夾

Definition: Often added with a '屎' (faeces), this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to having enough courage or confidence.

Usage: 你有gut屎嘅話就跟埋嚟博一舖。(If you have the courage, make a bet with me.)

Synonym: 膽量