Home/ Questions/Q 811
Next
In Process

AskLoong.com Latest Questions

abozpvkcgd
  • 0
  • 0
Begginer
Asked: 2025-05-07T21:05:15+08:00 In:

What are common slang terms used by young Chinese people today?

  • 0
  • 0
What are common slang terms used by young Chinese people today?
common slang terms
Share
    Leave an answer

    Leave an answer

    Browse

    1 Answer

    1. Tzippy hartman
      Teacher

      Here are some of the most popular slang terms used by young Chinese people in 2025, reflecting social attitudes, humor, and digital culture:

      1. Self-Deprecating & Work-Life Jargon

      牛马 (niú mǎ – “Ox/Horse”)

      • Meaning: Derogatory term for overworked, underappreciated laborers, highlighting exploitation in gig economies or corporate grind cultures.
      • Usage: “加班到半夜，纯纯牛马” (“Working overtime till midnight, just a beast of burden”)—expresses frustration with unpaid overwork.

      摆烂 (bǎi làn – “Letting It Rot”)

      • Meaning: Choosing to abandon responsibilities or standards out of hopelessness, a more active form of resignation than 躺平 (lying flat).
      • Cultural Context: Reflects generational fatigue with societal pressures, often used in phrases like “摆烂式恋爱” (“half-hearted relationships”).

      灵活就业 (línghuó jiùyè – “Flexible Employment”)

      • Meaning: Sarcastic euphemism for unemployment, mocking official statistics that rebrand joblessness as “flexible.”
      • Example: “毕业三年，一直灵活就业” (“Three years post-grad, still ‘flexibly employed'”)—a jab at economic instability.

      2. Social Commentary & Irony

      那很好了 (nà hěn hǎo le – “That’s Great Then”)

      • Tone: Sarcastic dismissal of minor misfortunes, similar to “Oh, that’s just great.”
      • Usage: “手机摔了？那很好了！” (“Dropped your phone? How wonderful!”)—used to downplay problems with dark humor.

      四不青年 (sì bù qīngnián – “Four No’s Youth”)

      • Definition: Youth rejecting four societal expectations: marriage (不婚), homeownership (不买房), dating (不恋爱), and having children (不生育).
      • Purpose: Critiques societal pressure to conform, popularized in essays like “Generation Z’s Four No Manifesto”.

      尊嘟假嘟 (zūn dū jiǎ dū – “Zun Du Jia Du”)

      • Origin: Playful mispronunciation of “真的假的” (“Really?”), mimicking internet slang phonetics for ironic doubt.
      • Usage: “尊嘟假嘟？你考上研了？” (“For real? You got into grad school?”)—adds a cute, mocking tone to disbelief.

      3. Pop-Culture & Internet Memes

      恐龙扛狼 (kǒnglóng káng láng – “Dinosaur Carrying a Wolf”)

      • Origin: Nonsense lyrics from a viral 2025 folk song parody, now a meme symbolizing chaotic, nonsensical energy.
      • Usage: Describes absurd situations: “今天开会全程恐龙扛狼，完全听不懂” (“The meeting was total chaos, couldn’t follow a word”).

      电子羽绒服 (diànzǐ yǔróngfú – “Digital Down Jacket”)

      • Metaphor: Media content (TV shows, podcasts, social media) that provides emotional warmth and comfort, especially during loneliness or winter.
      • Example: “冬天全靠电子羽绒服续命，每天刷《陈情令》三遍” (“Surviving winter with digital comfort—rewatching The Untamed three times daily”).

      玛卡巴卡 (mǎkǎbākǎ – “Makka Pakka”)

      • Origin: Borrowed from Teletubbies character Makka Pakka, repurposed as a whimsical way to say “goodnight” or end awkward conversations.
      • Usage: “玛卡巴卡，明天再聊” (“Makka Pakka, talk tomorrow”)—adds childlike innocence to social interactions.

      4. Lifestyle & Relationship Slang

      养生约会 (yǎngshēng yuēhuì – “Wellness Dating”)

      • Trend: Replacing traditional dates (dinners, clubs) with health-focused activities: foot massages, yoga classes, or herbal tea sessions.
      • Demographic: Popular among post-95s prioritizing self-care over nightlife: “今晚养生约会，去做肩颈按摩吧” (“Tonight’s wellness date—let’s get a neck massage”).

      直男癌 (zhínán ái – “Straight Man Cancer”)

      • Criticism: Mocks men who exhibit toxic masculinity or cluelessness in relationships, similar to “mansplaining.”
      • Example: “他居然说女生不该穿短裤，简直直男癌晚期” (“He said girls shouldn’t wear shorts—terminal straight man cancer”).

      U 我 50 (U wǒ 50 – “Venmo Me 50”)

      • Evolution: Upgraded from 2023’s “V 我 50” (Venmo me 50 RMB), now a universal plea for small cash handouts with humorous desperation.
      • Usage: “刚买奶茶没钱了，U 我 50 下次请你” (“No money after buying milk tea—send me 50, I’ll treat you next time”).

      5. Regional Flavor: Taiwanese & Southern Slang

      归刚欸 (guī gāng āi – “Always Causing Trouble”)

      • Origin: Taiwanese Hokkien phrase meaning “constantly creating problems,” popularized by viral comedy skits on Bilibili.
      • Usage: “你怎么整天归刚欸，消停点吧” (“Why do you always cause trouble? Chill out”).

      蛋雕 (dàn diāo – “Egg Carving”)

      • Pun: Sounds like Hokkien “tàn-tiāu” (“throw away”), used to dismiss trivial matters: “这种小事蛋雕啦” (“Just throw this trivial stuff away”).

      Key Cultural Trends

      1. Self-Mockery as Coping Mechanism: Terms like 牛马 and 摆烂 reflect Generation Z’s bleak humor amid job market pressures and housing unaffordability, using slang to reclaim agency in frustrating situations.
      1. Escapism Through Absurdity: Memes like 恐龙扛狼 and nostalgic references (玛卡巴卡) provide mental relief from real-world stress, creating shared online identities.
      1. Sarcastic Subversion: Phrases like 灵活就业 and 四不青年 challenge official narratives and societal norms, blending criticism with playful defiance.

      Cultural Impact

      These slang terms serve as a linguistic barometer of China’s youth—balancing cynicism with creativity, and online camaraderie with social critique.