Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they want to show how pleased they are towards someone’s achievements, but want to sound less show-off or exaggerated about their feeling.

Usage: E.g. 你考試咁高分，我好proud of你呀。(You scored so high in the exam. I am so proud of you.)

Synonym: 驕傲，自豪

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@grace_interest_english/post/DDthgzMyHsU

Definition: (textspeak) A Kongish code-mixing term transliterated from ‘食飯’, which means eat rice.

Usage: E.g. Sik jor farn mei ar? (食左飯未呀？） E.g. Hor yee sik farn la. (可以食飯喇）

Synonym: 食飯

Reference: https://hklanguage.home.blog/2019/11/16/the-use-of-transliteration-in-kongish/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to proactively keeping someone safe from damage or injury, which is usually something that they expect from a boyfriend.

Usage: E.g. 如果連我自己都唔為自己去解釋一下，咁邊個去protect我？邊個幫我解釋？冇。(If even I myself don't stand up for myself, who is going to protect me? Who will help me explain to others? No one.)

Synonym: 保護

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60359628/jw王灝兒揭與破產前度葉韋彤分手真相-直言-佢做咗對唔住我嘅事?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who sleeps very late and doesn't wake up early. Similar to 'night owl' in English. (夜貓/夜鬼)

Usage: E.g. Maintain good health by sleeping early! Don't be a night cat / night ghost!

Synonym: 夜貓/夜鬼

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/55996/

Definition: Often pronounced with a rising tone, this is a code-mixing term that is often overused by Fake ABC's in Hong Kong when they have trouble answering a question or want to avoid embarrassment.

Usage: E.g. Well，呢個問題我要諗吓先再答你。 E.g. Well，其實你都講得有道理。

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/開罐/128449/你是否-偽abc-chill-中文意思係咩-10個港人常用錯英文字

Definition: This is a code-mixing term used to refer to claiming money.  However, it is often pronounced as 'kam' by grassroot class Hong Kongers.

Usage: E.g. 請問讀完個course有冇得kam返d錢架？ E.g. 請問ｄ飯錢可唔可以問返公司kam架？

Synonym: 索取

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: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to someone who is silly and stupid. ie. An imbecile.

Usage: E.g. 唔好成日咁KAI喺到亂咁嗌啦！你係低能定係白痴架？！ E.g. Don't be so kai yelling all the time! Are you low b or an idiot?

Definition: A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers to refer to going to bars and clubs because they find the Cantonese equivalent terms a lot more suitable for a mature audience.

Usage: E.g. A: 去唔去clubbing呀？B: 你指係邊啲？A: 緊唔係夜總會啦！(A: Do you want to go clubbing? B: Which type are you referring to? A: Of course not nightclubs!)

Synonym: 夜店，夜總會

Reference: https://jyutdictionary.com/dictionary/entry/夜總會

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is cool, handsome, or stylish. (型 - ying4)

Usage: E.g. Wa! You look so ying today! (型)

Synonym: 型

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

Definition: A posh way of saying that you admire someone's work or effort, in order to show your high social status or higher education background.

Usage: E.g. 我好appreciate你個idea. Well done. E.g. 我好appreciate你做既野。不過，你都唔可以迫我accept你個apology。

Synonym: 欣賞