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.
Internet Culture Slang Terms
Translating to 'it's just the beginning', this phrase is used to indicate that something is far more complex or impressive than it seems. It often builds excitement or anticipation.
This movie is just the beginning; there are even more exciting parts.
Translating to 'strong woman,' this term is used to describe independent, successful women who excel in their careers and assert their ambitions. It reflects a cultural appreciation for female empowerment.
She is an outstanding strong woman who never compromises in her work.
Literally 'super burning,' this expression is used to describe something extremely exciting or intense, especially in sports or entertainment contexts. It reflects a culture of enthusiasm and passion.
This game was absolutely exciting; everyone was cheering wildly.
Translating to 'hamster jump,' this term describes a fun and energetic dance move popularized on social media platforms, often used in playful contexts.
In this video, she did the hamster jump, so adorable.
This term translates to 'suicidal screen scrolling' and describes when someone excessively posts content or comments, overwhelming social media feeds. It conveys a humorous frustration about over-sharing.
He flooded my social media feed tonight; I can barely keep up.
This slang means 'popular' or 'trending' and is used to describe something that is currently in vogue or widely discussed. It can refer to films, memes, or any fad that gains popularity quickly.
This song is incredibly popular right now; everyone is listening to it.
This informal term means 'really awesome' or 'super cool', expressing strong positive feelings toward something. It’s commonly used by younger people to emphasize enthusiasm.
This game is really awesome!
Meaning 'pause', this term is used in digital contexts to indicate stopping an action or taking a break, particularly in gaming or streaming. It’s often used humorously to suggest taking a moment to think or react.
Wait a minute, I need to pause and check out this video.
Minting - Creating a new NFT or token on the blockchain.
There is a new NFT minting tonight, are you joining?
God-tier play - An amazing skillful move.
What a god-tier play!
Translating to 'fashion trendsetter', this term refers to individuals who are always ahead in fashion trends, influencing others with their style. It shows a blend of social status and style.
She is a fashion trendsetter; she always wears something fresh.
Translating to 'dominate the screen,' this term refers to content or individuals that capture significant attention or views, often used in online media to describe viral phenomena.
This movie has been dominating the screens lately; everyone is talking about it.
Translating to 'emoji package,' it refers to a collection of stickers or expressive graphics used in messaging. It is a popular way to convey emotions or reactions in a fun and expressive manner in text conversations.
I sent some funny emoji packages in the chat.
Translating to 'Douyin selling goods,' it refers to the trend of selling products through livestreams and videos on the Douyin platform. This slang highlights the impact of social media on commerce and consumer behavior.
I bought this skincare product through Douyin selling goods, and it works great.
'看不懂' translates to 'can't understand' and is frequently used to express confusion or a lack of comprehension, especially regarding complex topics or trends. It can sometimes signify an outsider's perspective.
I can't understand this article; it's too complex.
Translating to 'cool indifference style', this term describes a trend where individuals adopt a detached and minimalist aesthetic in their style and attitudes, often seen as trendy in social media.
Her outfits always have a cool indifference style, looking particularly chic.
Literally meaning 'empty ear,' this term refers to mishearing lyrics or phrases, leading to humorous interpretations. It’s commonly used in music and meme culture.
Whenever I listen to this song, I always mishear the lyrics and make funny interpretations.
Literally 'idol burden,' this term is used to describe the pressure and responsibility that public figures or idols feel to maintain their image. It indicates the expectations placed on them by fans and society.
As an idol, she often feels the burden of maintaining her image.
Literally meaning 'to open black,' this term is used in gaming to describe playing together with friends, often in a competitive or strategic manner. It's primarily used in multiplayer gaming contexts.
We plan to play together this weekend and have some gaming fun.
This phrase means 'to seek carrying,' often used in gaming contexts where players ask more skilled players to help or carry them through difficult stages. It's a playful, casual request for assistance.
This little noob is asking for a carry.
Zhen Huan writing style - describing modern life in classical imperial Chinese
This Palace intends to venture to the western market to procure supplies for future use. (i.e., I'm going grocery shopping.)
This phrase means 'to overturn one's worldview.' It's used to express surprise or disbelief when events contradict common beliefs or expectations, often seen in dramatic life situations.
The plot of this show really overturned my worldview; I was shocked.
Meaning 'heat wave', but in internet slang, it describes an overwhelming wave of excitement or popularity about something, like a trending topic or viral content.
This topic has created a heat wave across the entire internet.
Break even / Unbag - When a losing position finally returns to your entry price.
Finally broke even, held for two years.
Meaning 'ending,' this term is often used in narratives, movies, or dramas to discuss plot twists or resolutions. It reflects a desire for satisfying conclusions.
I think the ending of this TV series was a bit rushed.
