Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer people coming together. Even though the term can be used both formally and informally in English, it can actually be more personal and intimate than '聚會' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 女友稱約朋友去酒店Gathering 男友事後問起她卻支吾以對 (Girlfriend said she was going to a hotel with friends for a gathering, but when her boyfriend asked her about it later, she gave evasive answers.)

Synonym: 聚會

Reference: https://www.gotrip.hk/網絡熱話/女友稱約朋友去酒店gathering疑似出軌-637892/

Definition: Derived from '大耳窿' with '窿' sounds like 'loan' in English, this is a Kongish code-mixing phrase that refers to a person or company that offers loans at extremely high interest rates.

Usage: E.g. Don't borrow money from this company. It is a big ear hole!

Synonym: 大耳窿

Definition: Pronounced as 'serfaah', this is a code-mixing term that Hong Kongers use to refer to a computer server in IT.

Usage: E.g. 個server整好未呀？冇理由down左咁耐架？

Synonym: 服務器

Definition: A shortened term of the word 'confirm' in English, used to maximise communicative efficiency and to get the listener to confirm ASAP.

Usage: E.g. 下個月個party既日期firm左未呀？ E.g. 你下次個appointment firm左未呀？ E.g. Firm左未呀？快Ｄ啦。

Definition: A code-mixing term that local Hong Kongers use to refer to an equipment that helps connect computer networks together.

Usage: E.g. 個router係咪壞左？點解冇network既？

Synonym: 路由器

Reference: https://www.threads.net/@hongtonese/post/C8zlfwZytLZ

Definition: Often complemented with '鳩吹' meaning talking nonsense or bullsh*t, this is a code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to the type of language exchange where people are simply talking and chatting but not quite making much effort in learning language at all.

Usage: E.g. 去唔去language exchange呀？Ｂ：你係指鳩吹exchange？(A: Want to go to language exchange? B: You mean nonsense / bullsh*t exchange?)

Synonym: 交流

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1240271/page/2

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe strenuous tasks that are almost impossible to complete.

Usage: E.g. Getting my son to do homework is like pulling a cow up the tree!

Synonym: 拉牛上樹

Reference: https://www.localiiz.com/post/culture-local-stories-popular-cantonese-idioms

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers like to use to refer to a duplicate of something, such as a document.

Usage: E.g. 份document整多幾份copy黎呀，唔該。

Synonym: 副本

Definition: A phrase used by native Hong Kongers to affirm that something is true or obvious, usually among friends and relatives in informal settings, especially with the particle 'la' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. 朋友: 今日出街記住載口罩。　你：Of course啦！ E.g. 女朋友: 哇，你好叻呀。　你：Of course啦！ E.g. 男朋友: 估唔到你咁醒目。　你：Of course啦！

Definition: Pronounced as 'long tie lo see', this is a code-mixing term used by grassroots class Hong Kongers for greeting someone they have not seen for a long time.

Usage: E.g. 喂！Ｌｏｎｇ　ｔｉｅ　ｌｏ　ｓｅｅ！

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese