Popular Chinese Internet Slang, Expressions, & Acronyms |

Here is a list of common Chinese-language internet terms, expressions, acronyms, or slang. I will update it over time. Hope it helps you better understand some of the funny or offensive language often used by Chinese people online (and also offline for some).

A片

[A piān / A pian1]
noun.
“Adult” video/film, pornographic video.
Link to this entry.

棒子

[bàngzi / bang4 zi]
noun.
A nickname for Korean people, maybe offensive.
Link to this entry.

BS = 鄙视

[bǐshì / bi3 shi4]
verb.
Although this is sometimes BS like the English “bullshit,” sometimes it is used to mean “despise.”
Link to this entry.

BT = 变态

[biàntài / bian4 tai4]
adjective.
Perverted, deviant, abnormal.
Link to this entry.

操

[cào / cao4]
offensive.
Fuck. Common variants include 草 (”cao”) or 靠 (”kao”) as well as the English spelling “cao” and “kao.” 肏 is also correct for “fuck” but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

草泥马

[cǎonímǎ / cao3 ni2 ma3]
pun/noun/expression/offensive.
An alpaca, or literally “grass mud horse,” which is a pun for 操你妈 cao ni ma, “fuck your mom.” It was created by the Mop BBS in early 2009, maybe in response to government censorship.
Link to this entry.

操你妈

[càonǐmā / cao4 ni3 ma1]
offensive.
Fuck your mother/mom.
Link to this entry.

操你妈的屄

[càonǐmādebī / cao4 ni3 ma1 de bi1]
offensive.
Fuck your mother’s/mom’s cunt. The “屄” could be and usually is any Chinese character with the “bi” sound, especially 逼 or 比. In fact, 屄 is the true character but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

CCAV = CCTV

noun.
CCAV (China Central Adult Video) is a funny nickname for CCTV (China Central Television).
Link to this entry.

CN = 册那

[cènà / ce4 na4]
offensive.
Shanghainese, similar to 操 “cao”, but maybe a little less strong.
Link to this entry.

CN = 处女

[chǔnǚ / chu3 nv3]
noun.
Virgin girl. For boys, it is 处男, chǔnán / chu3 nan2.
Link to this entry.

打酱油

[dǎjiàngyóu / da3 jiang4 you2]
expression.
Get soy sauce. This is a popular internet meme that means “none of my business” or “does not involve me”.
Link to this entry.

倒

[dǎo / dao3]
expression.
Fallen over, knocked over.
Link to this entry.

顶

[dǐng / ding3]
verb.
Often used in BBS forums to express support, especially by “pushing a topic/post to the top” of the BBS forum so more people will see it. It is similar to “bump” in English BBS forums.
Link to this entry.

FL = 发廊

[fàláng / fa4 lang2]
noun.
Hairdresser, the kind that provides special services. Many “hairdressing” stores in China are actually prostitution houses/brothels.
Link to this entry.

非主流

[fēizhǔliú / fei1 zhu3 liu2]
noun.
A person, usually young, who is anti-mainstream/non-mainstream, emo, underground, or alternative. They are usually characterized by their fashion and attitudes about life. A common variant is “FZL.”
Link to this entry.

FQ = 愤青

[fènqīng / fen4 qing1]
noun.
Indignant/angry youth. Often refers to young Chinese who are too patriotic/nationalistic.
Link to this entry.

粪青

[fènqīng / fen4 qing1]
noun.
“Shitty youth”, a pun of 愤青.
Link to this entry.

粉丝

[fěnsī / fen3 si1]
noun.
Although it means “vermicelli,” it also means “fans” because it sounds similar. Also seen as only 粉 “fen” or 饭 “fan” (which is actually “rice” or “meal”).
Link to this entry.

GC = 高潮

[gāocháo / gao1 chao2]
noun.
Orgasm, climax, come.
Link to this entry.

GG = 哥哥

[gēge / ge1 ge]
noun.
Older brother, male friend, guys. Often written as “GG.” Do not confuse with “GG” used in online gaming that means “good game.”
Link to this entry.

狗日的

[gǒurìde / gou3 ri4 de]
noun.
Someone who was dog-fucked or a child of a dog, similar to “bastard.”
Link to this entry.

滚滚

[gǔngǔn / gun3 gun3]
noun.
A cute nickname for “pandas,” because of how young pandas “roll around” when they are playing.
Link to this entry.

国猪

[guózhū / guo2 zhu1]
noun.
A derogatory pun on 国足 [guózú / guo2 zu2], the Chinese national football/soccer association or team, whose poor performance/behavior often frustrates and embarrasses Chinese football fans.
Link to this entry.

