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
The Chinese transliteration of Twitter, it is frequently used in discussions about social media trends, especially in reference to news or viral topics. It signifies a platform where quick, real-time updates occur.
The topics on Twitter today are really interesting.
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.
Translating to 'crossing over,' this term is used to describe a genre of stories where characters travel through time or alternate realities. It's often used metaphorically in discussions about nostalgia or longing fo...
I enjoy movies with time-travel themes; I find them very interesting.
Referring to the famous French pastry 'macaron', this term is used in Chinese internet culture to describe things that are cute or visually appealing, often in a pastel color palette. It can describe personalities, ae...
Her dressing style is truly like macarons.
Refers to an informal theory about how when someone becomes famous or successful, the people around them suddenly become more supportive or affiliate themselves with that success.
After she debuted, all her friends suddenly became supporters of the Strong's Law.
Crypto circle - The cryptocurrency community and ecosystem.
The crypto circle exploded again today, Bitcoin crashed.
Literally meaning 'background king', this slang is used to describe someone who tends to flaunt their connections or background. It usually carries a negative connotation, suggesting that they rely too much on their n...
He's just a background king, relying on others for everything.
Translating to 'not sci-fi', this slang is used to describe situations that are surprisingly mundane or realistic, contrary to what might be expected in a futuristic or speculative context.
This movie is not sci-fi, but it’s quite interesting.
Refers to the practice of cultivating immortality, often in the context of fantasy novels and games. It symbolizes a pursuit of higher knowledge, power, or enlightenment.
I've been reading a fantasy novel about immortality cultivation; the story is amazing.
This slang term is borrowed from English and means to be baited or tricked into believing something, often with humorous or ironic implications. It's often used in discussions about clever deceptions.
I was really jebaited, thinking I would win.
Translating to 'traffic star', this term refers to celebrities or influencers who attract a lot of online attention, often because of their social media presence rather than traditional talent.
He can definitely be considered a traffic star now, with his fan count skyrocketing.
Translating to 'crossing the fire line', this term is used in gaming contexts to describe overcoming difficult challenges or levels in a game. It symbolizes persistence in the face of adversity.
To win the game, I must cross the fire line!
Translating to 'one-on-one,' this term describes direct interactions or discussions typically between two people. It can emphasize personal attention and individual interactions.
We can have one-on-one guidance; it will be more effective.
Translating to 'ascending period,' this term describes a time of growth in someone's career or popularity, often in contexts discussing rising influencers or talents.
He’s in his ascending period; the future is promising.
Translates to 'to play a role,' commonly used in contexts like role-playing games or acting. It implies engaging deeply in a character or persona, often for fun.
In this game, I like to play the role of a wizard.
DEX - Decentralized exchange for trading crypto without intermediaries.
Trading on a DEX does not require account registration.
Translating to 'burning', this term is used to describe something exciting or inspiring, often related to motivation or passion. It encapsulates the feeling of exhilaration and enthusiasm.
This movie is so inspiring; it filled me with determination.
This slang translates to 'over birth' and is used humorously to describe when a person is overly excited or happy about something, often leading to exaggerated reactions. It's related to expressions of extreme enthusi...
She did well on her exam today, and she's overly excited like it's New Year’s.
Meaning 'recommendation post', this term is used for posts that suggest helpful or interesting content, often shared on platforms like Weibo.
Her recommendation posts led me to discover many great books.
Though it means 'teaching material,' in internet slang, it refers to someone who acts as a model or example for others, especially in learning or social interactions. It's often invoked in a humorous or sarcastic manner.
Your performance this time is truly a teaching material; everyone can learn a lot.
Literally 'to hang and beat', this slang refers to decisively defeating someone, often in a competition or argument. It suggests an overwhelming victory or dominance.
In this match, they completely dominated their opponent with no suspense at all.
'Fan circle' refers to the community of fans surrounding a particular celebrity or group, often involved in social media activities like voting, promoting, and discussing their idols. It signifies intense devotion and...
I joined a new fan circle, and everyone is really enthusiastic.
Meaning 'gambling mentality', this phrase describes an attitude of taking big risks for uncertain rewards. It often reflects impulsive behaviors in financial decisions or lifestyle choices.
Such a gambling mentality cannot last long in investments.
Translating to 'programming ability,' this slang is often used humorously to refer to someone's technical skills, especially in coding, but can also denote general problem-solving skills.
This project really tested my programming skills.
Translating to 'hotly discussed across the internet', this term refers to trending topics or viral sensations that gain widespread attention and discussion online. It highlights the nature of internet culture and trends.
This event has sparked hot discussions across the internet.
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.
