Attitude & Lifestyle2022informal

刺客

cì kè

Price assassin — a product that looks cheap but shocks you with an unexpectedly high price at checkout.

Origin & Background

Started with "雪糕刺客" (ice cream assassin) in 2022 when expensive ice cream brands tricked people expecting cheap prices.

Examples

That ice cream was a 刺客 — looked normal but cost $8!

小心超市里的雪糕刺客。(Watch out for ice cream assassins in the supermarket.)

Related Slang

躺平

tǎng píng

Lying flat — rejecting the rat race, choosing to do the bare minimum instead of overworking.

摆烂

bǎi làn

Let it rot — giving up entirely on trying, embracing failure or mediocrity.

干饭人

gān fàn rén

Eating machine / foodie warrior — someone who eats with great enthusiasm and passion.

佛系

fó xì

Buddha-like — having a zen, whatever-happens-happens attitude toward life. Not caring about outcomes.