Chinese slang for social
520
This is a romantic one! In Chinese, the numbers 5-2-0 sound like "wǒ ài nǐ" (我爱你), which means "I love you." It’s a cute and indirect way to say "I love you," especially in texts or online chats. People also use it on May 20th (5/20), which has become an unofficial "love day" in China, kind of like a second Valentine’s Day.
1314
This one’s all about romance and commitment. The numbers 1-3-1-4 sound like "一生一世" (yī shēng yī shì), which means "a lifetime" or "forever." It’s often used in lovey-dovey contexts, like couples saying they’ll be together forever. It’s also commonly paired with "520" (I love you) to say "5201314" (我爱你一生一世, "I love you forever").
88
This one’s simple and fun. The number "8" in Chinese sounds like "ba" (吧), which is part of the word "拜拜" (bái bái), meaning "bye-bye." So, "88" is just a quick way to say goodbye in chats or texts. It’s casual and friendly, like saying "TTYL" (talk to you later) in English.
4242
This one’s all about agreement. The numbers 4-2-4-2 sound like "是的是的" (shì de shì de), which means "yes, yes" or "that’s right." It’s a quick way to show you agree with someone or confirm what they’re saying. It’s super casual and often used in chats or comments.
3Q
This one’s a mix of English and Chinese. The number "3" sounds like "thank" in Chinese (sān), and "Q" sounds like "you" (like the letter "Q" in English). So, "3Q" is a playful way to say "thank you." It’s casual and often used in texts or online chats.
484
This one’s all about confirmation. The numbers 4-8-4 sound like "shì bù shì" (是不是), which means "is it?" or "are you sure?" It’s a quick way to double-check something or express doubt. It’s super casual and often used in chats or comments.
94
This one’s all about confirmation. The numbers 9-4 sound like "jiù shì" (就是), which means "exactly" or "that’s right." It’s a quick way to show you agree with someone or confirm what they’re saying. It’s super casual and often used in chats or comments.
xjj
This one’s a cute and affectionate term. The letters "xjj" stand for "小姐姐" (xiǎo jiě jie), which literally means "little sister" but is often used to refer to a young, attractive woman in a friendly or admiring way. It’s like calling someone "cutie" or "hottie" in English.
xgg
This one’s the male counterpart to "xjj." The letters "xgg" stand for "小哥哥" (xiǎo gē ge), which means "little brother" but is used to refer to a young, attractive guy in a friendly or admiring way. It’s like calling someone "handsome" or "cutie" in English.
pyq
This one’s specific to WeChat, the popular Chinese messaging app. The letters "pyq" stand for "朋友圈" (péng yǒu quān), which is the name of WeChat’s social feed feature (similar to Facebook’s timeline). People use "pyq" to talk about posting or checking updates on WeChat Moments.
nsdd
This one’s a quick way to agree with someone. The letters "nsdd" stand for "你说得对" (nǐ shuō de duì), which means "you’re right" or "you said it correctly." It’s often used in online chats or comments to show that you agree with what someone said. It’s casual and friendly.
CP粉
CP fans refer to fans who enthusiastically support a particular couple pairing. 'CP' comes from the abbreviation of the English word 'couple'. This culture originated in Japanese anime circles and later became widely popular in Chinese internet culture. CP fans express their support for their favorite couples through fan fiction, video edits, and other creative works. In recent years, CP culture has been particularly prevalent in the entertainment industry, with many TV dramas deliberately creating CPs to attract fans.
PLJJ
Short for '漂亮姐姐' (piào liang jiě jie), meaning 'pretty sister'. It's used to compliment good-looking people online. These expressions originated from live streaming and short video platforms, where hosts often use these terms to address viewers or fans. With the development of social media, these terms have gradually become part of everyday language, reflecting the internet era's obsession with appearance culture.
PLGG
Short for '漂亮哥哥' (piào liang gē ge), meaning 'pretty brother'. It's used to compliment good-looking people online. These expressions originated from live streaming and short video platforms, where hosts often use these terms to address viewers or fans. With the development of social media, these terms have gradually become part of everyday language, reflecting the internet era's obsession with appearance culture.
PLMM
Short for '漂亮妹妹' (piào liang mèi mei), meaning 'pretty girl'. It's used to compliment good-looking people online. These expressions originated from live streaming and short video platforms, where hosts often use these terms to address viewers or fans. With the development of social media, these terms have gradually become part of everyday language, reflecting the internet era's obsession with appearance culture.
