Have you ever found yourself following a Mandarin conversation and suddenly hearing words you just can’t find in any dictionary? That’s slang—the living, breathing soul of a language. In Chinese, slang words and phrases can change quickly, drawing from internet culture, youth trends, and evolving social norms. If you want to sound more like a lao Zhongguo tong (老中国通, “old China hand”) or simply keep up with young locals and netizens, this guide is for you.
Here, we’ve curated 100 essential Chinese slang terms to help you blend in with modern Mandarin street talk. From short, punchy expressions to internet-inspired abbreviations, these words will make your conversations more vibrant and authentic.
Why Learn Chinese Slang?
Connect with Locals
While you can get by with textbook phrases, slang shows you’re in tune with the real-life language. You’ll impress your Chinese friends, colleagues, and clients by speaking more naturally.
Keep Up with Trends
Chinese netizens constantly create new buzzwords, especially on social media platforms like Weibo, Douyin (TikTok), and Bilibili. If you’re into pop culture, slang is a window into what’s hot and trending.
Have More Fun
Slang expressions are usually shorter, funnier, and easier to remember. They add flavor to your conversations—just be mindful of context and appropriateness.
Interesting Stat: A 2021 survey on Chinese social media revealed that over 60% of young Chinese use slang and internet buzzwords daily in casual chats or online posts.
Quick Tips for Using Chinese Slang
- Understand Context: Some words are mild among friends but inappropriate in formal settings. Always gauge the situation.
- Listen & Observe: Watch Chinese dramas, follow influencers on Douyin, or browse Weibo to see how slang evolves.
- Stay Updated: Slang can go out of style quickly, so pay attention to current usage.
- Speak Up: Try sprinkling these terms into your conversation gently. Overusing slang can sound unnatural.
Greetings & Casual Expressions (1–10)
- 嗨 (hāi)
- Meaning: “Hi,” borrowed from English “hi.”
- Usage: Used among friends: “嗨，你来啦？” (“Hey, you’re here?”)
- 哈喽 (hālóu)
- Meaning: “Hello,” an even more direct borrowing from English.
- Usage: “哈喽，大家好！” (“Hello, everyone!”)
- 你吃了吗？(nǐ chī le ma?)
- Meaning: “Have you eaten?”—classic greeting, but also slangy small talk.
- Usage: Equivalent to “How are you?” in casual contexts.
- 嗨皮 (hāi pí)
- Meaning: “Happy,” a phonetic play on the English word “happy.”
- Usage: “周末嗨皮呀？” (“Feeling happy this weekend?”)
- 嗨森 (hāi sēn)
- Meaning: Another variant for “happy,” from “high-sun.”
- Usage: “考试过了，好嗨森！” (“I passed the exam, so happy!”)
- 最近咋样？(zuìjìn zǎyàng?)
- Meaning: “How’s it going recently?”—mix of Mandarin & regional slang.
- Usage: “最近咋样？忙不忙？” (“How are things? Busy?”)
- 什么情况？(shénme qíngkuàng?)
- Meaning: “What’s going on?” or “What’s up with that?”
- Usage: “他突然不来了，什么情况？” (“He suddenly isn’t coming—what’s that about?”)
- 有空吗？(yǒu kòng ma?)
- Meaning: “Are you free?” often used casually to invite someone.
- Usage: “晚上有空吗？一起吃饭吧！” (“Are you free tonight? Let’s eat together!”)
- 来，约吗？(lái, yuē ma?)
- Meaning: “Shall we hang out?” or “Wanna meet up?”
- Usage: “周末来，约吗？去K歌？” (“Weekend’s coming—wanna meet up for karaoke?”)
- 嗨爆 (hāi bào)
- Meaning: “Super high/excited,” used among young people.
- Usage: “这次聚会嗨爆了！” (“This party was super lit!”)
Everyday Mood & Reactions (11–20)
- 感觉良好 (gǎnjué liánghǎo)
- Meaning: “Feeling good,” “feeling great,” sometimes ironically.
- Usage: “才学两天，就感觉良好。” (“Only studied for two days but feeling great already.”)
- 我服了你 (wǒ fú le nǐ)
- Meaning: “I admire you,” or sarcastically “I give up on you.”
- Usage: Sincere or joking: “你真能干，我服了你！”
- 晕 (yūn)
- Meaning: “Dizzy,” used to show surprise or mild exasperation.
- Usage: “晕，这么晚才告诉我？”
- 囧 (jiǒng)
- Meaning: Emoji-like character indicating awkwardness or embarrassment.
- Usage: In texts for awkward moments: “我忘了钥匙，囧。”
- 累觉不爱 (lèi jué bù ài)
- Meaning: “Too tired to love,” expressing exhaustion or heartbreak.