DeFi - Decentralized Finance, financial services on blockchain.
DeFi lets you borrow and lend without a bank.
Translating to 'no taboos', this term describes a mindset or culture where anything can be discussed openly. It’s often used to encourage honesty and transparency in conversations.
Here, we can discuss any issue openly without taboos.
Meaning 'to learn from' or 'to borrow ideas,' this term is often used in professional and educational contexts to indicate using examples from others to improve one's own work.
We can learn from the experiences of other successful projects.
Translating to 'social person,' this term refers to individuals who are heavily engaged in social activities and often portray a strong social persona online. It can imply someone who is savvy and well-connected in so...
He's really a social person; he knows a lot of people.
Means 'mover,' used to refer to people who share or repost content from others without adding their own opinions. It implies a passive role in content sharing.
He’s just a mover, lacking his own insights.
Literally 'confusing account', this term refers to situations that are unclear or ambiguous, often linked to misunderstandings or lack of transparency. It can be used humorously or critically.
The budget for this project is as confusing as a muddled account; it’s hard to understand.
Translating to 'buying a ticket', it refers to someone trying to join in on a conversation or trend after it has begun. It carries a sense of awkwardness, as if the person missed the initial hype.
Are you trying to join in? This movie has been out for a while.
This term refers to older men who have gained popularity on Douyin (TikTok) for their humorous content or charm. It often celebrates their unique style and approach to social media.
This Douyin uncle is always very creative and attracts many fans.
This term means 'domineering' or 'charismatic', used to describe someone exuding confidence, strength, or forcefulness. It's often applied to big personalities or actions.
His performance was so charismatic; he completely dominated the scene.
This term literally translates to 'money path' and refers to the potential for financial success in a certain career or investment. It's often used in discussions about job prospects and personal finance.
This industry has great prospects; there's a lot of potential for financial success.
The Nine Yin Manual — the supreme martial arts scripture in Jin Yong's The Legend of the Condor Heroes, containing the ultimate secrets of combat. Online, used for any comprehensive, authoritative guide or resource th...
This interview prep resource is basically the Nine Yin Manual — it has everything.
Referring to 'Douyin Divine Songs', this term describes catchy songs that go viral on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). They are often used in various challenges and memes, becoming synonymous with trending cult...
This Douyin divine song is so catchy that I got addicted after just one listen.
This phrase translates to 'as if it's going to be a hit' and is often used to express excitement or anticipation for a piece of content, like a video or meme, that is expected to gain popularity quickly. It reflects t...
This video seems like it's going to be a hit; everyone go check it out!
Literally 'drink tea', this phrase is a euphemistic way to refer to discussing scandals or gossip, often implying that one is engaged in a conversation that involves intrigue or drama.
She always enjoys drinking tea with friends and chatting about gossip.
'To wash the board', this refers to the act of flooding a social media platform or a comment section with repetitive posts or memes, overwhelming current discussions. It’s often done for fun or to promote a specific m...
This post was flooded by fans.
Translating to 'against the wind', this term symbolizes facing struggles or challenges head-on. It’s often used to describe perseverance in the face of adversity, particularly in motivational contexts.
Against the wind, we should move forward courageously.
Translating to 'big data,' this term is used to describe the vast amounts of information collected and analyzed in various fields, especially in technology and marketing.
The company is using big data to optimize our products.
Literally 'knife sister,' this term refers to a girl who is fiercely competitive or skilled, often in gaming or sports contexts. It's a playful way to describe women who excel in traditionally male-dominated areas.
She's really a 'knife sister' in the game, defeating all the boys.
This phrase translates to 'come on' and is often used to encourage someone or express excitement about a situation. It's a versatile phrase that can convey enthusiasm or motivation.
We can definitely win today's match, come on!
This term means 'freeloaders' and describes people who take advantage of free resources or services without contributing, especially in online contexts.
I've been a freeloader recently, enjoying free content.
This term means 'to run scores', often used in gaming contexts to refer to the act of quickly achieving high scores or ranks in games for achievements or recognition.
We’re going to run scores tonight, hoping to achieve high scores.
Translates to 'pay tribute,' used often in the context of honoring someone or something, especially in creative works or social media.
This movie pays tribute to classic works and is very touching.
This term stands for 'book fan', representing people who are avid readers or fans of specific authors or genres. It underscores the growing appreciation for literature in a social media context, where people share rev...
As a book fan, I’m chasing after new reading lists every day.
Translating to 'false prosperity', this term describes situations where appearances suggest success, but the reality is quite different. It's used to critique superficial success in businesses or social media.
This brand seems to have high sales, but in reality, it’s false prosperity.