Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Classified as 'JM tone', this is a code-mixing style adopted by Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man to represent the upper class.  (Notice that the letter m is a voiced consonant in this word and should be emphasized for extremely proper pronunciation.)

Usage: E.g. 我週末得閒既時候會同朋友去睇mmmovie。

Synonym: 電影

Definition: Often complemented with '鳩吹' meaning talking nonsense or bullsh*t, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the type of language exchange where people are simply talking and chatting but not quite making much effort in learning language at all.

Usage: E.g. 去唔去language exchange呀？Ｂ：你係指鳩吹exchange？(A: Want to go to language exchange? B: You mean nonsense / bullsh*t exchange?)

Synonym: 交流

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1240271/page/2

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to refer to being very unlucky or unfortunate. (黑仔)

Usage: E.g. Today I forgot to bring my homework and give teacher scold. Very black son! (好黑仔)

Synonym: 黑仔

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?3,139574,139575

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to changing something in order to improve or make it new again, such as a website.

Usage: E.g. 個website做revamp要幾耐？

Synonym: 翻新

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term that Hong Kong expats use to describe a female who is pretty, or a male who is handsome, or an object that is good-looking.

Usage: E.g. You look very leng today! (你今日好靚呀！) E.g. Wa! This dress ho leng ah! (哇！呢條裙好靚呀！) E.g. You are so leng jai! (你好靚仔呀！)

Synonym: 靚

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/phorum/read.php?1,91

Definition: Often used as 'Ah sir' (阿sir), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a male teacher. (Also see 'Missy' for female teacher)

Usage: E.g. 阿sir，我今日冇帶功課。可唔可以唔好罰我呀？

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

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong teachers to make it clear and explicit that their students are essentially dead if they hand in their homework or assignment late, as the Cantonese equivalent phrase ‘截止日期’ does not denote the meaning of death at all.

Usage: E.g. 聽日就係deadline, 唔交功課就零雞蛋！(Tomorrow is deadline. If you do not hand in your homework, you will get a zero mark!)

Synonym: 截止日期

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/809281/page/1

Definition: (verb) A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers like to use to refer to paper being stuck in a printer.

Usage: E.g. 個printer又jam紙？唔係掛？

Synonym: 卡住紙

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

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: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when one feels embarassed about something stupid that he has done but still wishes to admit it honestly. While the phrase is English-sounding with Holland being a western country and Ben being an English name, it is actually homophonous with '好撚笨柒' in Cantonese, which has the literal meaning of 'very f***ing stupid penis'.

Usage: E.g. I forgot my wallet at home! I am Holland Ben 7!

Synonym: 好撚笨柒, Holland Bank Cheque