Chinese Internet Slang
Chinese Internet slang is informal language coined to express ideas on the Chinese Internet in response to events, the influence of the mass media and foreign culture, and the desire of people to simplify and update the Chinese language. Slang that first appears on the net is often adopted to become current in everyday life. It includes content relating to all aspects of life — social, mass media, economic, and political etc. Internet slang is arguably the fastest changing aspect of the language, created by a number of different influences — technology (the means used to input and send messages), mass media and foreign culture amongst others.
Categories
The categories given below to distinguish the different kinds of Chinese internet slang are not exclusive. Some phrases may belong in more than one category.
Numbers, representing Chinese words (数字表示汉字 shùzì biǎoshì hànzì)
- 1314: "For ever", usually preceded by a phrase such as "I love you" or whatever. 1314 (pinyin: yīsānyīsì) represents 一生一世 "one life, one world" (pinyin: yīshēng yīshì).
- 4242: "Yes" or "Affirmative" or "It is", 4242 (pinyin: sìshí'èr sìshí'èr) represents 是啊是啊 (pinyin: shìa shìa).
- 520: "I love you". 520 (pinyin: wǔ'èrlíng) represents 我爱你 (pinyin: wǒ ài nǐ).[1]
- 555: "(crying)". 555 (pinyin: wǔwǔwǔ) represents 呜呜呜 (pinyin: wūwūwū) the sound of tearful crying.
- 7451 or 7456: "I'm angry". 7451 (pinyin: qīsìwǔyī) or 7456 (pinyin: qīsìwǔliù) represents 气死我了 (pinyin: qìsǐ wǒle).
- 748: "Go and die!", 748 (pinyin: qīsìbā)：represents 去死吧 (pinyin: qùsǐba), the equivalent of "Get lost!", or "Go to hell!"
- 88: "Bye bye" (goodbye). 88 (pinyin: bābā) represents "bye bye" (English).[1]
- 94: "So, but etc." 94 jiǔsì represents 就是 (pinyin: jiùshì), the conjunction meaning "so", "but", "just like", "in the same way as" etc.
- 995: "Help", "Save me!" 995 (pinyin: jiǔjiǔwǔ) represents 救救我 (pinyin: jiùjiù wǒ).
Latin alphabet abbreviations (字母縮寫 zìmǔ suōxiě)
Chinese users commonly use a QWERTY keyboard with pinyin enabled. Upper case letters are quick to type and require no transformation. (Lower case letters spell words which are changed into Chinese characters). Latin alphabet abbreviations (rather than Chinese characters) are also sometimes used to evade censorship.[2]
- A片: A piān, an 'adult' video.[3]
- BZ: bǎnzhǔ (版主), moderator of an internet discussion forum.[3]
- BS: bǐshì (鄙视), to despise (verb).[3]
- CCAV: China Central Adult Video, ironic nickname for China Central Television (CCTV).[3]
- CN: chǔnǚ or chǔnán (处女 or 处男), virgin (girl or boy) [3]
- FL: fàláng (发廊), hairdresser, possibly providing sex services.[3]
- FQ: fènqīng (愤青), indignant/angry youth.[3]
- GC: gāocháo (高潮), orgasm.[3]
- GCD: gòngchǎndǎng (共产党), Communist Party.[3]
- GG: gēge (哥哥), literally older brother, by extension male friend, or guy.[3]
- HLL: huá lì lì (华丽丽), glamorous, high-profile.[3]
- JC: jǐngchá (警察), police.[3]
- JP: jípǐn (极品), high quality, but used ironically for things that are low quality.[3]
- JY: jīngyīng (精英), elite, right-wing people, but also jīngyè (精液) sperm, semen.[3]
- KJ: kǒujiāo (口交), oral sex.[3]
- LD: lǐng dǎo (领导), leadership, i.e. the government and officials.[3]
- ML: make love.[3]
- MM: mèimèi (妹妹 or 美美 or 美妹 or 美眉), Little sister, young girl, pretty girl. Often written as “MM,” which usually refers to a young girl or pretty girls.[3]
- NB: niúbī (牛屄), an arrogant, annoying person, but also used positively for an awesome, impressive, person, similar to 'badass'.[3]
- PG: pìgu (屁股), buttocks.[3]
- P民: pì mín (屁民), rabble, hoi polloi, ordinary people, often used ironically.[3]
- PPMM: piàopiào mèimei (漂漂妹妹), beautiful girl (see MM above).
