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.
Origin
A homegrown Chinese-internet coinage with no single documented source, rising sharply since around 2020–2021 in relationship discourse and drama commentary. It is the opposite pole from the detached 佛系 ("Buddhist-style") attitude.
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What does 恋爱脑 mean? The complete guide — origin, usage, related slang, and cultural context.
Examples
她为了男朋友辞职搬家，太恋爱脑了。(She quit her job and moved for her boyfriend — total love-brain.)
我劝自己别恋爱脑，要理智一点。(I keep telling myself not to go love-brain and stay rational.)
Related terms
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.