Mandarin Slang Guide

I saw most of this on Twitter from @chenchenzh so go follow her! This is the Sixth Tone article I mentioned: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1007589/tired-of-running-in-place%2C-young-chinese-lie-down And the 知乎 Zhihu post I mentioned: https://www.zhihu.com/question/60293871 And a seminal post about 躺平: https://tieba.baidu.com/p/7337991441 1. 躺平 (tǎng píng) Literally “lie flat,” it means to ignore society’s demands and lead a peaceful, quiet, non-overachieving life. Opposite of 内卷，or the...

1. 卖国贼(màiguózéi) “Country-selling thief,”someone who sells out their country. Can be used for someone from any country. 2. 汉奸(hànjiān) “Chinese traitor”, or, literally, “Han traitor,”where Han is the dominant ethnic group of China. Honestly I don’t think it’s particularly healthy to have a special word just for people branded as traitors to your country - or ethnicity - but I suppose I do have a limited, outsider’s perspective to the language. Got questions? Want flash cards? Join the...

Listen to Anita’s podcast, 井号键 here or on your podcast app: https://gravetalk.typlog.io/ Visit Anita’s website: https://anitaxu.com/home/en/ 1. 死(adv)(sǐ) “Very,”“extremely,”“--to death” 2. 社会性死亡(shèhuì xìng sǐwáng) A “society death,”or, a situation so embarrassing that one may wish for death 3. 人老心不老(rén lǎo xīn bùlǎo) “Person old, heart not old,”to be young at heart 4. 死鬼(sǐguǐ) Literally “dead ghost,”a pet name between lovers. Thank goodness Anita told me what this means... otherwise, if...

Find Hunter on Twitter: @hualun14 Listen to his pod, 翻转体育 Sports Inverted, here or on your favorite podcatcher: https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/5e393a72418a84a046bd59a4 1. 好球(hǎo qiú) “Good ball!”as in “Good shot! Nice shot!” If someone goes in to score alone, that’s a 单刀球，dāndāo qiú, “lone sword ball” 2. 三不沾(sān bù zhān) “Three No-Touches”, an airball (it missed the backboard, the rim, AND the net) 3. 盖帽(gàimào) A hat; or, a law enforcement officer; or, a blocked shot. Wanna say “nice...

Check out 杨一’s work as Co-Founder and COO of JustPod: https://justpodnews.com/en/1. 时间管理大师(shíjiān guǎnlǐ dàshī)Literally a “Time management master,”it’s a cheater who has to balance their time between multiple girl/boyfriends.2. 海王(hǎiwáng)Literally “Sea King”or Aquaman, it’s a player - someone who is at all the parties and whose response to “There are lots of fish in the sea”is “I’ll take them all, thanks!”3. 工具人(gōngjù rén)Literally “tool person,”it’s a person who is being used by their...

1. 爷青回(yé qīng huí) Short for 爷的青春回来了，”This old man’s youth has returned!”, meaning that something has reminded you of your youth; made you feel nostalgic; sent you back in time (figuratively) 2. 爷青结(yé qīng jié) Short for 爷的青春结束了，”This old man’s youth is ended,”meaning that something you used to love has either ended or become a disappointment. Got questions? Want flash cards? Join the WeChat or Facebook groups! WeChat: msgpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/msgpodcast...

(If you've already heard the INCOMPLETE version, just skip to 21:30 and you'll hear the new stuff!)Hey! This is NSFW! Really! If you want a clean version, send me an email at mandarinslangguide@gmail.com and I'll make one for you, cuz there's a lot of profanity in this. You ready for that? OK, well, you've been warned!1.脑子不用，可以捐给有需要的人(Nǎozi bùyòng, kěyǐ juān gěi yǒu xūyào de rén)“If you’re not using your brain, you can donate it to someone in need!”2.傻B他妈给傻B开门，真是傻B到家了(shǎbī tā mā gěi shǎbī...