- PS: photoshopped (picture).[3]
- SN: sauna.[3]
- TMD: tāmāde (他妈的), common Chinese expletive used for ‘damn, fuck’ etc.[3]
- TT: tàotao (套套), condom.[3]
- WDR: wàidìrén (外地人), stranger, outsider, foreigner.[3]
- XJ: xiǎojiě (小姐), young woman, but also commonly for prostitute.[3]
- YD: yín dàng (淫荡), obscene, perverted.[3]
- YY: yì yín (意淫), fantasizing, sexual thoughts.[3]
- ZF: zhèngfǔ (政府), government [3]
- ZG: zhōngguó (中国), China.[3]
Chinese abbreviations (汉字縮读 Hànzì suōdú)
- 'Don't know' (不造 Bù zào): A contraction of standard Chinese "I don't know" (不知道 Bù zhīdào).
Chinese contractions (简写 jiǎnxiě)
- "Dear" (亲 qīn): short for 亲爱的 qīn'àide, friendly term of respect, address etc.
- "Life is so hard that some lies are better not exposed" (人艰不拆 rén jiān bù chāi): This comes from the lyrics of a song entitled “Shuo Huang” (Lies), by Taiwanese singer Yoga Lin. This phrase implies a situation that is too harsh to be contemplated. For example，it can be used to describe a large group of unemployed recent college graduates. This slang reflects that some people, especially young people in China, are disappointed by reality. The phrase is often paired with “too tired to love” (see below).[4]
- Short, ugly and poor (矮丑穷 ǎichǒuqióng or 矮丑矬 ǎichǒucuó): The opposite of gāofùshuài below, the least ideal.[3]
- Tall, rich and handsome (高富帅 gāofùshuài): This is the opposite of "ǎichǒuqióng" or “diaosi”. It is used to describe men with great wealth, a perfect body, as well as high qualifications and social status—ideal characteristics in mainland China. The word comes from an animated TV series called “Tall, Rich and Handsome” in which the name of the protagonist was “Tall, Rich and Handsome”. This slang has become widely used on the internet, symbolizing the perfect man that many women in China dream of marrying.[3]
- Too tired to love (累觉不爱 lèi jué bù ài) : This slang phrase is a literal abbreviation of the Chinese phrase “too tired to fall in love anymore”. It originated from an article on the Douban website. The article was posted by a 13-year-old boy who grumbled about his single status and expressed his weariness and frustration towards romantic love. The article went viral on the internet, and the phrase was subsequently used as a sarcastic way to convey depression when encountering misfortunes or setbacks in life.[5]
- White complexion, rich, and beautiful (白富美 báifùměi): Female equivalent of gāofùshuài. The ideal girlfriend or wife.[3]
New expressions 新网络词 (xīn wǎngluò cí)
- 50 Cent Party (五毛党 wǔmáo dǎng): Internet users paid by the government or Communist Party to post comments.[3][6]
- 'Fresh little muscles' (小鲜肉 xiǎo xiānròu): Young cute, handsome, innocent, male idol, of around 12 to 25 years old. Originally used for stars, but now by extension used more generally.
- Lesbian (拉拉 lālā): From 拉 (pinyin: lā) meaning to hold hands.
- 'Loser' (屌丝 diǎosī): The word “diaosi” is used to describe young males who were born into a poor family and are unable to change the circumstances of their poverty. People usually use this phrase in an ironic and self-deprecating way. For example, someone might say “I am a diaosi” with a sigh when they see wealthy people with private cars and luxurious houses. The origin of this slang is unknown. Today this slang is widely used on the internet, and can be said to reflect that many people feel upset and discontented as they fail to change their lives no matter how much effort they have made.[3]
- Masculine woman (女汉子 nǚ hànzi): The phrase nühanzi literally means "female man", and refers to women who possess traditionally masculine personality traits such as being brave and more independent than other girls. They do not like to wear makeup or go shopping. Some are even able to repair electrical appliances. More importantly, these women do not have any boyfriends. The emergence of this type of female reflects the increasing social and economic status of women.[3][7]
- OK (妥妥的 tuǒtuǒde): OK, no problem etc.
