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Chinese Internet Slang You'll Actually Hear Online

2025-07-19

Chinese Internet Slang You'll Actually Hear Online

The internet and social media have really kicked off, and with them, a vibrant and creative heap of Chinese internet slang has popped up. These terms don't just show what the younger mob are thinking and how they live; they've also become a dead-set essential part of their everyday chats. If you're fair dinkum keen to dive into the Chinese online world, then wrapping your head around these popular slang words is an absolute must. So today, let's suss out some Chinese internet slang you'll actually hear and use online!

Essential Chinese Internet Slang

1. YYDS (yǒng yuǎn de shén) – Forever God

  • Meaning: An acronym for "永远的神" (yǒng yuǎn de shén - forever god). It's used to describe someone or something as unbelievably amazing, spot-on, and practically worshipped.
  • Example: “这个歌手的现场太稳了，YYDS！” (This singer’s live performance is rock-solid, YYDS!)

2. 绝绝子 (jué jué zǐ)

  • Meaning: Expresses either massive praise or massive吐槽 (tǔcáo - complain/roast). When it's positive, it means 'absolutely incredible' or 'top-notch.' When it's negative, it means 'completely bonkers bad' or 'a write-off.'
  • Example: “这道菜的味道绝绝子！” (The taste of this dish is absolutely out of this world, 绝绝子!)

3. 破防了 (pò fáng le)

  • Meaning: "破防" (pò fáng - break defence) originally comes from games, meaning a defence has been broken. It's now used more broadly to mean someone's emotional shield has been breached, leading to an emotional meltdown, feeling deeply stirred, gutted, or properly riled up.
  • Example: “看到那个视频，我瞬间破防了。” (Seeing that video, I instantly broke down, 破防了.)

4. 栓Q (shuān Q)

  • Meaning: A phonetic transliteration of "Thank you" in English, but it's usually chucked in to express feeling helpless, speechless, or giving an ironic 'cheers, mate.'
  • Example: “加班到半夜，老板还让明天继续，栓Q！” (Working overtime till midnight, and the boss wants me to keep going tomorrow, 栓Q!)

5. EMO了 (EMO le)

  • Meaning: Short for "Emotional" in English, meaning you're feeling a bit down in the dumps, mopey, or just generally emotional.
  • Example: “今天下雨，听着歌有点EMO了。” (It’s raining today, and listening to this music has me feeling a bit EMO.)

6. 卷 (juǎn)

  • Meaning: Refers to "内卷" (nèi juǎn - involution), a situation where internal competition gets ridiculously cut-throat, leading to less bang for your buck even with more effort.
  • Example: “我们公司太卷了，每天都加班到很晚。” (Our company is way too 卷, everyone’s clocking overtime until late every single day.)

7. 躺平 (tǎng píng)

  • Meaning: Literally "lie flat." It means giving up the grind, not busting your arse, and opting out of the high-pressure rat race, going for a low-desire, low-cost way of living instead. It's the exact opposite of 卷.
  • Example: “工作太累了，我只想躺平。” (Work’s a bit much, I just wanna 躺平.)

8. 大冤种 (dà yuān zhǒng)

  • Meaning: Refers to someone who’s done something a bit silly or copped a massive loss, but can’t do anything about it. It carries a bit of self-deprecating humour or a sense of sympathy.
  • Example: “我花高价买了个假货，真是个大冤种。” (I splashed out big bucks on a dodgy fake, what a 大冤种 I am.)

9. 爷青回 (yé qīng huí)

  • Meaning: Short for "爷的青春回来了" (yé de qīngchūn huílái le - my youth is back). It's used when you get a rush of excitement and nostalgia seeing or hearing something that chucks you right back to your youth.
  • Example: “看到周杰伦开演唱会，爷青回！” (Seeing Jay Chou’s concert, 爷青回!)

10. 凡尔赛 (fán'ěrsài)

  • Meaning: Refers to "Versailles literature," a style of subtly showing off your top-tier life by pretending to be modest or self-deprecating.
  • Example: “我最近瘦了10斤，但衣服都大了，好烦啊。” (I’ve dropped 10 pounds recently, but all my clothes are way too big now, it’s a right pain. - That’s a classic 凡尔赛 move.)

11. 集美 (jí měi)

  • Meaning: A phonetic transliteration of "姐妹" (jiěmèi - sisters). Often used by women to address each other, showing a close bond.
  • Example: “集美们，今天一起去逛街吗？” (集美们, wanna hit the shops together today?)

12. 夺笋 (duó sǔn)

  • Meaning: A phonetic transliteration of "多损" (duō sǔn - how mean/harmful). It describes someone's words or actions as being really harsh or proper cutting.
  • Example: “你这话也太夺笋了吧！” (What you just said is way too 夺笋!)

13. 芭比Q了 (bābǐ Q le)

  • Meaning: Derived from "BBQ" in English, phonetically similar to "完蛋了" (wándàn le - it's over/finished). It describes a situation that's completely boned or utterly stuffed.
  • Example: “我的电脑死机了，文件没保存，芭比Q了！” (My computer crashed, files not saved, 芭比Q了!)

14. 栓Q (shuān Q)

  • Meaning: (Repeated for emphasis, as it's very common) A phonetic transliteration of "Thank you" in English, but it's usually chucked in to express feeling helpless, speechless, or giving an ironic 'cheers, mate.'
  • Example: “加班到半夜，老板还让明天继续，栓Q！” (Working overtime till midnight, and the boss wants me to keep going tomorrow, 栓Q!)

15. 栓Q (shuān Q)

  • Meaning: (Repeated for emphasis, as it's very common) A phonetic transliteration of "Thank you" in English, but it's usually chucked in to express feeling helpless, speechless, or giving an ironic 'cheers, mate.'
  • Example: “加班到半夜，老板还让明天继续，栓Q！” (Working overtime till midnight, and the boss wants me to keep going tomorrow, 栓Q!)

These internet slang terms do evolve pretty fast, but by getting a handle on these basic ones, you'll be heaps better equipped to understand and join in Chinese online chats. Keep watching and listening, and you too can become a bit of an online trendsetter!