Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: Often pronounced as 'launch', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a club lounge in a hotel.

Usage: E.g. 唔該，請問個lounge喺邊？我想搵個位坐吓先。

Synonym: 休息聽

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mz8kUbNcMw

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers use to refer to a meeting invitation sent out by the MS Outlook software.

Usage: E.g. 係咪聽日想開會傾呢樣野？唔該send個invitation黎先。

Synonym: 邀請

Definition: Originated from business emails and often said without a ‘to’ at the end, this is a code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers would use in non-business settings when they really anticipate the happening of an event.

Usage: E.g. 我好look forward今餐會食咩。(I really look forward to what I will be eating for this meal.) E.g. 我好look forward今次既足球比賽。(I really look forward to this football match.)

Synonym: 期待

Reference: https://graduate.ctgoodjobs.hk/article/42024/lookforwardto點用-後面動詞需要加ing-與lookingforwardto有甚差別-用法-例句

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: A code-mixing phrase used by overseas educated Hong Kongers who suspect that Hong Kongers should think equally more about playing hard than just working hard in order to achieve work life balance.

Usage: E.g. 林作：個個都講work hard play hard，work life balance。其實work hard我都懷疑好多香港人都已經做到，但係play hard係咪真係做到？ (Jo Lam: Everyone talks about work hard play hard and work life balance. In fact, I suspect many Hong Kong people can already 'work hard', but what about 'play hard'?)

Synonym: 努力工作，盡情玩樂

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@jolamchok/post/DZ7vZQvEu-N?xmt=AQG0CXq4cs_lvE9lalZblnSIMOpYE8FFkxn2iPI5ppvBkQgGVDW4mGrHcOZJpC5yTFDRogoV&slof=1

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the extent someone is shortsighted in degree units.

Usage: E.g. You are shortsighted? What is your eye degrees?

Synonym: prescription, diopters, 度數

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBmy095Db9U&t=190s

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to sitting through a lecture without participating in it, which is usually used for those who don't belong to the class or course.

Usage: E.g. 同學：可以邀請我sit堂嗎？ E.g. 我見到嗰位先生成日要sit堂。係助教還是professor?

Definition: Pronounced as the fifth tone in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something or someone that is strange or embarrassing.

Usage: E.g. 下次唔好入錯課室咁kam喇。 E.g. 佢份人真係好kam!

Reference: https://www.stheadline.com/culture/3230860/香港潮語2023香港40個最新潮語結集-壞過婉婷升級版係咩啱呀唔係附和你

Definition: Often used as 'AA制' (policy), this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to paying for yourself at a meal. (Also known as 'going Dutch' in English)

Usage: E.g. 今餐AA制得唔得呀？

Synonym: 食自己, 自己比

Definition: A code-mixing term used by upper class Hong Kong girls to refer to any sort of dishonest behaviour by men that is unforgivable.

Usage: E.g. 所以當我上網見到啲人寫嗰啲咩唔願意共咩苦，唔係我唔肯共患難，唔係我唔同甘共苦喎，而家係……佢cheat喎！(So when I saw some people's comments on the internet saying that we were not willing to share our suffering, it's not that I refused to share the hardships, it's not that I didn't share the joys and sorrows. It's that... he cheated!)

Synonym: 欺騙

Reference: https://www.hk01.com/即時娛樂/60360165/jw剖白被背叛仍硬食拜金標籤真相-痛斥網絡風氣-永遠女仔就係雞?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=01appshare