Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A generic term for a number of equivalent Cantonese words used to avoid absolute certainty.

Usage: E.g. 件貨suppose今日到。(預期-expectedly/predictably) E.g. 我suppose你係岩既。 (假設-guess) E.g. 警察係suppose要保護市民。 (應該-should)

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong policemen when they want to take legal or enforcement action to deal with a situation. At other times, it can simply be used to describe an action that one must take in order to further one's progress.

Usage: E.g. 如果比我地警方查到你犯法，我地會take action。(If our police force finds out that you have broken the law, we will take action.) E.g. 依加我地唔上唔落咁又唔敢再take action住。(Right now, our relationship is not getting anymore so I am afraid of taking any actions yet.)

Synonym: 採取行動

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1671360/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to ‘mechanical engineering’.

Usage: E.g. 小時讀mechan 第時揸貨van (If we choose to study mechanical engineering when we were young, we will end up driving a cargo van.) E.g. 到底我做左幾多錯事 讀完mechan 出黎做IT9 (What on earth did I do wrong? I finished studying mechanical engineering and became an IT dog.)

Synonym: 機械工程

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAZQJOQ7dx/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to being clever and quick-witted as well as having a high degree of punctuality for work.

Usage: E.g. 你要加入我地公司既話，你一定要好sharp。(If you want to join our company, you must be really sharp-minded and punctual.)

Synonym: 醒目; 準時

Definition: Often associated with negative connotations, this is a code-mixing term used by overseas educated Hong Kongers to show their ability to form valuable opinions after thorough thought, like a lawyer in a court case.

Usage: E.g. 第一次認識人唔好咁快pass judgment啦！(Don't pass judgment so quickly upon knowing a person for the first time!) E.g. 我希望你會接受我既judgment。(I hope you will accept my judgment.)

Synonym: 判斷

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/1787326/page/1

Definition: Often pronounced as 'grandma', this is a code-mixing term that local Hong Kong students use to refer to the set of rules that define the structure of a language, which can be difficult and annoying sometimes like a grandma.

Usage: E.g. 今次考試要考埋英文grammar。真係好麻煩呀！(The exam will also cover English grammar this time. So frigging annoying!)

Synonym: 語法

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/3389792/page/1

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong local students to refer to the quality of being rough or even unkind, in addition to being strict in following rules or standards.

Usage: E.g. 個professor好charm啊，但係有少少harsh... (The professor is very charming, but is a little harsh.)

Synonym: 嚴格; 嚴厲

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/86453/page/4

Definition: A code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to refer to the information technology sector, which tends to be associated with the result of many wrongdoings and unfortunate happenings such as being laid off.

Usage: E.g. 上世做錯事 今世做it (My past life was filled with wrongdoings; This life got me into IT sector.) E.g. 少時讀IT,大個唔見天，裁員就你先。(If we choose to study IT when we were young, we will grow up not seeing the daylight. Company lay offs will also happen to us first.

Synonym: 資訊科技

Reference: https://www.threads.com/share/BAYf1twTSF/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to a restaurant located inside a school or company. However, it is worth noting that the origin of the word is from Europe and should not to be confused with ‘can-ting’ or ‘can-teng’ in Mandarin or Cantonese (餐廳), which start with the ‘ts’ sound instead of ‘k’ sound in ‘can’.

Usage: E.g. 今日好多人呀！快啲落canteen霸位啦！(There are so many people today! Let's go to the canteen to hog the seats first!)

Synonym: 飯堂; 食堂 ; 餐廳

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSKkZbOEqPJ/ (use mobile version)

Definition: A classic code-mixing term often used with the word 'case' to get someone to follow up on something in a professional manner.  However, it is now often associated with the 'follow' used in social media.

Usage: E.g. 唔該同我follow吓個case呀。 E.g. 呢個case follow成點呀？ E.g. 快D follow我個IG啦！

Reference: https://www.gushiciku.cn/dl/0pydp/zh-hk