NPY
NPY stands for '男朋友/女朋友' (nán péng yǒu/nǚ péng yǒu), used to refer to a romantic partner. This term is widely used among young people, especially on social media and instant messaging apps. It reflects contemporary youth's pursuit of concise and fast expressions, while also demonstrating the simplification trend of internet language on traditional Chinese.
lala
lala is a term for lesbians, originating from Taiwanese writer Qiu Miaojin's novel 'Crocodile Notes'. This term is widely used in the LGBTQ+ community, reflecting Chinese internet culture's inclusiveness towards gender diversity. As social attitudes have become more open, lala has gradually moved from being a marginal term to mainstream awareness, becoming an important symbol in the gender equality movement.
佛系
This term describes a lifestyle or attitude of being calm, detached, and unbothered by stress or competition. It’s like saying, "Whatever happens, happens." People who are "佛系" don’t stress over things they can’t control and go with the flow. It’s often used to describe someone who’s not ambitious in a traditional sense but is content with life as it is.
躺平
This term refers to rejecting societal expectations of working hard, achieving success, and constantly striving for more. Instead, people who "躺平" choose to do the bare minimum to get by, avoiding stress and competition. It’s a form of passive resistance to the pressures of modern life, especially in a highly competitive society like China.
内卷
This term refers to a situation where people are forced to compete harder and harder just to maintain the same level of success or status, often without any real improvement in outcomes. It’s like running faster and faster on a treadmill but not actually getting anywhere. It’s commonly used to describe the pressures of school, work, or life in general, especially in highly competitive environments.
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."
舔狗
This term literally means "licking dog," and it refers to someone who goes to extreme lengths to please or win over someone they’re attracted to, often without reciprocation. It’s like calling someone a "simp" or "doormat" in English.
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.
画饼
This term literally means "drawing a pie" and refers to making empty promises or painting an unrealistic picture of the future. It’s often used in workplaces when bosses or leaders promise rewards or success without delivering. It’s like saying, "All talk, no action."
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.
社畜
This term literally means "corporate livestock" and refers to employees who are overworked and treated like cogs in a machine. It’s a self-deprecating term used to describe the exhausting and dehumanizing aspects of corporate life.
扩列
This term literally means "expanding the list" and refers to making new friends or connections, especially online. It’s often used in social media or gaming communities to describe adding new people to your friend list.
面基
This term literally means "meeting the base" and refers to meeting someone in person after getting to know them online. It’s often used in gaming or social media communities to describe offline meetups.
带节奏
This term literally means "setting the rhythm" and refers to influencing or steering the direction of a discussion, often in a manipulative way. It’s like saying, "leading the narrative" or "stirring the pot."
王八蛋
This term literally means "turtle egg" and is used as a strong insult to call someone a jerk, scumbag, or despicable person. It’s often used in heated arguments or to express anger and disdain toward someone’s behavior.
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.
老外
Literally means 'old foreigner', a casual term for non-Chinese people. While sometimes used affectionately, it's important to be mindful of context to avoid sounding impolite.
小鲜肉
Refers to young, handsome, and energetic males, commonly used in the entertainment industry. The term emphasizes appearance and youth, with some objectification undertones.
比心
A hand gesture forming a heart shape, commonly used to express affection, support, or gratitude. Popular in both social media and real-life interactions.
拉拉
Derived from the English word 'lesbian', referring to female homosexuals. Widely used in the LGBTQ+ community and has entered mainstream vocabulary.
基佬
Originating from Cantonese, referring to male homosexuals. While initially derogatory, it's now often used self-deprecatingly or humorously within the LGBTQ+ community.
同志
Originally meaning 'comrade', now commonly used to refer to homosexuals. This term is relatively neutral and often used in formal contexts or news reports.
哥们
Refers to close male friends, conveying a sense of intimacy and camaraderie. Commonly used in casual conversations to emphasize friendship.
电灯泡
Literally 'light bulb', referring to a third person who disrupts a romantic atmosphere during a couple's date. Often used humorously or self-deprecatingly.
高富帅
Literally 'tall, rich, and handsome', describing the ideal type of man in Chinese society. Reflects societal standards for male attractiveness.
白富美
Literally 'fair-skinned, rich, and beautiful', describing the ideal type of woman in Chinese society. Reflects societal standards for female attractiveness.