Chinese Internet Slang
Popular Chinese internet expressions and their meanings
姐妹专属
jiě mei zhuān shǔ
Sounds like: jee-eh + may + juan + shoo
MEANING
Girls only/For sisters
CONTEXT
Content or products specifically targeted at female audience, common in beauty and fashion posts.
闺蜜测评
guī mì cè píng
Sounds like: gway + me + tseh + ping
MEANING
Bestie review
CONTEXT
Product reviews specifically from a female friend's perspective, implying trustworthiness.
种草
zhǒng cǎo
Sounds like: jong + tsao
MEANING
Want to buy/Convinced to buy
CONTEXT
Being persuaded to want something after seeing it recommended, opposite of '拔草'.
拔草
bá cǎo
Sounds like: bah + tsao
MEANING
Finally bought it
CONTEXT
Actually buying something that you've been wanting (that was previously '种草').
好物分享
hǎo wù fēn xiǎng
Sounds like: how + woo + fen + see-ang
MEANING
Product recommendation
CONTEXT
Sharing good products or finds, a common phrase in review posts.
平价替代
píng jià tì dài
Sounds like: ping + jya + tee + die
MEANING
Affordable alternative
CONTEXT
Suggesting cheaper alternatives to expensive products.
真香警告
zhēn xiāng jǐng gào
Sounds like: jen + see-ang + jing + gao
MEANING
Spoiler: You'll love it
CONTEXT
Warning that something is unexpectedly good and you'll end up wanting it.
买它
mǎi tā
Sounds like: my + tah
MEANING
Buy it!
CONTEXT
Direct encouragement to purchase something, often used in product recommendations.
小白一个
xiǎo bái yī gè
Sounds like: see-ow + bye + yee + guh
MEANING
I'm a newbie
CONTEXT
Humble way of introducing oneself as a beginner, often used when asking for advice.
清清淡淡
qīng qīng dàn dan
Sounds like: ching + ching + dan + dan
MEANING
Simple and elegant
CONTEXT
Describing a minimalist or understated style, very popular in fashion and lifestyle posts.
绝绝子女子
jué jué zi nǚ zǐ
Sounds like: joo-eh + joo-eh + zee + new + zee
MEANING
Amazing girl/Incredible woman
CONTEXT
Combination of '绝绝子' and '女子', used to highly praise a female's achievements or style.
yyds女子
yyds nǚ zǐ
Sounds like: yyds + new + zee
MEANING
Amazing girl/Queen
CONTEXT
Praising a female for being exceptionally good at something, common on Xiaohongshu.
无语子
wú yǔ zi
Sounds like: woo + you + zee
MEANING
Speechless/OMG
CONTEXT
A cutesy way of expressing disbelief or speechlessness, popular on Xiaohongshu.
安利
ān lì
Sounds like: an + lee
MEANING
Recommend/Promote
CONTEXT
To enthusiastically recommend something to others, derived from Amway's marketing style.
姐妹
jiě mei
Sounds like: jee + may (like 'gee' + 'my')
MEANING
Sister/Bestie
CONTEXT
Used between female friends online to show closeness and support, regardless of actual relationship.
yyds
yōng yǒu dì shēng
Sounds like: young + yo + dee + shung
MEANING
Forever God/GOAT (Greatest of All Time)
CONTEXT
Used to express that something or someone is the absolute best, derived from '永远的神'.
磕到了
kē dào le
Sounds like: car + dow (like 'now') + luh
MEANING
I ship it!/I'm sold!
CONTEXT
Originally used by fans to express excitement about celebrity relationships, now used more broadly for anything enjoyable.
冲
chōng
Sounds like: chong (like 'wrong')
MEANING
Let's go!/I'm in!
CONTEXT
Expression of determination or excitement to do something.
内卷
nèi juǎn
Sounds like: nay (like 'way') + juan (like 'won')
MEANING
Involution/Rat Race
CONTEXT
Describes excessive competition or pressure in education or workplace.
摸鱼
mō yú
Sounds like: more + you
MEANING
Slack off/Goof around
CONTEXT
To slack off at work or study, usually browsing internet instead of working.
打工人
dǎ gōng rén
Sounds like: dah + gong + run
MEANING
Working class/Worker
CONTEXT
Self-deprecating term used by office workers to describe their daily grind.
绝绝子
jué jué zi
Sounds like: joo-eh + joo-eh + zee
MEANING
Amazing/Absolutely incredible
CONTEXT
Used to express extreme amazement or approval, often in an exaggerated way.
润
rùn
Sounds like: rune (like 'moon')
MEANING
To leave/emigrate
CONTEXT
Modern slang for emigrating or leaving one's current situation for better opportunities.
躺平
tǎng píng
Sounds like: tongue + ping (like 'ring')
MEANING
Lie flat/Give up
CONTEXT
A lifestyle attitude of doing the bare minimum rather than striving for success.
破防
pò fáng
Sounds like: poor + fung (like 'hung')
MEANING
Break down/Lose composure
CONTEXT
When someone's emotional defenses are broken, causing them to cry or lose control.
