Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers use to refer to a small wireless unit that is plugged into a computer’s USB port for receiving signals for a keyboard or mouse.

Usage: E.g. 有冇見過我個receiver? 我好似唔見左。

Synonym: 接收器

Definition: (vulgar) Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to describe a female person who is nosy and meddles in other people's business. Similar to 'bitch' in English. Literal meaning of 八婆: eight old woman

Usage: E.g. Mind your own business, eight woman! （八婆） E.g. Are you done messing around, die eight woman?! （死八婆） E.g. You are such an eight woman! (正八婆）

Synonym: 八婆

Reference: https://www.secretchina.com/news/b5/2013/11/29/521805.html

Definition: A euphemistic code-mixing term that refers to the same item ‘廁所’ in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 老師，唔該可唔可以去toilet呀？ E.g. 咁多位，我去一去toilet先。

Reference: https://sites.google.com/site/hongkonglinguistics/Downhome/language-contact-in-hong-kong/cantonese-englishintra-sententialcode-switchinginhongkong

Definition: Used in a famous quote in the movie of Night King, this is a code-mixing term used by Hong Kong celebrity Dayo Wong (黃子華) to emphasize that nothing can beat something that is truly excellent.

Usage: E.g. 乜能都唔及Excellent. (Nothing can compare to Excellent.)

Synonym: 頂級

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM1q2CIepLQ

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to a type of leave that is often taken for the sake of avoiding work.

Usage: E.g. Annual leave 意思: 我咁難得放假，希望你地唔好搵我。(The meaning of annual leave is that if I can hardly have a holiday, I hope that you will not find me.)

Synonym: 年假

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdED72bCcze/?img_index=2&stkn=MjRibnk3MnBmYjFl (use mobile version)

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase meaning something is of the best quality. It cannot get better than it already is.

Usage: E.g. Wa! This dim sum is mou dak ding!

Synonym: 冇得頂

Reference: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/mou-dak-ding-learn-cantonese-slang-wx2f-carlosdouh-youtube--475552041888237723/

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers like use to refer to marking or jotting things down. (標記）

Usage: E.g. 記住mark低個schedule比我睇吓先。阿媽：老師上堂講既野有冇mark低呀？

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers as a less judgemental way of describing someone as unkind or unfriendly but not to the point of being so harsh and critical.

Usage: E.g. 其實香港人而家可唔可以唔好咁mean? (Can Hong Kong people actually be less mean nowadays?)

Synonym: 刻薄; 衰

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/_siW0xsDc/

Definition: (vulgar) A code-mixing term used by westernised Hong Kongers in place of the expletive f-word in English when one is angry and wants to curse. However, the usage of this term may actually only refer to scolding someone and nothing to do with cursing or having sexual intercourse at all. Sometimes, ‘ed’ or ‘ing’ is added to the verb to indicate tense in case the listener finds it ungrammatical.

Usage: E.g. Diu! I lost the game again! E.g. My teacher diu'ed me for talking in class today. E.g. Stop diuing me! It wasn’t my fault. Are you crazy?!

Synonym: 屌

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5Y2vjEzbU/?img_index=2&igsh=MWlxaDBhbHJlYTR6aA== (use mobile version)

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