- You understand . . . (你懂的 nǐ dǒngde): In the sense of "I don't need to go on about this because you already understand it".
Phrases with altered or extended meanings (短语与改变或扩展的意义 duǎnyǔ yǔ gǎibiàn huò kuòzhǎn de yìyì)
- 'Chinese aunt' (中国大妈 Zhōngguó dàmā): This phrase refers to Chinese middle-aged women who purchase large amounts of gold. On April 15, 2013, Wall Street traders decided to sell large amounts of gold which caused a substantial fall in gold prices. However, a swarm of Chinese dama (middle-aged women) bought gold and therefore raised the world gold price significantly. 300 tons of gold were moved instantly in the markets which shocked many economists. While this can be said to reflect the overall improvement of living standards in China, it has also been criticized as a blind way to invest.[8]
- Vulgar tycoon (土豪 tǔháo): The word “vulgar tycoon” refers to irritating online game players who buy large amounts of game weapons in order to be gloried by others. Starting from late 2013, the meaning has changed and now is widely used to describe nouveau riche people in China who are wealthy but less cultured.[3]
- Weird (重口味 zhòng kǒuwèi): Literally a "heavy taste, interest or hobby" such as in horror films, pornography, heavy metal music or extreme sports or whatever.
Puns and wordplay (双关语 shuāngguān yǔ, 发音相似 fāyīn xiāngsì)
- Chinese Baptism (中国式洗礼 Zhōngguóshì xǐlǐ): The new Chinese government. Baptism (洗礼 xǐlǐ) is a play on words referring to Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang.
- River crab (河蟹; héxiè): Pun on héxié (和谐) meaning 'harmony'. Online Chinese term for Internet censorship commonly seen throughout forums and blogs.[3]
Slang derived from English (英语翻译 Yīngyǔ fānyì)
- Gay (弯的 wānde or GAY): bent 弯的 (pinyin: wānde) is the opposite of 直 (pinyin: zhí), 'straight'. GAY, in upper case like other Chinese internal slang taken directly from English, is also used, but only for men.
- N continuous jumps (N次跳 N cì tiào): The letter “N” means infinite in mathematics. The phrase “N continuous jumps” comes from the Foxconn suicide incidents, when several Foxconn employees jumped from the factories' high-rise buildings with fourteen deaths. These events occurred from November 2010 to January 2011 and resulted in the popularity of this slang expression. It can be said to reflect the despair some people feel under current economic conditions in China.
- Straight (直男 zhínán): From English, heterosexual, but only used for men.
Slang derived from Japanese (日语翻译 Rìyǔ fānyì)
- 3P: Threesome, as in pornography.[3]
- OL: 'office lady', a woman with an office job.[3]
- Otaku (male, 宅男 zháinán): for men with obsessive interests that leave no time for normal life outside the home, similar to geek or nerd in English.[3]
- Otaku (female, 宅女 zháinǚ): female equivalent of 宅男 (zháinán).[3]
Slang derived from Taiwanese Hokkien (台語翻译 Táiyǔ fānyì)
- What? (虾米 xiāmi): From Taiwanese Hokkien (啥物 siánn-mih). 虾米 xiāmi represents 什么 ("what") but literally means "small dried shrimp".
See also
References
- 1 2 Why Thai Laugh When Chinese Cry? Accessed 4 February 2015
- ↑ How the QWERTY Keyboard Is Changing the Chinese Language, accessed 15 February 2015
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 ChinaSMACK glossary, accessed 6 February 2015
- ↑ ""Life is harsh, don't expose it." Latest slangs go viral on the internet".
- ↑ "Quick review of internet slang in 2013:You are out of date if you don't know what "too tired to love" means (in Chinese)".
- ↑ Web Semantics: Popular Chinese Internet Slang, Expressions and Acronyms, Wired, accessed 6 February 2015
- ↑ "Masculine woman（Chinese：女汉子）".
- ↑ "Chinese aunt (dama)".
External links
- "2013網絡新詞考卷：不懂人艱不拆累覺不愛就out了--傳媒--人民網". Retrieved 2014-05-16.
- "网络俚语反映社会现实_IT电子报_光明网". Retrieved 2014-05-16.
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