Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a less official way of grumbling or whining about something just to vent off one's anger because doing this formally might just require a bit too much paperwork.

Usage: E.g. 我要complain你啲attitude囉，好差呀你哋公司，I won't come again. 叫你哋最大粒同我出嚟！我要complain！(I have to complain about your attitude, the bad things about your company, and I won't come again. Ask your most senior guy to come out! I want to complain!)

Synonym: 投訴

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/226740/page/6

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who think that there should not be work life balance in a job.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生：創立HKTCG呢段時間，我發現工作係唔應該有work life balance！(Derek Chung: Since founding HKTCG, I’ve realized that work shouldn't be about "work-life balance"!)

Synonym: 工作與生活平衡

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@khdcheung/post/DaLDfNyj872?xmt=AQG0d2CtkCfBLCF7_hL8i3UT_5pM4sQhmEna6BzrSZp21XK0l6N0Qcq3Yei7A41-B_gwqJk7&slof=1

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to refer to chatting up or teasing someone in a playful manner, in order to show that you are interested in them romantically. Sometimes, it can be used interchangebly with '溝' in Cantonese, even though by definition it should be considered a technique rather than pursuing someone seriously.

Usage: E.g. 條仔想flirt我，但係我冇理佢。(The guy wanted to flirt with me, but I did not pay him attention.) E.g. A: 唔好成日掛住溝女啦。B: Flirt吓姐，唔係溝。(A: Stop picking up girls all the time. B: Just flirting, not really pursuing.)

Synonym: 打情罵俏

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@tlyice._.1003/post/DH3K3QMz8_0?xmt=AQF0IPXN1NG4bUNCpCoEWK9j1nBrmidnUCWWQbO5UkWBZorXUuAW_rk2rnqngc_G0_Uo5TM&slof=1

Definition: A word used by Hong Kong people to express absolute affirmation, which is comparable to 'Bingo!'

Usage: E.g. 係喇，係喇。Exactly! E.g. 岩喇！呢個就係我exactly想講既野。 E.g. 我唔係太get你exactly想講咩。

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to tell someone not to worry about something anymore, even though it may not sound polite to English speakers.

Usage: E.g. Never mind啦。我地下次再約。 E.g. Never mind啦。我自己搞得掂。

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers as a more technical and corporate way of referring to the number of employees in a company because '人數' sounds too everyday in Cantonese like when getting enough people to play Mahjong together.

Usage: E.g. 大家公司最近咩環境 有冇freeze headcount? (How is everybody's company doing recently? Any company is freezing headcount?)

Synonym: 人數

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3674159/page/1

Definition: Often used as '嘥gas', this is a code-mixing term that is used by native Hong Kongers to refer to wasting one's efforts.

Usage: E.g. 你唔洗嘥gas，佢唔會聽你講。

Synonym: 嘥gas，白費功夫

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW0x5-SyI4o

Definition: Derived from 'add oil' in Cantonese, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that local Hong Kongers use to express encouragement and support for another person.

Usage: Ga yau! You can win this game!

Synonym: 加油

Definition: (Jyutping) Ask for the reason of things happened

Usage: Dim gaai zeoi gan sing jat lok jyu? (點解最近成日落雨？） - Why it always rain recently?

Synonym: 點解, Why, 為什麼

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they don’t want to tell somebody directly that they are really f***ing stupid. Even though it looks like a westernised expression, it has a similar pronunciation as '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which means 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: A: 有人話我係"荷蘭銀行支票", 何解??? B: HOLLAND BANK CHEQUE~自己讀~

Synonym: 好撚笨柒

Reference: https://m.discuss.com.hk/index.php?action=thread&tid=9184515