整活
zhěng huó
Sounds like: jung + who + oh
MEANING
Create content/Make memes
CONTEXT
To create entertaining content or pull pranks, often used in social media.
奥利给
ào lì gěi
Sounds like: ow + lee + gay (like 'day')
MEANING
Let's go!/All right!
CONTEXT
An energetic expression of encouragement or excitement, popularized by internet celebrities.
无语
wú yǔ
Sounds like: woo + you
MEANING
Speechless/Lost for words
CONTEXT
Expression of frustration or disbelief at something ridiculous or unreasonable.
上头
shàng tóu
Sounds like: shang (like 'song') + toe
MEANING
Addictive/Captivating
CONTEXT
Describing something that's highly addictive or makes one lose control.
真香
zhēn xiāng
Sounds like: jen + see-ang
MEANING
It's actually great!
CONTEXT
Used when admitting something is good after initially rejecting or dismissing it.
爷青回
yé qīng huí
Sounds like: yeah + ching + hway
MEANING
Childhood memories return
CONTEXT
Expressing nostalgia when encountering something from one's childhood or past.
秀
xiù
Sounds like: see-oh (like 'show')
MEANING
Show off/Flex
CONTEXT
To show off or display skills/wealth/relationships, often used sarcastically.
吃瓜
chī guā
Sounds like: chir + gwa (like 'spa')
MEANING
Watch drama unfold
CONTEXT
Watching drama or gossip unfold as a spectator, like eating melon seeds while watching a show.
带货
dài huò
Sounds like: die + who-oh
MEANING
Promote products
CONTEXT
Promoting or selling products, especially through live streaming or social media.
酱紫
jiàng zǐ
Sounds like: jong + zee
MEANING
Like this/This way
CONTEXT
A cute way of saying '这样子' (like this), popular in online communication.
佛系
fó xì
Sounds like: four + she
MEANING
Zen-like/Casual attitude
CONTEXT
Having a relaxed, detached attitude towards things, not caring too much about outcomes.
打卡
dǎ kǎ
Sounds like: dah + kah
MEANING
Check in/Visit
CONTEXT
Visiting a popular place or doing something trendy and sharing it on social media.
神仙
shén xiān
Sounds like: shen + see-en
MEANING
Incredibly good
CONTEXT
Describing someone or something as incredibly skilled or amazing.
可以可以
kě yǐ kě yǐ
Sounds like: kuh + yee + kuh + yee
MEANING
Not bad!/Pretty good!
CONTEXT
Expressing approval or agreement, often used in a casual, friendly way.
好家伙
hǎo jiā huo
Sounds like: how + jya + who-oh
MEANING
Oh boy!/Wow!
CONTEXT
Expression of surprise or amazement, can be both positive and negative.
老铁
lǎo tiě
Sounds like: lao (like 'now') + tee-eh
MEANING
Brother/Buddy
CONTEXT
Friendly way to address viewers or friends, especially popular among streamers.
太真实了
tài zhēn shí le
Sounds like: tie + jen + shir + luh
MEANING
So relatable!/Too real!
CONTEXT
Expressing strong agreement with something that reflects real-life experiences.
笑死
xiào sǐ
Sounds like: see-ow + sir
MEANING
LOL/ROFL
CONTEXT
Expressing that something is extremely funny, literally 'laugh to death'.
安排上了
ān pái shàng le
Sounds like: an + pie + shang + luh
MEANING
Got it planned/Will do
CONTEXT
Confirming that something will be done or arranged.
有被冒犯到
yǒu bèi mào fàn dào
Sounds like: yo + bay + mao + fan + dao
MEANING
I feel attacked
CONTEXT
Jokingly expressing that something hits too close to home.
锁死
suǒ sǐ
Sounds like: suo + sir
MEANING
Definitely/For sure
CONTEXT
Expressing strong certainty or commitment to something.
爱了爱了
ài le ài le
Sounds like: eye + luh + eye + luh
MEANING
Love it!
CONTEXT
Expressing strong approval or affection for something.
达咩
dá mēi
Sounds like: dah + may
MEANING
No good/Not allowed
CONTEXT
Playful way of saying no or expressing disapproval, borrowed from Japanese.
别卷了
bié juǎn le
Sounds like: bee-eh + juan + luh
MEANING
Stop trying so hard
CONTEXT
Telling others to stop being overly competitive or working too hard.
搞快点
gǎo kuài diǎn
Sounds like: gow + kwai + dee-en
MEANING
Hurry up!/Get on with it!
CONTEXT
Urging someone to do something faster, often used playfully.
生草
shēng cǎo
Sounds like: shung + tsao
MEANING
LOL/WTF
CONTEXT
Describing something as absurdly funny or bizarre.
不约
bù yuē
Sounds like: boo + you-eh
MEANING
Not interested/Pass
CONTEXT
Rejecting an invitation or suggestion, often used humorously.
太上头了
tài shàng tóu le
Sounds like: tie + shang + toe + luh
MEANING
So addictive/Can't stop
CONTEXT
Describing something as extremely addictive or compelling.