IGNITION | REVIEWED SLANG LIBRARY

Chinese
Slang.

Internet Chinese moves faster than dictionaries. These entries decode the joke, mood, generation, and cultural baggage behind the words people actually post, type, and meme.

What does 1314 mean?

1314 yī sān yī sì

The universal Chinese number for 'forever' — essential for romance, weddings, and any promise of permanence.

What does 520 mean?

520 wǔ èr líng

The most important number code in Chinese — May 20th is now a national Valentine's Day because of it.

What does 666 mean in Chinese?

666 liù liù liù

The universal Chinese internet praise number — completely different from Western 666 (the number of the beast).

What does 996 mean?

internet-slang/996 jiǔ jiǔ liù

Universally understood shorthand for exploitative work hours — one of the most significant Chinese workplace terms of the past decade.

What does 奥力给 mean?

奥力给 ào lì gěi

One of the most iconic Chinese internet cheers — instantly recognizable, endlessly remixed.

What does 吃瓜 mean?

吃瓜 chī guā

The universal term for being a spectator to internet drama — one of China's most-used online phrases.

What does 打工人 mean?

打工人 dǎ gōng rén

A viral 2020 term that reframed worker identity with humor, solidarity, and a touch of defiance.

What does 单身狗 mean?

单身狗 dānshēn gǒu

The universal self-deprecating term for being single — used by millions of Chinese youth daily.

What does 凡尔赛 mean?

凡尔赛 fán'ěrsài

The definitive Chinese internet term for performative modesty - a complete genre of social media performance.

What does 内卷 mean?

内卷 nèi juǎn

The defining Chinese social commentary word of the 2020s — ubiquitous online, in workplaces, and in education discourse.

What does 润 mean as slang?

润 rùn

The most politically charged Chinese internet slang of the 2020s — understood by all, written in code by design.

What does 闪电五连鞭 mean?

闪电五连鞭 shǎndiàn wǔ lián biān

One of the most iconic Chinese internet memes — a symbol of fake expertise and hilarious overconfidence.

What does 躺平 mean?

躺平 tǎng píng

A defining generational attitude word — ubiquitous in youth culture and social commentary since 2021.

What does 真香 mean as a meme?

真香 zhēn xiāng

One of China's most enduring internet memes — a complete narrative in two characters.

What does YYDS mean?

YYDS / 永远的神 yǒngyuǎn de shén

China's universal superlative acronym — the highest form of internet praise, now mainstream.

What do 社恐 and 社牛 mean?

社恐 shè kǒng

The most common self-description among young Chinese — millions identify as 社恐.

What does 233 mean?

233 èr sān sān

One of the oldest and most enduring Chinese internet number codes — still used daily on forums, Bilibili, and chat.

What does 484 mean?

484 sì bā sì

A widely used number-code question tag — efficient, casual, and very internet-native.

What does 555 mean?

555 wǔ wǔ wǔ

The standard number-onomatopoeia for crying — used for both genuine sadness and dramatic overreaction.

What does 886 mean?

886 bā bā liù

The classic number farewell — slightly dated but universally understood, like LOL or BRB in English.

What does 888 mean?

888 bā bā bā

The ultimate Chinese prosperity number — used in business blessings, gaming victory, and as a digital 'congrats on the win.'

What does 芭比Q了 mean?

芭比Q了 bā bǐ Q le

The gaming-to-mainstream phrase for 'I'm cooked' — playful but genuinely useful.

What does 摆烂 mean?

摆烂 bǎi làn

The despair-comedy term for giving up entirely — stronger and more destructive than 躺平.

What does 吃土 mean?

吃土 chī tǔ

The universal post-shopping confession — every Chinese consumer knows the 吃土 life.

What does 大冤种 mean?

大冤种 dà yuān zhǒng

The affectionate-exasperated term for being the sucker — universal recognition of getting the raw end of a deal.

What does 懂王 mean?

懂王 dǒng wáng

The perfect term for the person who explains your job to you — originated as a Trump nickname, now universal.

What does 佛系 mean?

佛系 fó xì

The defining chill philosophy of the late 2010s — a lifestyle brand, coping mechanism, and generational statement.

What does 高大上 mean?

高大上 gāo dà shàng

The all-purpose premium descriptor — from restaurants to resumes to lifestyle aspirations.