汗

[hàn / han4]
expression.
“Sweat.” Used to express being embarrassed or dumbfounded, like in Japanese anime.
Link to this entry.

河蟹

[héxiè / he2 xie4]
pun/adjective.
“River crab” is a pun for 和谐 [héxié]， “harmonious。” It is used to avoid possible censorship and to mock the Chinese government’s efforts to promote a “harmonious society.”
Link to this entry.

很黄,很暴力

[hěn huáng hěn bàolì / hen3 huang2 hen3 bao4 li4]
expression.
Very yellow (pornographic), very violent. This phrase became popular after a young Chinese girl said it while being interviewed about her impression of the during a CCTV report about government regulation of the internet.
Link to this entry.

很傻，很天真

[hěn shǎ hěn tiānzhēn / hen3 sha3 hen3 tian1 zhen1]
expression.
Very foolish, very naive. This phrase became popular after Hong Kong star Gillian Chung said it during a news conference (to explain and apologize for the pornographic photos of her with Edison Chen that were made public) because it was similar to 很黄,很暴力 [hěn huáng hěn bàolì / hen3 huang2 hen3 bao4 li4].
Link to this entry.

火星人

[huǒxīngrén / huo3 xing1 ren2]
noun.
Someone from Mars, meaning someone who is out of touch with reality or with current news, events, fashion, trends, culture, etc. 你是火星回来的吗 = did you just come back from Mars?
Link to this entry.

J8 = 鸡巴

[jībā / ji1 ba1]
noun.
Penis, dick, cock.
Link to this entry.

JJ = 鸡鸡

[jījī / ji1 ji1]
noun.
Penis, dick, cock.
Link to this entry.

加油

[jiāyóu / jia1 you2]
expression.
An expression of encouragement or support similar to “good luck”, “go for it”, “try your best”, “wish you well”, etc. depending on context.
Link to this entry.

JC = 警察

[jǐngchá / jing3 cha2]
noun.
The police. Similar in usage as ZF = 政府 [zhèngfǔ / zheng4 fu3].
Link to this entry.

囧

[jiǒng / jiong3]
emoticon.
A popular Chinese character/pictogram often used on the Chinese-language internet to express being shocked, amused, or stupefied. Possibly originated from Taiwan, and similar to “Orz” which looks like a person kneeling/bowing.
Link to this entry.

JY = 精液

[jīngyè / jing1 ye4]
noun.
Semen, sperm, ejaculate.
Link to this entry.

KB = 恐怖

[kǒngbù / kong3 bu4]
adjective/expression.
Frightening, scary, terrible.
Link to this entry.

雷

[léi / lei2]
verb/adjective.
Literally thunder/lightning, used to express shock or being shocked.
Link to this entry.

泪

[lèi / lei4]
expression.
Literally tear or teardrop, used to express sadness, crying.
Link to this entry.

LB = 篱笆

[tǔfěi / tu3 fei3]
noun.
Liba BBS discussion forum, famous for having a lot of “materialistic” girls.
Link to this entry.

LJ = 轮奸

[lúnjiān / lun2 jian1]
verb.
Gang rape.
Link to this entry.

LZ = 楼主

[lóuzhǔ / lou2 zhu3]
noun.
The person who made the first/original post or started a BBS topic. Often written as “LZ.”
Link to this entry.

MB = 妈比

[mābī / ma1 bi1]
noun.
Probably a shorter version of MLGB that also means “mother’s cunt.” Maybe similar to English’s “motherfucker.” The “B” could be any Chinese character with the “bi” sound like 逼 or 比. In fact, 屄 is the true character but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

ML

expression.
“Make Love,” to have sex.
Link to this entry.

MLGB = 妈了个逼

expression.
Mother’s cunt. Similar to “motherfucker” in usage. The “B” could be any Chinese character with the “bi” sound like 逼 or 比. In fact, 屄 is the true character but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

MM = 妹妹

[mèimèi / mei4 mei4]
noun.
Little sister, young girl, pretty girl, or a girl’s private part. Often written as “MM,” which usually refers to a young girl or pretty girls. It can also refer to a girl’s vagina, her “little sister.”
Link to this entry.

脑残

[nǎocán / nao3 can2]
noun.
Mental retardation, mental disability, mental disorder, or a person who is mentally retarded.
Link to this entry.

牛

[niú / niu2]
adjective.
If not used to mean “cow,” it is is used to describe someone or something as being very 牛屄 = niúbī / niu2 bi1.
Link to this entry.

