Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Often pronounced as 'fat check', this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to verifying the validity and accuracy of something.

Usage: E.g. 洗唔洗fact check一吓呢個人係真定係假？（Do we need to fact check this person to see if he is real or fake?)

Synonym: 事實查核

Reference: https://medialiteracy.hk/不看你絕對後悔：fact-check背後的「真相」/

Definition: A code-mixing term that overseas educated Hong Kongers use to refer the way in which a person can start a conversation with someone, especially for the purpose of drawing nearer to them in relationship or distance.

Usage: E.g. 到底可以點approach男仔? (How on earth can I approach boys?)

Synonym: 靠近

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/546513/page/13

Definition: An a lot more gentle and caring way of telling someone to take care of themselves compared to the Cantonese equivalent. Explanation: 你自己照顧自己—＞以後你自己搞掂喇—＞你自己食自己—＞慘慘豬（＠Ｖ＠）

Usage: E.g. 媽咪要去旅行喇。你自己take care喇。 E.g. 以後take care喇。Sayorara.

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong actor 楊偉倫 to express loyalty to his boss in the movie of Night King that he would absolutely go all out and brave any danger and obstacles.

Usage: E.g. 「我土地，學富五car，如果他朝有一日，你真的開鴨店的話，我赴湯蹈fire，做你頭牌！」(I'm Land, learned and knowledgeable like five cars. If one day you really open a male escort club, I'll brave any danger, go all out, and be your top male escort!)

Synonym: 赴湯蹈火

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/娛樂/夜王-黃子華-金句-1863616/3/

Definition: Often added with a '屎' (faeces), this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a salesperson.

Usage: E.g. A: 點解好多人唔識分sale 同sell 呢2個字 B: 我諗係因為sales sale屎sell屎sale野sell野. (A: Why do so many people cannot differentiate between sale and sell? B: I think it is because sales sell sh*t and sale thing sell thing.)

Synonym: sale屎

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3146390/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to ‘mechanical engineering’.

Usage: E.g. 小時讀mechan 第時揸貨van (If we choose to study mechanical engineering when we were young, we will end up driving a cargo van.) E.g. 到底我做左幾多錯事 讀完mechan 出黎做IT9 (What on earth did I do wrong? I finished studying mechanical engineering and became an IT dog.)

Synonym: 機械工程

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAZQJOQ7dx/

Definition: (verb/adj.) A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a less intense emotional state due to trivial matters.

Usage: E.g. 好Struggle買唔買ps5。 (Really struggling on whether to buy Playstation 5.) E.g. 我仲struggle緊今晚食D咩好。(I'm still struggling on what to eat tonight.)

Synonym: 掙扎

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3519800/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term that is used instead of '典禮'.

Usage: E.g. 同學：個ceremony好耐呀，完未架？ 同學：你幾時去grad ceremony呀？ 你：我黎唔到個ceremony呀。

Synonym: 典禮

Definition: A code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use when they want to express rejection politely without sounding so blunt.

Usage: E.g. 我發現幾多人返工唔識Say No。(I found out there are many people who don't know how to say no at work.) E.g. 唔好意思，我要揸車，所以要對酒精say no。(Sorry, I need to drive so I have to say no to drinking.)

Synonym: 講唔好

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3268602/page/1

Definition: Short for 'available zero', this is a Kongish code-mixing term that is often used by Hong Kong teen celebrities to sell themselves as idols that have never dated or been in a relationship before.

Usage: E.g. 鍾柔美男女關係複雜 A0形象被質疑 絕密校園生活揭秘 (Yumi Chung's complicated love relationships raise questions about her A0 image; her top-secret campus life revealed.)

Synonym: Available zero, 未拍過拖

Reference: https://hk.news.yahoo.com/鍾柔美yumi被爆扮a0-中學時至少有4名男友？-就連「學霸」之名都被質疑-080040455.html