Qingdao Explained: Beaches, Beer, and the German Footprint on a Chinese Coastal City
Qingdao is often sold in three easy images: sea breeze, cold beer, and red-roofed streets that look a little bit European. For first-time visitors, that
The world of Chinese social media is full of vibrant and creative slang, often originating from pinyin abbreviations, homophones, and internet culture. Mastering these slangs not only helps you understand the pulse of modern Chinese communication but also keeps you relevant in digital conversations. Here, we’ve compiled some of the most common and widely used Chinese internet slangs to help you decode the trend.
Pronunciation: yǒu yī shuō yī
Meaning: “To be honest” or “To speak frankly.”
This phrase is used when someone wants to share an honest opinion or evaluation.
Example:
u1s1，这部电影真的很棒！
(To be honest, this movie is really great!)
Pronunciation: xiào sǐ wǒ le
Meaning: “Dying of laughter.”
This slang is the go-to expression when something is hilariously funny.
Example:
看了这张图，xswl！
(I saw this picture, and I’m dying of laughter!)
Pronunciation: yǒng yuǎn de shén
Meaning: “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time).
Used to describe someone or something as legendary and unbeatable.
Example:
周杰伦是我心中的yyds！
(Jay Chou is forever the GOAT in my heart!)
Pronunciation: n/a
Meaning: “Nobody cares.”
This slang is used humorously or sarcastically to express that something is not interesting or important to others.
Example:
A: 我今天穿了一双新鞋子！
B: nbcs！
(A: I wore a new pair of shoes today!
B: Nobody cares!)
Pronunciation: péng yǒu quān
Meaning: “Moments” (WeChat’s social feed feature).
Commonly used to refer to posts or updates shared on WeChat.
Example:
今天在pyq发了一些旅行照片。
(I posted some travel pictures on Moments today.)
Pronunciation: bù dǒng jiù wèn
Meaning: “Ask if you don’t know.”
A polite and humble way to ask for clarification or advice.
Example:
bdjw，这句话是什么意思？
(Ask if you don’t know—what does this sentence mean?)
Pronunciation: nǐ shuō de duì
Meaning: “You’re right.”
A casual and often humorous way to agree with someone’s opinion.
Example:
A: 这家火锅真的超好吃！
B: nsdd！
(A: This hotpot is really delicious!
B: You’re right!)
Pronunciation: ā wǒ sǐ le
Meaning: “Oh, I’m dead.”
Used humorously to express being overwhelmed by cuteness, beauty, or emotion.
Example:
看到这只小猫，awsl！
(Seeing this kitten, oh, I’m dead!)
Pronunciation: hā hā hā
Meaning: “LOL” (Laughing Out Loud).
Used to represent laughter in text, similar to “LOL” in English, often indicating something is funny or amusing.
Example:
你讲的笑话真好笑，hhh！
(Your joke is really funny, LOL!)
Learning these slangs will not only make your online chats more fun but also help you connect with native speakers on a deeper level. Slangs like these are perfect examples of how language evolves to reflect the creativity and humour of its users.
Which of these slangs do you find the most interesting? Have you come across any others that aren’t on this list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Want to master Chinese language and culture? Join our classes at LearnChinesePerth and start speaking like a native, one phrase at a time!
Share:
Qingdao is often sold in three easy images: sea breeze, cold beer, and red-roofed streets that look a little bit European. For first-time visitors, that
Harbin can feel like a surprise, even to people who’ve already travelled widely in China. If your mental picture of a Chinese city comes from
In Perth, meeting a friend often starts with a simple line: “Want to grab a coffee?” It’s easy, low-pressure, and perfectly suited to a city
If you’ve ever watched Story of Yanxi Palace and thought, “This is addictive, but what am I actually looking at?”, you’re already at the best