Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to the attraction between two people.

Usage: E.g. Ａ：你話佢地兩個有冇chemistry呢？Ｂ：你係指work定係sexual chemistry呢？ＬＯＬ。

Definition: Purportedly to have come from online competitive gaming where a player brings his team to victory, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to helping and leading someone to achieve something. At times, it can also refer to being able to dress effectively which covers everything from head to toe, including hair.

Usage: E.g. 日系唔只著衫 要化埋妝同髮型同襯埋accessories 要full gear先會carry得到 (Japanese fashion isn't just about wearing clothes. You have to put on make-up, have a certain hairstyle as well as matching accessories. You must have full gear in order to carry this fashion.)

Synonym: 駕馭

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/475055/page/9

Definition: Often used as '搞爛gag', this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a lame joke or broken joke.

Usage: E.g. 你唔好成日喺到搞爛gag啦！一Ｄ都唔好笑！

Reference: https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/爛Gag

Definition: A code-mixing term that refers to the car brand Mercedes-Benz

Usage: Wow! Ban¹ ci⁴ ah!

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to the DIY handicrafts that can be easily made by anyone, even though such crafts do require creativity to be unique enough like the fine arts sometimes.

Usage: E.g. A: 請問你地啲手工藝係咪真係幫到人舒緩壓力？你地係咪讀心理學架？B: 吓？我都想。其實我地都係偏向arts架。(A: May I ask whether your handicrafts really help people to relieve their stress? Do you study psychology? B: What? I wish I do. Actually, we lean more towards the arts.)

Synonym: 美術, 勞作

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers which is a more generic and less vivid way of calling someone who is too preoccupied with talking about other people’s lives.

Usage: E.g. 唔好成日掛住gossip，專注啲做野啦！(Stop gossipping all the time and focus on your work!)

Synonym: 諸事八卦, 閒言閒語, 講是非

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2683169/page/1

Definition: A more linguistically efficient code-mixing term that refers to 'my favourite' in English. Originated from Hong Kong actor Ron Ng (吳卓羲).

Usage: E.g. 呢到既牛腩河係至正架！簡直係ｍｙ ｆａｖｉｔ！E.g. 吳卓羲：「Tailin, 賣飛佛（泰林，我的最愛）」

Synonym: 賣飛佛; 我的最愛

Reference: https://evchk.fandom.com/zh/wiki/賣飛佛

Definition: (verb) Derived from the game "final fantasy", this is a Cantonese slang to refer to someone who fantasizes too much.

Usage: Be realistic! Don't FF too much la.

Synonym: Fantasize

Reference: https://www.cantoneseclass101.com/blog/2019/07/23/cantonese-text-slang/

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by GenZ Hong Kongers as a short and polite way to dismiss someone, especially when resigning from a job.

Usage: E.g. 上司：你唔做喇？ GenZ: 呢封係我辭職信，bye and thx. (Boss: You're quitting? Gen Z: Here's my resignation letter. Bye and thanks.)

Synonym: 再見多謝

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc-2OFyiUMW/?img_index=3&stkn=MXVwc2N4enVteWtnZQ== (use mobile version)

Definition: A code-mixing term that the Hong Kong actor Dicky Cheung (張衛健) loves to use in the "Journey of the West" Cantonese TV episode, in order to display the almighty character of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King.

Usage: E.g. Yo！打妖精咋麻，洗乜驚呀？！

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtl4WF0RwWI&t=224s