Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the recognition and praise given to someone for something that they did, which is more appropriate to use for small bits of work.

Usage: E.g. A: 佢食一啖話好難食，我嬲嬲地成個蛋掉撚咗。個時我中二，不過我而家自己開鋪賣蛋糕。B: 可能就係咁造就你而家做得咁出色 A:又要比返credit佢？我意思係人哋點踩你都好（even最親嘅人）(E.g. A: He took a bite and said it tasted bad. Then I threw away the whole cake angrily. I was in secondary two at that time. However, I now run my own shop selling cakes. B: Maybe that's why you're so successful now. A: And I have to give him credit? I mean it doesn’t matter how people step on you (even your closest ones).)

Synonym: 功勞

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@yuikok0709/post/DQ5esI-EgkE/又要比返credit-佢我意思係人哋點踩你都好even最親嘅人最緊要自己相信自己冇人比你自己更清楚自己?hl=zh-hk

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 that Hong Kongers use to describe a person with a feminised voice.

Usage: E.g. 我覺得呢個男人cam cam哋。唔知真係男人定係女人呢？

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

Definition: To get a refund for something due to dissatisfaction.

Usage: The service was so bad, that's why I wanted to wui shui.

Synonym: 回水

Definition: (textspeak) Transliterated from ‘緊‘, this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is added to the end of verbs to denote the sense of ongoing, just like the ‘ing’ in English as in ‘doing’.

Usage: E.g. Nei jo gun d meh ar? （你做緊d咩呀？） E.g. Ngo sik gun farn ah. (我食緊飯呀）

Synonym: 緊

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/tag/kongish/

Definition: A shortened form of 'sorry' that is often used by Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. Sor，唔小心踩到你。 E.g. *碰到人* Sor，sor，sor。

Synonym: Sorry, 對唔住

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to working overtime. Sometimes, it is used as '冬OT' (winter OT), which means 'don't OT'.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：死喇，咁多野做。唔知今晚要OT到幾時呢？Ｂ：冬ＯＴ！

Synonym: 加班

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

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by real ABC Hong Kongers to say 'please', 'excuse me' or 'thank you', depending on the situation. (唔該)

Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (To call the waiter at a restaurant) E.g. Mm goi jeh jeh (Excuse me, please let me through) E.g. Mm goi sai! (Thank you very much!) E.g. Set A lunch, mm goi. (Set A lunch, please) E.g. Mm goi, where is the MTR? (May I ask where is the MTR?)

Synonym: 唔該

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/12-phrases-you-need-to-know-before-you-visit-hong-kong#:~:text=An%2520alternative%2520to%2520%E2%80%9Chou%2520ging,jeng%E2%80%9D%2520if%2520something%2520is%2520awesome.

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to demand immediate attention towards a matter without sounding like they are in such a hurry or wanting the other person to hurry the f*** up.

Usage: E.g. 呢個係一個urgent既task。B: 明白 (Understood) E.g. 呢個係一個緊急既任務。B: 洗唔洗咁急呀？(Why is there such a hurry?)

Synonym: 緊急

Reference: https://ezone.hk/article/20052634/香港職場中英夾雜用語-內地網民舉30個例子-表示識粵語都無法理解

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe working for a job while looking for a better one. (騎牛搵馬 - ke4 ngau4 wan2 maa5)

Usage: E.g. Look for a job first! You can always ride an ox while looking for a horse!

Synonym: 騎牛搵馬

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