斩杀线 (zhǎn shā xiàn)
Kill Line / The Floor You Cannot Fall Through
For office workers, the monthly kill line is rent plus the credit card bill — clear that and you can finally breathe.
This section of the Chinese Slang Dictionary focuses on Internet Culture slang. Each entry includes the Chinese characters (汉字), pinyin pronunciation with tone marks, an English translation, at least one example sentence showing real usage, and cultural context explaining where the term comes from and how it is used. Terms are sorted by community popularity. Browse the full list below or use the search bar to find a specific term.
Kill Line / The Floor You Cannot Fall Through
For office workers, the monthly kill line is rent plus the credit card bill — clear that and you can finally breathe.
Your servant cannot do this - a dramatic refusal meme from 甄嬛传
Wake up at 6am? Your servant absolutely cannot do this!
This term means 'to increase one's knowledge' and is used when someone learns something new or gains insight, especially from online content or discussions.
This article is really good; I learned a lot from it.
Translating to 'old cannon,' this term refers to someone who is experienced but perhaps a bit outdated in their methods. It often has a nostalgic tone, reminiscing about the 'good old days.'
He is an old cannon, but still very charming.
This term refers to a type of rice noodle dish that has become immensely popular among young people. The name literally translates to 'snail rice noodles,' but its reputation has grown beyond its somewhat unusual name.
Recently, I became obsessed with snail rice noodles; they are just so delicious.
Lie Flat / Grind Hard / Leave — The Three Paths
Young people today face three paths: lie flat, grind, or leave — which do you choose?
A popular internet slang that represents laughter, similar to 'LOL', it originated from the typing of '哈哈哈' (hā hā hā) where '233' was inputted to represent exaggerated amusement.
This video is so funny, 23333.
Attention seeker; someone who stands out and loves the spotlight
He always speaks up at every meeting — such an attention seeker.
Malfoy has arrived / The Horse Year has arrived — a phrase with a viral double meaning. Originally used sarcastically when someone arrogant or privileged makes a dramatic entrance (Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter). In ...
Happy New Year! Malfoy (the Horse Year) has arrived — wishing everyone great fortune in the Year of the Horse!
Translating to 'brain-burning,' this term describes tasks or media that are intellectually challenging or complicated. It's commonly associated with difficult puzzles, movies, or discussions.
This movie is so brain-burning; I need to think about it for a long time after watching.
Someone is setting a trap for me - suspicious of someone's ulterior motives
You're suddenly treating me to dinner? You must be setting a trap for me!
Fortune Granny / Mother of Fortune — on Xiaohongshu, 财神奶 is the beloved nickname for Kris Jenner, the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch. Chinese users crowned her 财神奶 because she turned her daughters into billionaires throu...
Mama Kris is truly the Fortune Granny — she raised all her daughters to be billionaires!
Short for 'grandpa’s youth has returned,' this phrase evokes nostalgia, particularly for the younger generation who feel a strong connection to the cultural phenomena of the past, such as music, TV shows, or games.
This song makes me feel nostalgic for the past.
Artificial Stupidity — a pun on 人工智能 (artificial intelligence), used mockingly when AI products fail, misunderstand, or produce absurd results.
This voice assistant can't understand me at all — what a piece of artificial stupidity.
Literally translates to 'little broken station'. It refers humorously to less popular or niche websites or platforms, often used affectionately among users.
We all communicate on this little broken station; it's much more fun than the big sites.
Mama Kris — affectionate nickname for Kris Jenner, the Kardashian-Jenner family matriarch and manager (momager). On Chinese internet she's the face of manifestation culture and strategic ambition. Used to describe any...
She plans everyone's career for them — she's basically Mama Kris.
Translating to 'fragrance warning', this term is often humorously used to alert others that something that was once criticized is now being praised or enjoyed. It's a way to signal a change in opinion.
This new TV series is a fragrance warning; I didn't plan to watch it.
The term refers to the 'internet celebrity economy', where social media influencers generate revenue through their online presence. This reflects the growing impact of internet celebrities on consumer behavior and mar...
The internet celebrity economy is really booming now; many people want to become influencers.
Distillation — borrowed from chemistry, now a buzzword in Chinese AI circles. Refers to knowledge distillation in two related senses: (1) training a small, efficient model to replicate the behaviour of a much larger o...
Someone fed all this professor's papers and lecture videos into a model and basically distilled him into an AI.
This phrase means 'to get rich and prosper' and is often used in discussions about entrepreneurship and financial success. It reflects aspirations for wealth and success in modern society.
Many young people hope to get rich and prosper through entrepreneurship.
Translates to 'mystical science,' typically referring to pseudoscientific practices, like astrology or divination. It symbolizes a fascination with the supernatural.
She believes in mystical sciences and often consults fortune-tellers about the future.
Translating to 'made me laugh hard', this phrase is a way of expressing how funny something was. It is often used in response to humorous content.
This video made me laugh hard; it’s so funny!
Broken defense - When something emotionally moves you to the point of losing composure, like tearing up or losing your cool facade.
This video completely broke me, it was so touching.
This term means 'underline key points' and is often used in discussions to emphasize important information or ideas. It can also be humorous when used in non-serious contexts.
I think this sentence should be underlined as key.
