This is the complete browsable index of our Chinese Slang Dictionary — 3800+ verified internet slang terms used on platforms like Weibo, Bilibili, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu. Every entry includes the Chinese characters (汉字), pinyin with tone marks, an English translation, at least one example sentence in authentic Chinese, and a cultural note explaining where the term comes from and how it is really used. Terms are ranked by community votes, so the most useful and widely used terms appear first. New slang is added daily from trending Chinese social media. Looking for a specific term? Use the search bar at the top of the page.
Chinese Slang Terms, Sorted by Popularity
Literally meaning 'rebellious', it describes someone who goes against the norm or authority, often in a humorous or light-hearted manner. This term is often used in youth culture.
He’s a rebellious youth, always ready to challenge authority.
Refers to a character from Jin Yong's novels, representing an idealized young woman. It is often invoked to describe someone with ethereal beauty or a whimsical demeanor in an ironic or humorous way.
She is dressed in white today, truly like a little dragon girl descending to earth.
Passerby - Someone neutral, neither fan nor hater.
I am just a passerby for this celebrity.
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!
This term mimics the sound of beeping and is used to describe annoying or nagging behavior. It's often used humorously to refer to overly critical or irritating comments.
He’s always beeping in my ear, making me very annoyed.
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.
This slang refers to a fashionable girl who enjoys a particular trendy lifestyle, often associated with coffee culture, especially lattes. It symbolizes a stylish, sophisticated young woman often seen in urban settings.
She is often referred to as the latte girl in the coffee shop.
Translating to 'emptying the shopping cart,' it refers to the act of going through online shopping and removing items from the cart, often used humorously to address impulse buying or financial responsibility.
To save money, I decided to empty my shopping cart.
Meaning 'cannon fodder', this term is used to describe those who are expendable or easily sacrificed in a situation, often in the context of online games or competitive environments.
In this game, many people are just cannon fodder.
Translating to 'human world is worth it', this term expresses an appreciation for life and the belief that despite difficulties, life has its beautiful moments. It's often used to encourage positivity and gratitude.
No matter how bitter life is, the human world is worth it; we need to be happy.
To win people over through virtue rather than force. In wuxia, the ideal of a true master who earns respect through moral character, not just fighting ability. Online, often used ironically when someone dominates but ...
The boss says he leads through virtue — but our bonuses have not increased by a cent.
Translating to 'plucking stars,' this metaphorical expression describes reaching for dreams or achieving something significant, often used in inspirational contexts.
Let’s work hard to pluck the stars for our dreams!
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.
Translating to 'instant noodle hero', this term is humorously used to describe someone who frequently consumes instant noodles, often due to a busy lifestyle or lack of cooking skills. It can also evoke nostalgia for ...
In high school, I was an instant noodle hero; I only started learning to cook now.
This slang term means 'to pick up girls' and is often used in discussions about dating strategies. It conveys a casual, sometimes playful approach to flirting or dating.
His skills in picking up girls at the bar are impressive.
Literally meaning 'to fly a plane,' this term is used informally to describe someone who travels quickly or impulsively, particularly for leisure or adventure.
This weekend, my friends and I impulsively flew to the beach.
Weirdo / pervert / freak — abbreviation of 变态 (biàn tài), literally "changed state" or "abnormal." Used to call someone a pervert, a weirdo, or just someone behaving strangely. Can be affectionate between friends or g...
You weirdo! How did you even come up with that idea?
Translating to 'happy life', this term emphasizes the pursuit of happiness and well-being in daily living. It encourages individuals to focus on positivity.
We should pursue a happy life and enjoy every day.
Translating to 'I don't want to go to work,' this phrase expresses burnout and reluctance towards work. It's commonly used among the younger generation feeling the pressures of job responsibilities.
Monday is here again, and I really don't want to go to work.
This term means 'wasteful child' and is used to describe someone who squanders money carelessly or extravagantly. It reflects a negative judgment on reckless spending.
He is such a wasteful child; he spends money like there's no tomorrow.
Translating to 'high-level black,' this term describes witty, sophisticated sarcasm or criticism that is clever and layered. It is used to express sarcasm without being overtly aggressive.
His comment was truly high-level black, making everyone burst into laughter.
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.
This term means 'to show off' or 'to act cool,' and is often used to describe someone who has an attitude or swagger. It can be used positively to praise someone or negatively to criticize arrogance.
He always acts so cool, it's really unbearable.
The onomatopoeic term for 'meow', often used in a cute or playful context to represent cats or to express affection, particularly among cat lovers. It adds a playful tone to conversations.
I'm feeling down today; I need your meow to comfort me.
Literally meaning 'to send off to the grave', this term is humorously used to describe a situation where someone is about to face an inevitable defeat or failure. It is often used in competitive contexts, especially i...
In this match, we were practically sending off to the grave.
Guys, who gets it?! / Family, can anyone relate?
Guys, can anyone relate?! My boss actually praised me today!
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.
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 'small but certain happiness,' this term describes the little joys and pleasures in life that bring happiness. It emphasizes appreciating the small things that may seem inconsequential but influence ove...
Having a cup of coffee every day is my small but certain happiness.
Referring to spicy strips of snack food, this term has become a cultural symbol for youth trends and indulgence in junk food. It's often mentioned in a nostalgic or humorous context.
After school, we always go buy spicy strips to eat.
Literally meaning 'shoveling poop', this term is used humorously to refer to the responsibilities of pet ownership, especially regarding cleaning up after pets. It can also symbolize the responsibilities that come wit...
Owning a dog means shoveling poop; it’s really tiring.
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.
I love you forever — the ultimate romantic number combination in Chinese, merging 520 (I love you / 我爱你) and 1314 (forever / 一生一世) into a single declaration of eternal love.
Happy anniversary! I love you forever — 5201314!
Translates to 'photo scam', this term is used to refer to images that are highly edited or filtered, leading to misleading perceptions of appearance. It's often used in discussions about online authenticity.
Her photos look beautiful, but they are actually a photo scam.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Meaning 'light bulb,' this term refers to a person who awkwardly joins a couple, often in a social context. It symbolizes feeling out of place or being a third wheel.
At the party, I felt like a light bulb, it was so awkward.
I love you — 520 sounds like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) in Mandarin. The most iconic Chinese number code for love, used in texts, gifts, and online chats. May 20th (5/20) has become an unofficial Valentine's Day in China because ...
Today is May 20th (520), I want to tell you — I love you!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Translating to 'compare hearts', this term describes the action of making a heart shape with one's hands as a gesture of love or appreciation. It’s often used in a playful and affectionate manner on social media.
I make a heart for you, hoping you are happy!
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.
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!
Not a single penny — the most direct Beijing way to say you are completely broke. Zir (子儿) is a Beijing dialect word for the smallest unit of money, so this means you literally have zero. Used to state financial reali...
My salary has not come in yet this month — I do not have a single penny.
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.
Beloved - affectionate pet name for anything precious or cherished
This kitty is my beloved — nobody is allowed to touch her.