Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers to express how serious a matter is and is no joke at all.

Usage: E.g. 鍾培生：Sign the f***ing contract. No bullsh*t let's go.

Synonym: 廢話少講, 來吧

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDK59_Yhv6Y

Definition: A code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers when they want to avoid describing a problem as complicated because they have the intelligence to solve it. At other times, there is just not a word that covers all the meanings of intelligent, complicated and even elegant sometimes.

Usage: E.g. 呢個問題唔係復雜，只係太過sophisticated。如果你識將個問題分拆，你就會解答得到。 (This problem is not complicated, but just too sophisticated. If you know how to break down the problem, you will be able to solve it.)

Synonym: 複習

Reference: https://www.facebook.com/okiokifamily/posts/有人在影片留言反映-為什麼我們有時會中英夾雜-我們一早有注意到這個問題問所以上字幕的時候全部改成為中文只有極少數情況例外例如英文字-sophisticated-/1187675216048224/

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe an experience as pleasurable. However, it can also be used to refer to having romantic feelings towards a person.

Usage: E.g. 呢間bar好有feel。(This bar has a good vibe.) E.g. 唔好意思，我對你冇feel。(Sorry, but I don’t have any feelings for you.)

Synonym: 感覺; 氣氛; 心情

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNvk8qHZBN-/ (use mobile version)

Definition: This is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers love to use to refer to '報告'.

Usage: E.g. 份report幾時搞掂呀？

Synonym: 報告

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

Definition: Originated from a tradition where people would donate gifts to those in need, this is a code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kongers who do not want to be misunderstood as the day on which they would open presents, as the Cantonese equivalent terms denote the opening of presents on that day.

Usage: E.g. 聽日就係boxing day。你會去邊到shopping？(Tomorrow is boxing day. Where will you go shopping?)

Synonym: 節禮日, 拆禮物日

Reference: https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/拆禮物日

Definition: A code-mixing term that Fake ABC's in Hong Kong use to refer to the 'chemistry' between two people, which is the attraction between them.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得佢地都幾有chemical reaction。

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

Definition: A chic-sounding code-mixing term used in Hong Kong Cantonese that shows the speaker's education background and western appeal.

Usage: E.g. 唔好意思，我週末要去shopping。唔得閒應酬你。 E.g. 做人唔shop下ping邊得呀？

Synonym: 購物

Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/hongkonglinguistics/Downhome/language-contact-in-hong-kong/cantonese-englishintra-sententialcode-switchinginhongkong

Definition: A romanised code-mixing term used by Hong Kong expats to describe something as delicious or very yummy.

Usage: E.g. If you want to say something is delicious in Cantonese, you need to say 'ho sik'. The Jyutping for this is hou2 sik6. The 'sick' needs to be a low sixth tone.

Synonym: 好食

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wAqzV4KgPZA

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kong businessmen to refer to something that they give a damn about, as the equivalent terms '理', '在乎' or '關心' in Cantonese sound too romantic or loving in a professional setting.

Usage: E.g. 我唔care你要OT到幾多點，總之要幫我搞掂。 E.g. 其實我都好care我既員工既福利。 E.g. 艾東care! (I don't care!)

Synonym: 理; 在乎; 關心

Definition: A code-mixing term that westernised Hong Kongers like to use to refer to the sport of walking long distances on mountains because they have gotten so used to it and see it as a hobby rather than something laborious like '行山', which literally translates to 'walk mountain'.

Usage: E.g. 今個weekend去唔去hiking呀? 不如今次行遠D呀? (Do you want to go hiking this weekend? What about going on a longer trail?)

Synonym: 行山

Reference: https://letsgohiking.blog/