Short for 磕到了 (kē dào le) — literally "got hit by it," meaning a romantic pairing or cute moment has struck you so hard that you are emotionally wrecked in the best way. Used by fans when a ship (a couple they root fo...
After watching the latest episode, this couple really got me — my heart was racing!
A playful internet expression meaning "I beg you / please stop / control yourself." The "Q" represents 球 (qiú, ball), so 拴Q literally means "tie up the ball" — i.e., rein it in. Used in an exasperated but affectionate...
Can you please stop spamming memes in the group chat — I am begging you!
Translating to 'refined egoism,' this term describes a style of living focused on personal aesthetics and self-interest, often used to critique superficial lifestyles.
He lives a life of refined egoism, pursuing a perfect appearance.
A term that means 'to endure' or 'to get by'. It is often used in gaming contexts, humorously referring to players who just survive rather than excel.
In this match, I could only just get by.
This term describes a subculture known for its distinctive, flamboyant fashion and hairstyle, often associated with youth rebellion or nonconformity. It embodies a unique aesthetic that stands out.
His style is so unique; it attracts a lot of attention.
An emoticon representing a person kneeling down in despair or surrender, it conveys feelings of defeat or admiration. It's widely used in online conversations to express strong emotions.
Seeing your achievement, I’m truly speechless, orz.
Short for 真情实感 (zhēn qíng shí gǎn) — "genuine feelings / real emotions." Used to describe content or a reaction that feels truly heartfelt and sincere, as opposed to performative or ironic. Often said with mild surpri...
The article he wrote was so heartfelt — I was genuinely moved after reading it.
Literally 'Game King', referring to someone who is highly skilled in gaming or competitive scenarios. Used to denote players who excel and stand out among their peers.
He is the game king of our team; no one can beat him.
Guys, who gets it?! / Family, can anyone relate?
Guys, can anyone relate?! My boss actually praised me today!
Family members / fam — the way streamers, influencers, and content creators address their audience to create a sense of warmth and community. It makes followers feel like they belong to an inner circle rather than jus...
Fam, today I am sharing an amazing skincare tip with you all!
The Study of Zhen - the tongue-in-cheek academic discipline of analyzing 甄嬛传
Zhen scholars have already identified seventeen distinct meanings in that one glance.
Literally 'to crush', this term is used in competitive contexts to describe overwhelming victory over opponents, often in sports or gaming. It suggests dominance in performance.
They crushed their opponents in the match; it was without suspense.
Idol - A beloved celebrity, from English idol.
My idol released a new song.
Snow Mountain Fox Rescue — the viral 2024-2025 video of a person rescuing a fox trapped in snow on a Tibetan plateau mountain. Now used as shorthand for any genuinely heartwarming rescue story that goes massively vira...
This video is a true Snow Mountain Fox Rescue moment — my eyes were red after watching it.
A phonetic abbreviation originally from English 'OK,' this term is used to express agreement or approval. It reflects a casual and trendy way of communicating.
I think this idea is perfectly fine.
This Palace - imperious first-person pronoun used for comic effect
This Palace is in a fine mood today. You may all rise.
Literally 'too real,' this expression is used to describe something very relatable or genuine, often in response to life situations or feelings. It conveys authenticity.
This article is too real; it resonates with me deeply.
Mouth substitute - Someone who says exactly what you're thinking. When you see a comment or statement that perfectly expresses your own opinion.
This blogger is my mouth substitute, they said exactly what I think!
Short for 笑死我了 (xiào sǐ wǒ le) — "I am dying of laughter," the Chinese equivalent of lmao or lol. Used in response to something genuinely funny or absurd. Like most internet abbreviations, it is often typed even when ...
This video is way too funny — I am dying of laughter, my stomach hurts.
Translating to 'information gap', this term describes the phenomenon when one party has more or better information than another, often leading to advantages or misunderstandings.
Due to the information gap, he made the wrong decision.
Exactly! / Precisely! — 9494 sounds like 就是就是 (jiù shì jiù shì), a repeated affirmative used to enthusiastically agree with someone. The doubling emphasizes strong agreement.
This boss is so stingy! Exactly, exactly!
Literally 'Daddy Ma', it refers to Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, often used humorously or affectionately in discussions about wealth and business. It reflects admiration or critique toward successful entrepreneurs.
Daddy Ma's business ideas are always so avant-garde.
Literally meaning 'turning a card', this term refers to being recognized or mentioned by a celebrity or influencer, often leading to feelings of excitement among fans.
I got acknowledged in the live stream; I’m so happy!
WTF / damn it / f**k — abbreviation of 他妈的 (tā mā de), literally "his mother's." The most commonly used Chinese expletive online, softened to initials to bypass censorship filters and make it slightly more socially ac...
WTF, the damn internet cut out again!
Waaah / crying — 555 mimics the sound of sobbing (呜呜呜, wū wū wū). Used to express sadness, disappointment, or mock-crying online. The more 5s you type, the more dramatic the crying.
Failed the exam, wahhh 555, I feel awful.
Bye bye! — 886 sounds like 拜拜了 (bāi bāi le), an enthusiastic farewell. A playful numeric shorthand for goodbye used in text chats and online messages.
Okay I'm going to sleep — bye bye~
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