NB = 牛屄

[niúbī / niu2 bi1]
noun/adjective.
When used negatively, it means a very self-important, egotistical, arrogant, cocky person. When used positively, it means a very confident, daring, impressive, amazing person. Often shortened to “NB” or 牛 + any Chinese character with the “bi” sound like 逼 or 比. In fact, 屄 is the true character but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

偶

[ǒu / ou3]
pronoun.
This is commonly used online as a substitute for 我 [wǒ, wo3], often by girls, because it sounds “cuter.” It means “I.”
Link to this entry.

PK

verb/noun.
Original meaning is “player-killing” or “player killer” but it is often used in Chinese internet to mean “competition” or “contest” or “defeating” something.
Link to this entry.

PS = Photoshop

verb/noun.
A Photoshopped picture or to Photoshop a picture.
Link to this entry.

QJ = 强奸

[qiángjiān / qiang2 jian1]
verb.
Rape.
Link to this entry.

日

[rì / ri4]
verb./offensive
Fuck.
Link to this entry.

RT = 如题

[rú tí / ru2 ti2]
verb.
Refer to title/subject.
Link to this entry.

SB = 傻屄

[shǎbī / sha3 bi1]
noun/adjective.
Stupid cunt, or describes something as being very stupid. Often shortened to “SB”, “sha bi”, 傻B, or 傻 + any Chinese character with the “bi” sound like 逼 or 比. In fact, 屄 is the true character but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

沙发

[shāfā / sha1 fa1]
noun/adjective.
“Sofa.” LZ is the topic starter or original poster and thus the “owner of the house.” The first person entering the “house” and replying gets the “sofa.” So “sofa” means the first replier/reply. Sometimes written in English as “sofa.”
Link to this entry.

山寨

[shānzhài / shan1 zhai4]
noun/adjective.
Real meaning is “mountain village” but it is now popularly used to mean fake, cheap, copied goods.
Link to this entry.

SY = 手淫

[shǒuyín / shou3 yin2]
verb.
Masturbating.
Link to this entry.

凸

[tū / tu1]
emoticon
Often used online to represent giving someone the middle finger.
Link to this entry.

TF = 土匪

[tǔfěi / tu3 fei3]
noun.
Bandits. Nickname for male members of the mostly-Shanghainese KDS BBS discussion forum.
Link to this entry.

TMD = 他妈的

[tāmāde / ta1 ma1 de]
offensive.
Damn, damn it, dammit, fuck, fucking. Sometimes 他 [tā / ta1], his/her, is replaced with 你 [nǐ / ni3], your, or not used at all, 妈的 or MD.
Link to this entry.

WDR = 外地人

[wàidìrén / wai4 di4 ren2]
noun.
An outsider, non-local, someone from another part of the country. Popular versions on the Shanghainese KDS BBS discussion forum include 西部数据人/西数人, Western Digital person, or 硬盘人, hard disk person.
Link to this entry.

WW = 湾湾

[wānwān / wan1 wan1]
noun.
A nickname for Taiwan (台湾), like a child’s nickname, like Taiwan is a child of China.
Link to this entry.

小三

[xiǎosān / xiao3 san1]
noun.
The third party of in a marriage, usually referring to a husband’s mistress. This name may have originally started on Liba.
Link to this entry.

晕

[yūn / yun1]
expression.
Faint, feel dizzy, usually because of surprise, shock, amusement, or disgust.
Link to this entry.

YD = 淫荡

[yín dàng / yin2 dang4]
adjective.
Lewd, obscene, dirty, perverted.
Link to this entry.

YY = 意淫

[yì yín / yi4 yin2]
verb.
Thinking or behaving strangely or mischievously/creatively, often yellow/perverted things but usually just abnormally, unconventionally, etc.
Link to this entry.

ZF = 政府

[zhèngfǔ / zheng4 fu3]
noun.
A common replacement/variant for “government” used by netizens hoping to avoid internet filters, censors, and attention by the government.
Link to this entry.

装B = 装屄

[zhuāng bī / zhuang1 bi1]
verb.
Pretending to be cool, better, or more impressive. Poser, pretender. A popular version on the Shanghainese KDS BBS discussion forum is “IB” or “install B” because “zhuang” means “install” as well as “pretend.” The “B” could be any Chinese character with the “bi” sound like 逼 or 比. In fact, 屄 is the true character but almost never used.
Link to this entry.

ZG = 中国

[zhōngguó / zhong1 guo2]
noune.
China.
Link to this entry.

ZW = 自慰

[zìwèi / zi4 wei4]
verb.
Masturbate.
Link to this entry.