Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a Jayden Mami as a more precise and technical way of referring to an ordered waiting line. Also, it is often complemented with the English word 'long' to exaggerate the lengthiness of a queue when scolding a child.

Usage: E.g. 講咗呢啲holiday就係咁多人queue，條queue就係咁long嘅，冇可能你自己乜嘢都玩晒㗎嘛，係咪呀Jayden？(I have already said these holidays should have so many people queuing up. The queue is just that long, do you know you cannot play everything yourself, right Jayden?)

Synonym: 隊；龍

Reference: https://topick.hket.com/article/4112744/Jayden之亂｜KOL拍片諷刺「Jayden媽」偽ABC育兒法%E3%80%80揭爆紅現象時間線-港媽式教仔金句

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to negotiating terms and conditions of an employment agreement or contract in addition to just the salary.

Usage: E.g. Offer人工太低 簽約嗰陣仲有無得bargain? (If I am being offered a low salary, can I still bargain when signing the contract?)

Synonym: 講價

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1130972/page/1

Definition: A jubilant, nonchalant way of showing off to your friends. Used together with 'juice' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 哎呀！今次唔洗溫書都實pass啦！Easy汁啦！

Synonym: 容易

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone or something as dull and boring such as having no relationship, which definitely has nothing to do with 'dry dating' in native English.

Usage: E.g. 我近排冇拖拍好dry呀。(I recently haven't been dating, so dry!) E.g. 唔好成日自己一個人咁dry啦。(Don't be always by yourself, so dry!)

Synonym: 沒新鮮感，很無聊，枯燥乏味

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwE7IA18CY&t=50s

Definition: A code-mixing term used by a "Jayden Mami" to describe a state of emotional stress due to a child misbehaving, even though it sounds less serious and less hinting of being upset or furious compared to the Cantonese equivalent terms.

Usage: E.g. Jayden，你唔勤力啲swim，媽咪同爸B會angry㗎！(Jayden, if you don't work harder on swimmig, Mami and Daddy will be angry!)

Synonym: 嬲; 激氣; 憤怒; 生氣

Reference: https://eastweek.stheadline.com/pets/18474/Jayden媽咪是誰社交網絡爆紅兼殺入毛孩界

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: Known as 'JM tone', this is a code-mixing word that Hong Kong celebrity Janice Man use to refer to reserving someone, even though it is criticised as Fake ABC English due to a most likely wrong word usage.

Usage: E.g. 上天會deserve一個好好嘅人等緊我。(意思：reserve)

Reference: https://inews.hket.com/article/1522091/Janice%20Man英文教室%20%20教你練成JM%20Tone

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to 'Occupied but Available' in boy-girl relationships.

Usage: E.g. Occupied but Available （有伴侶但仍接受追求，即可一腳踏N船）(In a relationship but is still accepting new relationships, meaning that you can be in an N number of relationships at the same time.)

Synonym: Occupied but Available

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2812430/page/8

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a common code-mixing slang term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a western male person, which is transliterated from '鬼佬', meaning 'ghost man'.

Usage: E.g. Try talking to the gweilo to practice your English!

Synonym: 鬼佬

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gweilo

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kongers to emphasize the reality of a situation, as even lovers have a working relationship sometimes. In other cases such as a workplace, it is simply to match the working atmosphere.

Usage: E.g. 你：我地之間唔係好work呀，你明唔明呀？男／女朋友：明白。（你：我地之間唔係好得呀，你明唔明呀？男／女朋友：你講緊邊方面唔得呀？！） E.g. 你：個program唔work呀。老細:哦。（你：個program唔得呀。老細:又唔得！）