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.
Translating to 'traffic small star', this term refers to a rising celebrity or influencer with significant online presence but not yet extensive recognition. It often highlights their potential for growth.
She is a traffic small star; she will definitely become popular in the future.
Literally meaning 'seeing makes me very happy,' this phrase describes something that causes joy or satisfaction upon seeing it. It’s often used for cute animals or heartwarming news.
This little dog is so cute; seeing it makes me very happy!
This term, which means 'little vest', refers to a secondary account or persona that people create, often for anonymity or to express different sides of themselves online.
I use a secondary account to express myself on the forum and protect my privacy.
Literally translating to 'strongly supporting', this term refers to advocating or promoting something, often excessively or in an over-the-top manner. It’s commonly used in discussions about influencers or celebrities.
Even though the drama is not good, he is still strongly supporting it.
Translating to 'the strongest on the entire internet', this term is often used humorously or boastfully to refer to someone or something that stands out significantly, often in a sarcastic tone.
He claims to be the strongest player on the entire internet, but he's actually just a newbie.
This term literally means 'black talk' and refers to coded language or jargon used within specific communities, often used to convey insider information.
Do you understand this insider jargon? I'm still a bit confused.
This term is akin to saying 'so-and-so' or 'someone' and is used to refer to unnamed people or things. It often appears in discussions when the actual names or specifics are not relevant or known.
So-and-so said today’s meeting has been canceled.
This term means 'to become' and is often used to express disappointment in how someone has changed for the worse. It reflects a sense of loss or regret.
How did he become such a person?
This phrase humorously means 'fire tongs Liu Ming' but is a play on words for '火前留名' (leave your name before the fire). It's used when someone wants to leave a lasting impression or create a memorable moment.
I must make a memorable impact in this competition!
Literally meaning 'big move,' this term is primarily used in gaming to refer to a powerful skill or ability that can turn the tide of a battle. It's also used metaphorically in other contexts to describe a significant...
He used a big move in the match and turned the situation around.
Translating to 'Onmyoji', this term often refers to practitioners in Japanese folklore but is popularly used in gaming contexts, especially referring to players of the game 'Onmyoji'. It reflects cultural crossovers a...
Recently, I’ve become obsessed with Onmyoji; it’s such a great game.
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 meaning 'to push a cart,' this term is often used to describe someone who is working hard to promote or support something, especially in business or online content.
He is a content creator who's really pushing his brand, gaining more fans every day.
Translating to 'glittering gold,' this term describes something shiny or showy. It is often used to describe ostentatious behavior or appearances.
The glittering gold outfit she wore today was so eye-catching.
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.
Meaning 'strong material,' this term is used to describe exciting or shocking news, often in the context of gossip or scandal. It conveys the sense of something juicy and worth discussing.
This news has too much juicy material; everyone is sharing it like crazy.
Kung Fu — both the martial art and the title of Stephen Chow's 2004 masterpiece. The film's exaggerated fight sequences and underdog hero story made 功夫 a reference for any absurd, spectacular skill demonstration, or f...
He seemed completely ordinary until he got on stage — like the underdog in Kung Fu Hustle, everyone was shocked.
Translating to 'fervent fan', this term describes someone who is intensely passionate about a celebrity, band, or show, often participating in fandom activities. It emphasizes the enthusiasm within fan cultures.
She’s a fervent fan of that drama and discusses the plot almost every day.
Translating to 'plot twist', this term is used in discussing stories, movies, or dramas where unexpected changes occur. It reflects the audience's engagement with narratives that defy expectations.
The plot twist in this story took me by surprise!
Translating to 'black technology', this term refers to advanced, often innovative technologies that seem to defy conventional understanding. It’s used to describe cutting-edge trends, particularly in tech discussions.
The features of this phone are truly black technology.
Literal translation means 'to eat by face,' referring to individuals whose attractiveness plays a crucial role in their success, especially in entertainment or social media contexts. It implies that appearance matters...
In this industry, many people succeed based on looks.
Meaning 'surrounding areas' or 'peripherals,' this term is often used to refer to merchandise or products related to a particular fandom or interest.
The merchandise related to this game is very popular.
Refers to a 'Twitter-style mindset,' characterized by concise communication and immediate responses, often focusing on trends and current events. It suggests a tendency towards superficial engagement.
In our information-exploding era, many people have developed a Twitter-style mindset.
Translates to 'uncanny valley,' used to describe the eeriness felt towards robots or animations that look almost human. It's often discussed in the context of technology and AI.
Seeing that robot, which looks almost human, made me feel like I was in the uncanny valley.
This phrase means 'to chase the plot,' referring to the act of following a series or drama closely, often binge-watching episodes. It's commonly used among fans of series.
