瓜 (guā)
Literally means 'melon', but it is slang for gossip or juicy news, often about celebrities or trending topics. It conveys a sense of curiosity about unfolding stories.
Did you hear? There's another juicy gossip about to break!
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.
Literally means 'melon', but it is slang for gossip or juicy news, often about celebrities or trending topics. It conveys a sense of curiosity about unfolding stories.
Did you hear? There's another juicy gossip about to break!
Pride of Domestic Manufacturing — used when a Chinese-made product genuinely excels or surpasses foreign competitors, especially in tech.
DeepSeek is truly a pride of domestic manufacturing — it made the whole world take notice.
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!
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.
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.
This phrase means 'double-tap 666,' where '666' signifies ‘cool’ or ‘impressive.’ It is typically used to express appreciation or approval, especially in online comments.
Your work is amazing; double-tap 666!
Cutting leeks / Scamming retail investors - When whales or projects take money from naive investors.
This project is just here to scam retail investors.
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.
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.
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.
Idol - A beloved celebrity, from English idol.
My idol released a new song.
Is it or not? / Right? — 484 sounds like 是不是 (shì bù shì), a common question tag meaning "right?" or "isn't it?" Used in casual texting to ask for confirmation or add a rhetorical question.
Don't you feel like there's been a lot of pressure lately?
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.
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.
Beloved - affectionate pet name for anything precious or cherished
This kitty is my beloved — nobody is allowed to touch her.
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!
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.
Literally means 'to scoop up'. It is often used to describe someone successfully obtaining something, especially in contexts of gaining fame, money, or resources, often in a slightly opportunistic manner.
He gained a lot of popularity from this event.
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.
The term '888' is an internet slang often used to express applause or encouragement, similar to saying 'good job' or 'well done.' It's derived from the sound of the word for 'bar' (发, fā), which is associated with goo...
Everyone's performance was excellent; well done!
An exclamation of excitement or hype — the Chinese internet equivalent of "Let's go!" or "Woo-hoo!" Although 芜湖 is a real city in Anhui province, it was hijacked as a viral meme sound effect and is now used purely to ...
We won! Let's gooo, we are taking off!
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!
Translating to 'social cow', this humorous term refers to people who have a significant influence or power in social settings or networks. It implies a person’s ability to command attention and respect.
In this circle, he is definitely a social influencer.
Guys, who gets it?! / Family, can anyone relate?
Guys, can anyone relate?! My boss actually praised me today!
This term refers to 'feel-good literature' or stories that are satisfying to read, often with wish-fulfillment plots and happy endings. It’s commonly used in online literature discussions.
I've been following a feel-good story lately, and it's really enjoyable.
Lying flat - a lifestyle philosophy of doing the bare minimum, rejecting the pressure to constantly strive for more. A counter-movement to '内卷' (involution).
I've decided to lie flat, I don't want to compete anymore.
GOAT / legend / the best forever — abbreviation of 永远的神 (yǒng yuǎn de shén), meaning "forever the god/legend." Used to describe someone or something as the absolute best — the Chinese equivalent of GOAT (Greatest of A...
This drama is literally YYDS — cried every single episode!
This idiom means 'wealth and honor are sought in danger', emphasizing the idea that taking risks is necessary for achieving great success. It's often used to encourage daring actions.
To succeed, you must take risks; wealth and honor are sought in danger.
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.
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.
Passerby - Someone neutral, neither fan nor hater.
I am just a passerby for this celebrity.
Translating to 'Douyin dance', this term refers to the popular dance trends seen on the Douyin platform, often involving specific choreographies that go viral. It represents a blend of entertainment and social media c...
I'm learning the latest Douyin dance; it's so much fun!
Seed phrase / Mnemonic - Recovery words for your crypto wallet.
Write your seed phrase on paper, do not store it on your phone.
Translating to 'echo', it refers to situations where one's words or opinions resonate with others, often used in discussions about social media trends or content that gains a lot of attention.
This video has a big echo; everyone is discussing it.
Translating to 'cloud cat-adoring', this term describes the act of enjoying or adoring cats online, often through social media. It reflects a growing trend of virtual pet ownership and appreciation.
Recently, I've been adoring cats online every day, and I feel particularly happy.
This term means 'to enlighten or educate,' often used in contexts where information is shared to clear up misunderstandings. It's akin to giving a crash course on a topic.
Let me enlighten you on this hot topic.
This term means 'science popularization' and refers to the act of making complex scientific concepts accessible to the general public. It's commonly used in educational contexts, especially online.
This channel focuses on science popularization, hoping everyone can understand science.
Translating to 'see through', it is used when someone can understand the underlying truth of a situation or person, often implying a sense of wisdom.
She saw through his lies.
Healing genre — a category of content or aesthetics with a soothing, restorative quality. Originally from Japanese iyashikei, it describes anything — videos, animals, food, slow life — that makes you feel calm and hea...
Snow Mountain Fox Rescue is typical healing-genre content — I felt much less stressed after watching.
Meaning 'to speculate', this term is used in discussions where opinions or theories about uncertain outcomes are shared. It emphasizes conjecture based on limited information.
This is my speculation; what do you think?
Cross-chain - Moving assets between different blockchain networks.
Cross-chain bridges are frequently attacked by hackers.
This literally means 'seafood', but in internet slang, it's used to describe someone who is 'fresh' or 'new', often in a humorous or mocking way.
His performance today was really fresh.
Literally 'melon seeds', this term is commonly used to describe someone who is watching a situation unfold, akin to a spectator. It reflects a casual attitude toward events, as if one is merely enjoying some snacks wh...
I’ll just be a spectator, enjoying the show.
Literally 'internet sprayer', this term denotes online trolls or individuals who post negative comments and criticisms indiscriminately. It's often used to describe people who enjoy stirring up trouble online.
The comments from these internet trolls are really frustrating.
Translating to 'lifting heavy as if light,' this term describes handling complex or difficult tasks with ease and confidence. It can be used to commend someone's skills or attitude.
She handles this project with such ease; it's impressive.
Literally 'young boys and girls', this term is often used to refer to teenagers or young adults, particularly in the context of discussions about youth culture, trends, and influences.
The young boys and girls had a big reaction to this drama.
This number has become a popular euphemism for 'Qing Dynasty,' often used in discussions about historical context or heritage. It signifies a deeper connection to Chinese traditional history.
He's very interested in Qing Dynasty history, always studying relevant materials.
Translating to 'eating watermelon,' it refers to casually watching or observing drama unfold, especially on social media. It denotes a sense of detachment and amusement while enjoying the show.
Seeing their argument, I can only sit on the sidelines and watch the drama unfold.
Peerless master — a martial artist of supreme, unrivaled skill in wuxia fiction. Used online as enthusiastic hyperbole for anyone who is exceptionally good at anything — cooking, gaming, studying, even parking a car.
The speed at which he codes — he is an absolute peerless master!
This phrase means 'please look forward to' and is often used in marketing and social media to build anticipation for upcoming events or products. It's a polite way to engage an audience's interest.
Our new product will be launched soon; please look forward to it!
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