Frequently asked questions
What is Chinese internet slang?
Informal expressions from Weibo, Douyin, Bilibili, and WeChat that reflect social trends, youth culture, and viral moments.
How is it different from chengyu?
Chengyu are four-character idioms with thousands of years of history. Internet slang is modern, informal, and evolves fast — some terms die in months.
Should I learn this?
Yes, for understanding modern Chinese media and chatting with native speakers online. But don't use these in formal or professional settings.
Where does it come from?
Gaming culture, workplace frustration, and viral moments. Most terms originate from Douyin, Weibo, or Bilibili.
Social & Relationships
22显眼包
xiǎn yǎn bāo
An 'attention-grabber' — a person, animal, or thing that grabs everyone's attention through a loud personality, bold appearance, or conspicuous antics; the class clown or show-off, now usually warm and teasing rather than harsh.
嘴替
zuǐ tì
Literally 'mouth substitute' — someone who voices an opinion exactly the way you wish you could, saying what's in your head but more clearly, bravely, or eloquently; 'they took the words right out of my mouth.'
凡尔赛
fán ěr sài
Humble-bragging — showing off wealth or achievements while pretending to be modest or complaining.
PUA
PUA
Psychological manipulation — used broadly to describe gaslighting, emotional manipulation, or toxic behavior by bosses, partners, etc.
秀狗/秀恩爱
xiù ēn ài
Showing off affection / PDA — couples who publicly display their relationship in an over-the-top way.
鸡娃
jī wá
Tiger parenting on steroids — pushing children extremely hard academically with endless tutoring and activities.
虾头
xiā tóu
Shrimp head — describes someone who is attractive from behind but disappointing from the front.
搭子
dā zi
Activity buddy — a person you pair up with for specific activities (meal buddy, study buddy, travel buddy).
晒
shài
To show off / share publicly — posting photos of purchases, trips, or achievements on social media.
大地/大爹
dà dì / dà diē
Big daddy — used sarcastically to describe arrogant or domineering behavior.
淡人/浓人
dàn rén / nóng rén
Mild person vs. intense person — a simplified personality split. 淡人 are low-energy and unbothered, 浓人 are loud, passionate, and extra about everything.
狗粮
gǒu liáng
Dog food — what single people are "fed" when couples show off their relationship in front of them. Forced to consume PDA.
钓鱼
diào yú
"Fishing" — baiting someone into showing romantic interest (a flattering selfie, an ambiguous late-night text) to see who bites. The people who bite become the "fish."
养鱼
yǎng yú
To "raise fish": keep several romantic prospects on the hook at once — never committing, never rejecting, stringing multiple admirers along in parallel. The pool of admirers is a 鱼塘 ("fish pond").
海王 / 海后
hǎi wáng / hǎi hòu
"Sea King / Sea Queen" — a player (海王 = male, 海后 = female) with "someone in every sea," juggling many ambiguous relationships at once. The master angler who owns the 鱼塘 (fish pond).
备胎
bèi tāi
A "spare tire": a backup, second-choice partner kept in reserve "just in case." Their attention is enjoyed, but they aren't the real romantic goal.
中央空调
zhōng yāng kōng tiáo
"Central air conditioning": someone (stereotypically male) who is warm, attentive, and flirty toward everyone, so no one can tell if they're special. Like central air, they heat the whole building, not just one room.
渣男 / 渣女
zhā nán / zhā nǚ
"Scummy man / scummy woman" (渣 = dregs) — a terrible partner who cheats, lies, plays with feelings, and discards people. The umbrella insult that 海王 and 中央空调 are specific types of.
舔狗
tiǎn gǒu
"Licking dog" / simp — someone who debases themselves chasing a person who plainly isn't interested: endless gifts, attention, and money with no self-respect and no reciprocation.
绿茶
lǜ chá
"Green tea" (full form 绿茶婊) — someone who performs sweet, innocent, helpless purity on the surface while calculating underneath. About the performance of innocence to get what she wants.
恋爱脑
liàn'ài nǎo
"Love brain" — someone whose judgment switches off in relationships, pouring all their energy, priorities, and common sense into a partner and sacrificing career and friends for love.
暧昧
ài mèi
"Ambiguity" — the undefined "more than friends, not yet together" phase: mutual interest and tension with no label. The Chinese equivalent of "the talking stage."