I've been chasing a new drama lately; it's so good!
Translating to 'netizen', this term refers to internet users who actively participate in online communities. It reflects the growing influence of online platforms and social media on public discourse and culture.
This issue has sparked discussion among a wide range of netizens.
This term translates to 'generate' and is often used in the context of creating content, especially in AI discussions or when someone is discussing creativity and output. It can imply that something was produced rapid...
The melody of this song is generated too easily.
Bull market - A rising market where prices are going up.
The bull market is here, everyone is making money.
This term translates to 'change name,' often used in online contexts when users change their usernames or online identities, reflecting digital reinvention.
I feel like I should change my account name to switch up my style.
To be honest / let's call it what it is — signals you are about to say something direct, unfiltered, and true, even if it is not what people want to hear. Essentially a verbal warning: what follows is the unvarnished ...
To be honest, this plan really does not work — we need to rethink it.
Translating to 'incurable', it humorously refers to someone or something that is hopelessly obsessed with trends or interests that are deemed ridiculous.
I’m hopelessly obsessed with this show.
Translating to 'money-making', this term refers to schemes or tactics designed purely for profit, often with a negative connotation. It reflects a sense of caution against opportunistic behaviors, especially in business.
The goal of this project is just to make money without any real value.
Translating to 'invincible in the human world', this term is used to describe something or someone that is exceptionally impressive or unbeatable in a fun way. It often appears in competitive contexts or comebacks.
This movie is truly invincible in the human world!
This term translates to 'contrast cuteness', describing a situation or character where their appearance contradicts their personality, creating an unexpected charm. It’s often used in discussions about characters in m...
The contrast cuteness of this character leaves a deep impression.
Translating to 'Twitter-style', this term describes a brief, often sarcastic or humorous way of expressing thoughts or opinions, similar to the style prevalent on Twitter. It's often used in online discussions.
His comment is really Twitter-style humor.
This term refers to the practice of 'anti-recommendation'—essentially warning friends against something instead of promoting it. It often indicates a critical view on something that seems overrated.
I would anti-recommend this movie; it’s really not good.
Translating to 'capture,' this term is often used in photography or media to describe the act of seizing a moment, particularly in creative contexts.
I want to capture this beautiful moment.
Refers to a significant historical incident in Chinese history, but in internet slang, it has come to symbolize unexpected twists or turns in events, often used humorously.
The result of this match was really an unexpected twist!
Nonsense comedy — the absurdist, anarchic humor style that Stephen Chow (周星驰) invented and made famous in Hong Kong cinema. It combines rapid-fire wordplay, surreal logic jumps, and deadpan delivery of completely irra...
His answer was complete nonsense, but I could not stop laughing.
Digital collectible - The Chinese term for NFTs to avoid regulatory issues.
This digital collectible has a limited release of 10000 copies.
This phrase translates to 'wonderfully spectacular', often used to describe enticing events, performances, or activities. It conveys a sense of excitement and high quality.
This performance was wonderfully spectacular and made me reluctant to leave.
Literally 'technology homebody,' this term describes someone who is very much into technology, often at the expense of socializing. It reflects a fascination with gadgets, gaming, and online communities.
He's a tech homebody, almost playing every newly released game daily.
Hurry up / get on with it / let's go — abbreviation of 搞快点 (gǎo kuài diǎn), a Cantonese-influenced expression meaning "do it faster." Used to urge someone to speed up, often impatiently or excitedly.
The updates are so slow — GKD, hurry up!
A playful term that refers to someone who is a great influencer or mentor, often used in a joking manner. It can imply a sense of admiration mixed with humor about their influence or advice.
When it comes to fitness, he’s truly my great mentor.
Meaning 'to question' or 'to doubt', this term is used when expressing skepticism about something, often in the context of discussions or news online. It reflects critical thinking in digital conversations.
I have some doubts about this news; I don't know if it's true.
Translating to 'the game crashed', this phrase is used in gaming contexts when a game encounters technical issues or crashes. It reflects the frustrations gamers experience, particularly in online play.
I was playing a game just now, and then the game crashed.
Backdoor deal / nepotism / ass-kissing transaction — PY is a vulgar abbreviation for 屁眼 (pì yǎn, "a**hole"). PY交易 refers to shady deals done through personal connections, favors, or bribery rather than merit. Used to ...
This award is obviously a backdoor deal — has nothing to do with actual talent.
Young Mistress - elevated title now widely used in customer service
Young Mistress, your bubble tea is ready for pickup.
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.
This term means 'to monetize', typically used in discussions of turning one's skills, hobbies, or social media presence into revenue. It reflects a growing culture of entrepreneurship among young people.
She successfully monetized her social media presence and made a lot of money.
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