Chinese slang · 网络
Some of these words explain a whole generation. 内卷 and 躺平 made it into international headlines; the rest are the daily texture of how people under forty actually talk — funny, weary, and very online.
Each one below comes with its literal read, so you can see why it means what it means, plus a real example and where it started.
The list
Roughly ordered from the culture-defining to the everyday. Read the literal gloss first — half the fun is watching the meaning fall out of it.
literally “inward-rolling”
pointless, self-defeating over-competition; the rat race
Borrowed from anthropology (“involution”). When everyone works harder just to stay in the same place — extra tutoring, unpaid overtime — that’s 内卷. The word of the era for China’s young workers.
这个行业太内卷了。
This industry is an exhausting rat race.
literally “lie flat”
to opt out; to stop striving and just get by
The answer to 内卷: if the game is rigged, lie down and refuse to play. A quiet protest against hustle culture — do the minimum, want less.
我不想努力了，我要躺平。
I’m done grinding — I’m just going to coast.
literally “arrange-rot; let it rot”
to actively let things fall apart; to give up and stop trying
One step past 躺平. 躺平 is passive rest; 摆烂 is leaning into the decline on purpose — “it’s already bad, so let it get worse”.
反正做不完，我摆烂了。
It’s unfinishable anyway, so I’ve stopped caring.
literally “break through the defence”
to be emotionally overwhelmed — moved to tears, or hit where it hurts
From gaming (piercing an opponent’s armour). Now it’s when something breaks through your emotional guard, whether touching or devastating.
看到这里我直接破防了。
This part just completely got to me.
literally “initials of 永远的神” · 永远的神 yǒng yuǎn de shén
the GOAT; forever the best
“Eternal god.” Ultimate praise for an idol, a dish, a play — anything you worship. The Chinese equivalent of “GOAT”.
这家的牛肉面yyds！
This place’s beef noodles are the GOAT!
literally “social death” · 社会性死亡 shè huì xìng sǐ wáng
a mortifying, want-to-disappear public embarrassment
Short for 社会性死亡. That moment your voice message plays out loud on a silent bus — cringe so total you feel socially deceased.
叫错了老师的名字，社死现场。
Called the teacher by the wrong name — pure social-death moment.
literally “licking dog”
a simp; someone who grovels for affection and gets nothing back
The person who fetches, flatters, and waits — endlessly devoted to someone who isn’t interested. “舔到最后一无所有”: lick till the end and you’re left with nothing.
别当舔狗了，她根本不理你。
Stop simping — she’s not even replying to you.
literally “Versailles”
the humblebrag; bragging disguised as a complaint
From the “凡尔赛文学” (Versailles literature) genre. “Ugh, my new flat is so big I get lost in it.” Bragging dressed as suffering — named for the aristocratic excess of Versailles.
他又在凡尔赛了。
There he goes humblebragging again.
literally “borrowed from English “emo””
to feel low, moody, quietly sad
The English word, verbed: 我emo了 = “I’m in my feelings”. A late-night, melancholic, mild kind of down — not clinical, just a mood.
又是emo的一天。
Another one of those melancholy days.
literally “goes to the head”
hooked, carried away, obsessed — or tipsy
Like alcohol rushing to your head. A show, a person, a game you can’t stop thinking about “让人上头”. Can be delight or a warning that you’ve lost the plot.
这首歌太上头了，一直单曲循环。
This song is so addictive I’ve got it on repeat.
literally “grope for fish”
to slack off on the clock; to skive
From 浑水摸鱼 (fish in troubled waters). Scrolling your phone while looking busy — the universal office art of 摸鱼.
老板不在，摸鱼一下。
Boss is out — time to slack off a bit.
literally “work-doing person”
a wage worker; the everyday grind, said with rueful pride
Self-deprecating badge for anyone clocking in for someone else. “早安，打工人” — good morning, fellow wage slaves — half solidarity, half sigh.
打工人打工魂，打工都是人上人。
Worker’s body, worker’s soul — a mock pep-talk to the grind.
literally ““barbecue”” · 完蛋了 wán dàn le
it’s over; we’re toast; done for
From a streamer yelling “barbecue了” — as in burnt to a crisp. Now a jokey “完蛋了” for any minor disaster.
作业忘带了，芭比Q了。
Forgot my homework — welp, I’m toast.
literally “conspicuous bag”
an attention-grabber; a lovable show-off
The one who has to be seen — clowning, over-the-top, impossible to ignore. Mostly affectionate: every friend group has its 显眼包.
我们班的显眼包又来了。
Our class’s resident show-off is at it again.
FAQ
The number codes are their own rabbit hole: Chinese number slang.