(THIS VERSION IS INCOMPLETE! I messed up in editing. To hear the complete version, just find the episode next to this one in the channel! If you've already listened to this incomplete version, then start at 21:30 in the new version.)Hey! This is NSFW! Really! If you want a clean version, send me an email at mandarinslangguide@gmail.com and I'll make one for you, cuz there's a lot of profanity in this. You ready for that? OK, well, you've been warned!1. 脑子不用，可以捐给有需要的人(Nǎozi bùyòng, kěyǐ juān...

1.谢谢、谢你啦 (xièle,xiè nǐ la) More casual than 谢谢 2. 多谢 (duōxiè) Roughly as casual as 谢谢; neutral 3. 辛苦了(xīnkǔle) Literally, “trouble”, “hardship”, “laborious.”Used in this way as a work-oriented way to thank someone for their contributions. 4. 多费心了(duō fèixīnle) Used as preemptive gratitude for something that someone WILL do for you. 5. 你人真好(nǐ rén zhēn hǎo) “You’re so nice/kind!”Used to thank a relative stranger for something they’ve done. 6. 你太善良了(nǐ tài shànliángle) “You’re so kind /...

1. 乔·拜登(qiáo·bài dēng) Joe Biden’s transliterated name. Usually written as just 拜登。Sometimes “Joseph”is written out as 约瑟夫，but this year has been hard enough so let’s keep it simple. Also note how an interpunct (·) is used between first and last names when transliterated. 2. 败登(bài dēng) A derisive nickname for Biden, anticipating his failure or defeat 3. 贺锦丽(hèjǐnlì) Kamala Harris’Chinese name. Sometimes people call her 卡马拉·哈里斯 but that’s just so much work! 4. 川普、特朗普(chuān pǔ, tè lǎng pǔ)...

1. 坑(kēng)Literally a hole, pit, or trap. Used as an adjective for something that’s gonna cost you, whether it’s an overpriced item or a 猪一样的队友2. 猪一样的队友(zhū yīyàng de duìyǒu)“Pig-like teammate(s),”people who are as useless as a pig. Often paired with the phrase 神一样的对手，shén yīyàng de duìshǒu, ”godlike opponents.”So 神一样的对手，猪一样的队友 is a pretty bad situation to be in!3. 满血复活(mǎn xiě fùhuó)“Full-blood resurrection.”To be brought back to life with full HP, either in a game or after a very relaxing...

1. 觉悟(juéwù)Englightenment! Existential awakening! Evolving into your final form! (Might also be used to stand in for the USian concept of “woke,” but it’s more likely that Chinese speakers would use “woke” itself as a loan word)2. 醒悟(xǐngwù)A more mundane kind of awakening or awareness, like your mind wandered and you snapped back to reality. Or like your favorite podcast host has been a fraud the whole time and you’re just now realizing it.3. 清醒(qīngxǐng)Clear-headed or sharp. 4....

Hey! If you’re thinking about upping your Chinese level, check out GoEast! It’s where I take classes, and they’re offering online classes no matter where you are! Check it out at www.goeastmandarin.com!Beginner problem: Using “textbook”expressions like:1. 你好吗！(Can replace with 你怎么样？最近忙吗？)2. 再见 (Can replace with 明天见、回见、or 走了！)3. 请 (Can replace with 麻烦)Intermediate problem: Sounding childish1. Can replace overused words like 真的 with 实在、确实2. Use more complex sentence structures like 开始的时候，然后，最后...

1. 网易云音乐(wǎngyì yún yīnyuè)When making fun of the overly depressive comments on this app, it’s sometimes written as 网抑云阴乐。2. 百度云(bǎidù wǎng pán)File sharing app sometimes used to view & share pirated movies. 网盘见！See you on the online storage (wǎng pán)!3. 和平精英(hépíng jīngyīng)“Peace Elites”, a PUBG ripoff, sometimes referred to as 吃鸡！Eat chicken!4. 江南百景图(jiāngnán bǎi jǐng tú)“Southern Hundred-Livelihood Picture,”a Ming Dynasty city simulator. Be careful, it’s very 上头！(addictive)5....