What does 工具人 mean?

工具人 gōngjù rén

The universal term for feeling used — applies to romance, friendship, work, and family dynamics.

What does 海王 mean?

海王 hǎi wáng

The standard term for a serial dater or player — vivid, widely understood, and slightly judgmental.

What does 画大饼 mean?

画大饼 huà dà bǐng

The universal metaphor for empty promises — essential vocabulary for navigating Chinese workplaces, relationships, and politics.

What does 集美 mean?

集美 jí měi

The Gen Z 'bestie' — wildly popular among young women online, incomprehensible to some older users.

What does 接地气 mean?

接地气 jiē dì qì

The essential compliment for authenticity — used for people, brands, content, and anything that feels real rather than manufactured.

What does 精神内耗 mean?

精神内耗 jīngshén nèi hào

A viral psychological concept that resonated deeply with young Chinese — the diagnosis for a generation's anxiety.

What does 绝绝子 mean?

绝绝子 jué jué zi

A defining Gen Z expression — omnipresent on 小红书 and Douyin, polarizing across generations.

What does 老铁 mean?

老铁 lǎo tiě

The northeastern 'bro' that became a national internet term through livestreaming culture.

What does 离谱 mean?

离谱 lí pǔ

The standard reaction to anything shockingly unreasonable — one of the most-used internet emotion words.

What does 凉了 mean?

凉了 liáng le

The universal temperature metaphor for failure — gaming, relationships, career, anything can go cold.

What does 流量密码 mean?

流量密码 liúliàng mìmǎ

The essential meta-term for understanding Chinese internet culture — how creators game the algorithm.

What does 麻了 mean?

麻了 má le

The universal word for emotional saturation — when too much has happened and you have no reaction left.

What does 摸鱼 mean?

摸鱼 mō yú

Ubiquitous workplace slang — the universal verb for goofing off on the clock.

What does 内味 mean?

内味 nèi wèi

The perfect word for vibes — when something captures the exact feeling you're looking for.

What does 破防 mean?

破防了 pò fáng le

One of the most versatile emotional reaction terms — from gaming rage to genuine tears.

What does 破圈 mean?

破圈 pò quān

The essential term for cultural crossover — when niche content finds mainstream success.

What does 山寨 mean?

山寨 shān zhài

The essential word for Chinese copycat culture — from fake iPhones to unlicensed McDonald's to parody videos.

What does 上头 mean?

上头 shàng tóu

The universal word for healthy and unhealthy obsessions — from new crushes to new shows to actual intoxication.

What does 社畜 mean?

社畜 shè chù

Widely used self-deprecating term among young office workers — dark humor with a real edge.

What does 社死 mean?

社死 shè sǐ

The universal term for catastrophic embarrassment — both genuinely painful and a major genre of internet storytelling.

What does 栓Q mean?

栓Q shuān Q

The ultimate sarcastic thank-you — from a genuine English learner's accent to a national meme.

What does 舔狗 mean?

舔狗 tiǎn gǒu

The definitive Chinese internet term for self-degrading romantic pursuit — brutal, widely understood, and darkly comic.

What does 我酸了 mean?

我酸了 wǒ suān le

The standard cute-jealousy expression — self-aware envy shared as a compliment.

What does 无语 mean?

无语 wú yǔ

The universal reaction to anything too stupid, absurd, or infuriating to merit a verbal response.

What does 下头 mean?

下头 xià tóu

The perfect word for the instant ick — when attraction or enthusiasm evaporates in a single moment.

What does 心态崩了 mean?

心态崩了 xīntài bēng le

The go-to phrase for describing a mental crash — from gaming tilt to real-life breakdown.

What does 硬核 mean?

硬核 yìng hé

The fully naturalized Chinese 'hardcore' — used for everything from gaming to work ethic to food spiciness.

What does 渣男 mean?

渣男 zhā nán

The universal Chinese internet term for a terrible male partner — instantly understood and devastatingly concise.

What does 直男 mean?

直男 zhí nán

The affectionate-exasperated term for the guy who just doesn't get it — widely used, instantly understood.

What does 职场PUA mean?

职场PUA zhíchǎng PUA

The essential term for toxic workplace manipulation — a PUA-derived concept that perfectly describes Chinese office culture's dark side.