Chinese slang for humor
666
This one’s all about hype. The number "6" in Chinese sounds like the word for "smooth" (溜, liū) or "awesome" (牛, niú). When someone does something amazing—like pulling off a crazy move in a game or nailing a joke—people spam "666" to show they’re impressed. It’s like saying, "You’re killing it!" or "That’s fire!"
2333
This one started on a Chinese video site called AcFun, where the emoji with the ID "233" was a laughing face. Over time, people started using "233" to mean "LOL," and adding more "3s" (like "23333") made it funnier or more exaggerated. It’s basically the Chinese version of spamming "hahaha" or "LMAO" when something’s hilarious.
995
This one’s a cry for help. The numbers 9-9-5 sound like "救救我" (jiù jiù wǒ), which means "save me" or "help me." It’s often used humorously when someone’s in a tough spot or overwhelmed, like when they’re drowning in work or stuck in a tricky situation.
007
This one’s a bit mysterious. The numbers 0-0-7 refer to the famous spy James Bond, who is known as "007." It’s often used to describe someone who’s super cool, mysterious, or skilled. It’s a playful way to compliment someone’s abilities or style.
yyds
This one’s all about hype and admiration. The letters "yyds" stand for "永远的神" (yǒng yuǎn de shén), which means "forever god." It’s used to describe someone or something as legendary, unbeatable, or the best of the best. It’s like saying "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) in English.
xswl
This one’s all about humor. The letters "xswl" stand for "笑死我了" (xiào sǐ wǒ le), which literally means "laughing to death." It’s used when something is so funny that you can’t stop laughing. Think of it as the Chinese version of "LOL" or "I’m dead 😂."
HHH
This represents laughter, similar to 'hahaha' in English. The more 'H's used, the funnier something is perceived to be.
社死
This term describes an extremely embarrassing situation that makes you want to disappear from society. It’s like saying, "I want to crawl into a hole and never come out." It’s often used when someone does something awkward or cringe-worthy in public or online, and they feel like they can never recover from it.
凡尔赛
This term comes from the French palace "Versailles," symbolizing luxury and extravagance. In Chinese internet slang, it refers to someone who pretends to complain or be modest while actually showing off their wealth, success, or good fortune. It’s like saying, "Ugh, I’m so tired from shopping at all these luxury stores."
真香
This term comes from a reality TV show where a participant refused to eat rural food but later couldn’t stop eating it, saying, "It’s actually delicious" (真香). It’s now used to describe situations where someone initially rejects something but ends up loving it. It’s like saying, "I was wrong, this is amazing."
沙雕
This term literally means "sand sculpture," but it’s a playful homophone for "傻屌" (*shǎ diǎo*), which means "silly" or "dumb." It’s used to describe something or someone as funny, absurd, or ridiculous in a lighthearted way. It’s like saying, "This is so dumb, but I love it."
上头
This term literally means "going to the head," like the feeling of being drunk. In internet slang, it’s used to describe something so addictive or exciting that you can’t stop thinking about it or doing it. It’s like saying, "I’m obsessed" or "This is so addictive."
锦鲤
This term literally means "koi fish," which are considered symbols of good luck and fortune in Chinese culture. In internet slang, it refers to someone or something that brings good luck. It became popular after a Chinese girl won a lottery prize by reposting a "锦鲤" image, sparking a trend of sharing "锦鲤" posts for good luck.
打工人
This term literally means "working person" and is used to describe ordinary employees or laborers. It gained popularity as a self-deprecating and humorous way for people to refer to themselves, especially when acknowledging the hardships of work life. It reflects a mix of resilience and resignation to the daily grind.
白嫖
This term literally means "white嫖" (嫖 refers to prostitution, but here it’s used metaphorically). It describes getting something for free without contributing or paying, often in a cheeky or shameless way. It’s like saying, "freeloading" or "mooching."
种草
This term literally means "planting grass" and is used to describe recommending or hyping up a product, service, or idea. It’s like saying, "This is worth checking out!" The idea is that the recommendation "plants" a desire in someone’s mind.
拔草
This term literally means "pulling out grass" and is the opposite of "种草." It refers to losing interest in something that was previously recommended or hyped up. It’s like saying, "This isn’t as good as I thought."
摸鱼
This term literally means "touching fish" and refers to slacking off or procrastinating at work or school. It’s like saying, "I’m just chilling" or "I’m not really working." It’s often used humorously to describe avoiding responsibilities.
nb
This term literally means 'cow's vagina' but is used to describe something or someone as awesome, amazing, or impressive. It originated from northern Chinese dialects and became popular nationwide through internet culture.
niubi
The pinyin version of 'nb', meaning awesome or impressive. It's often used in a humorous or exaggerated way to praise someone or something.
tiangou
Literally means 'licking dog', referring to someone who desperately tries to please or pursue someone they like, often without reciprocation. It's often used to describe unrequited love or excessive flattery.
牛逼
Literally vulgar but commonly used to express admiration or amazement. Often used in casual conversations to praise someone or something.
咸鱼
Literally 'salted fish', referring to people with no ambition or drive. Often used self-deprecatingly or humorously, inspired by a Stephen Chow movie quote.