With roots in gaming culture, this term literally means 'to make a joke about something serious.' It showcases humor in absurd scenarios and is often used during discussions about gaming failures or mishaps.
I died so badly in the game; it really makes for a joke.
Translating to 'virtual person', this term is used to describe digital characters or avatars, especially in gaming and online communities. It emphasizes the blending of real and virtual identities in digital spaces.
In the game, I have a virtual person that represents my image.
Translating to 'inject chicken blood', this phrase describes the act of getting excited or motivated about something, often used in a motivational context.
Today's meeting really injected some motivation into me, making me feel inspired again.
This term means 'to exploit free resources without paying', typically used in contexts related to gaming, streaming, or content consumption. It can have humorous connotations, often reflecting a cheeky attitude toward...
I’ve taken a lot of courses on that platform without paying for them.
The phrase 'mindless binge-watching' refers to the act of watching multiple episodes of a TV series without much thought. It often conveys a sense of escapism, where viewers indulge in narratives to temporarily forget...
On weekends, I just want to binge-watch mindlessly, with no interest in doing anything else.
Meaning 'heavyweight', this term is used to describe something of great importance or significance, often in news headlines or viral topics.
This heavyweight news has attracted nationwide attention.
This term translates to 'dream collaboration' and is often used in marketing and entertainment to describe exciting crossovers between different franchises or characters. It signifies something that fans have long wis...
This dream collaboration is so exciting; two of my favorite anime characters appeared together.
Translating to 'moon white,' this term is used to describe something that appears ethereal or delicate, often used in discussions about aesthetics, fashion, or art. It evokes a sense of beauty and tranquility.
The color of this dress is truly moon white; it looks especially beautiful.
Floor price - The lowest price available for an NFT collection.
The floor price of this NFT collection has dropped to 0.1 ETH.
Literally meaning 'salt selection', this term refers to curated or premium content that is of high quality. It's often used to promote exclusive or valuable information on social media platforms.
I've been watching some premium videos lately, and the content is really great.
Referring to a 'prosperous era,' it's often used ironically to describe situations where things seem overly perfect or exaggeratedly good, contrasting with reality.
They always say this is a prosperous era, but in reality, life is not that great.
Literally 'brainwashing,' this term describes content that is catchy or addictive, often used to refer to songs, memes, or trends that get stuck in one's mind.
This song is so catchy; I've been humming it all day.
Literally 'monster,' this term describes someone who is extremely good at a skill or hobby, often used in gaming or competitive environments. It conveys both admiration and a tinge of fear regarding their abilities.
That player is truly a monster; they play so well!
Cyberpunk refers to a subgenre of science fiction that features advanced technology juxtaposed with societal decay. It's commonly used to describe a futuristic aesthetic or lifestyle, especially on social media, refle...
Today I wore a full cyberpunk outfit, feeling really cool.
Win while lying down - Winning without effort, carried by teammates.
I won lying down this game, teammates were too strong.
To dig a pit; commonly used in internet parlance to mean to create suspense or an open-ended situation that others must follow up on. It can refer to storytelling in dramas or online content.
This drama really knows how to create suspense, making us look forward to the next episode.
This term literally means 'to expose fraud.' It's commonly used to refer to the act of uncovering false claims or misleading information, especially in advertising or social media. It reflects a growing desire for aut...
With online shopping being so popular now, exposing fraud is very important.
Literally meaning 'to pull and step', this slang describes the act of belittling someone else in order to elevate oneself, often seen in competitive social media environments. It highlights trends of jealousy and riva...
She always belittles other bloggers to boost her popularity.
Translating to 'wilderness survival', this term refers to challenges or games where individuals must survive in extreme environments. It's often used in entertainment contexts to describe reality shows.
I've recently become obsessed with wilderness survival shows; they are so thrilling!
Fear of missing out - Anxiety about missing a profitable opportunity.
Do not FOMO, analyze calmly before buying.
Translating to 'giving strength', this term means something is impressive or powerful, usually referring to a person’s actions or contributions. It expresses admiration for someone's efforts.
His performance in the competition was really impressive.
Translating to 'cloud dining,' this term is used to describe the phenomenon of enjoying online food content or live-streamed meals. It captures the experience of virtually sharing a meal with others.
I plan to enjoy 'cloud dining' tonight by watching a food livestream.
This term refers to being in a trance-like state or being overly obsessed with something, often to the point of losing touch with reality. It can be used humorously to describe extreme fandoms.
She is completely obsessed with that idol, tracking his every move daily.
Airdrop farming - Actively hunting for free token airdrops.
Too many airdrop farmers lately, projects are getting smarter.
Translating to 'administrator', this term often refers to people who manage online forums or social media groups. It has a slightly humorous connotation when discussing strict or overly vigilant moderators.
This admin is too strict; they always delete posts.