1. 说曹操，曹操就到(shuō cáocāo, cáocāo jiù dào)“Speak of the devil”(Literally, “Say Caocao’s name and he’ll arrive!")2. 望梅止渴(wàngméizhǐkě)“Look at plums to quench your thirst”Depending on promises of a beautiful future to help endure a painful present3. 乐不思蜀(lèbùsīshǔ)“So happy that you don’t even think of Shu anymore”To forget your responsibilities or roots because you’re having fun4. 周瑜打黄盖: 一个愿打一个愿挨(zhōuyú dǎ huáng gài: Yīgè yuàn dǎ yīgè yuàn āi)“Zhou Yu beats Huang Gai: One is willing to beat,...

1. 八卦 (bāguà)Gossip! Or to gossip. Or gossipy. Basically fills every part of speech.Comes from the name of the “eight trigrams”of the I Qing.2. 吃瓜 (chī guā)To eat melons, or to be a gossipy bystander (who is eating a melon, metaphorically speaking)3. 石锤 (shí chuí)The “stone hammer”is proof behind a rumor. Rumor is just gossip until you find the stone hammer - then it’s news.4. 黑 (hēi)To slander someone.Got questions? Join the WeChat group! WeChat: msgpodcastFlash cards and Q&A on Facebook,...

1. 蛮(mán)A southern way to say 很, “very”(it’s pretty neutral - not very emphatic) 2. 巨(jù)Giant! Or gigantically.Oh, man, I just realized this is like the invented adverb “bigly” 3. 贼(zéi)When it’s a noun, it’s thiefWhen it’s an adjective, it’s savvyWhen it’s an adverb, it’s “very”or “extremely”or “super” 4. 倍儿(bèi er)倍 literally means “multiple,”so using 倍儿 multiplies the effect of an adjective.It’s a Beijing thing.Got questions? Join the WeChat group! WeChat: msgpodcastFlash cards and Q&A...

1. 老乡(lǎoxiāng)Someone from the same hometown or home region2. 乡下人(xiāngxià rén)A country person3. 城会玩(chéng huì wán)“City folk really know how to have fun”4. 排外(páiwài)Regional elitism; literally, to look down on othersAnd lots of region names:东北DōngběiNortheast华北HuáběiNorthern China黄土高原huángtǔ gāoyuánLoess Plateau中原ZhōngyuánCentral plains中部省是Zhōngbù shěngshìCentral Provinces东南沿海Dōngnán yánhǎiSoutheastern Seaboard西南省市Xīnán shěng shìSouthwestern...

1. 口头禅 (kǒu tou chán) Literally a Zen mantra; figuratively, a pet phrase (Not that the "tou" has no tone, but sometimes people pronounce it in the second tone anyway) 2. 必须的 (bì xū de) “Must! It must be so!” 3. 就是 (jiù shì) “Yeah! I agree! It IS like that!” 4. 精彩 (jīng cǎi) Wonderful! Splendid! Dazzling! Join the WeChat group! WeChat: msgpodcast Flash cards and Q&A on Facebook, Twitter, and WeChat! Twitter: @msgmandarin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandarinslangguide Web:...

1. 假新闻 (jiǎ xīnwén)Fake news!2. 杠精 (gàng jīng)A contrarian comment troll3. 水军 (shuǐ jūn)Fake posters, either to give the appearance of high web traffic or to spread propaganda4. 键盘侠 (jiànpán xiá)“Keyboard hero,” those ‘noble’ folks out there trying to save the world one comments section at a time!Join the WeChat group! WeChat: msgpodcastFlash cards and Q&A on Facebook, Twitter, and WeChat!Twitter: @msgmandarinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandarinslangguideWeb:...