- Usage: “加班到夜里，累觉不爱。” (“Worked overtime till midnight, I’m so done.”)
- 醉了 (zuì le)
- Meaning: “I’m drunk,” used figuratively for disbelief or frustration.
- Usage: “他又迟到了，真是醉了。” (“He’s late again, I’m speechless.”)
- 无语 (wú yǔ)
- Meaning: “Speechless,” “I have no words.”
- Usage: “那个人举动太奇怪了，无语。”
- 不明觉厉 (bù míng jué lì)
- Meaning: “I don’t fully understand, but it looks awesome.”
- Usage: Often used sarcastically about complicated things: “他在讲量子力学，不明觉厉。”
- 服气 (fúqì)
- Meaning: “Convinced,” “impressed,” or “surrender.”
- Usage: “你一个月学会这么多，我服气！”
- 伤不起 (shāng bu qǐ)
- Meaning: “Too fragile to be hurt,” “can’t afford the pain.”
- Usage: “连续开会到深夜，伤不起啊。”
Internet & Tech Slang (21–30)
- 吃瓜群众 (chī guā qúnzhòng)
- Meaning: “Onlookers eating melon seeds,” i.e. bystanders watching gossip unfold.
- Usage: “我只是吃瓜群众，不做评论。”
- 人肉搜索 (rénròu sōusuǒ)
- Meaning: “Human flesh search,” crowdsourcing info on someone online.
- Usage: “被人肉搜索可真可怕。”
- 水军 (shuǐ jūn)
- Meaning: “Paid internet commenters,” “troll army.”
- Usage: “那个帖子里水军太多，根本不可信。”
- 云养猫/云吸猫 (yún yǎngmāo / yún xīmāo)
- Meaning: “Cloud cat-raising,” enjoying cat pictures/videos online if you can’t own a cat.
- Usage: “我没时间养猫，只能云吸猫。”
- 火钳刘明 (huǒ qián liú míng)
- Meaning: A pun from “火前留名,” meaning “mark one’s name before it gets popular.”
- Usage: People comment this to mark their presence on a soon-to-be viral post.
- 么么哒 (me me da)
- Meaning: “Muah,” a cute onomatopoeia for a kiss sound in texts.
- Usage: “谢谢亲爱的，么么哒！”
- 刚刚好 (gānggāng hǎo)
- Meaning: “Just right,” “perfect fit.”
- Usage: In e-commerce reviews: “尺码刚刚好，穿着舒适。”
- 666 (liù liù liù)
- Meaning: “Awesome,” “cool,” from gaming world meaning “smooth or pro.”
- Usage: “你这操作666啊！”
- 二次元 (èr cì yuán)
- Meaning: “2D,” referencing anime/manga subculture.
- Usage: “我弟弟喜欢二次元 cosplay。”
- 头像党 (tóuxiàng dǎng)
- Meaning: “Profile picture party,” focusing on how people judge you by your DP
- Usage: “很多人头像党，只看颜值不看内容。”
Compliments & Praise (31–40)
- 高大上 (gāo dà shàng)
- Meaning: “High-end, grand, classy,” describing something impressive.
- Usage: “他那个豪宅真是高大上。”
- 牛 (niú)
- Meaning: “Awesome,” literally “cow” but means “impressive”
- Usage: “你这么快就学会了？牛啊！”
- 给力 (gěi lì)
- Meaning: “Empowering,” “super effective,” “cool.”
- Usage: “这次活动很给力，成功了！”
- 赞 (zàn)
- Meaning: “Thumbs up,” “like,” same usage as a “like” button
- Usage: “这张照片给你个赞。”
- 棒棒哒 (bàng bàng da)
- Meaning: “Awesome,” “fantastic,” cutesy tone
- Usage: “你今天的打扮棒棒哒！”
- 腻害 (nì hài)
- Meaning: Cute mispronunciation of “厉害” (amazing)
- Usage: “你写得这么快，好腻害。”
- 大写的服 (dà xiě de fú)
- Meaning: “A big capital letter for ‘服,’” i.e. total admiration
- Usage: “看他表演完，我只想说——大写的服。”
- 闪亮登场 (shǎn liàng dēngchǎng)
- Meaning: “Dazzling entrance,” describing a flamboyant arrival.
- Usage: “她穿着礼服闪亮登场，惊艳全场。”
- 炫酷 (xuàn kù)
- Meaning: “Flashy cool,” “super cool,” borrowed from English “cool.”
- Usage: “他新发型很炫酷。”
- 美翻了 (měi fān le)
- Meaning: “So beautiful it flips you out,” extreme beauty.
- Usage: “那位模特真是美翻了！”
Insults & Sarcasm (41–50)
- 菜鸟 (cài niǎo)
- Meaning: “Beginner,” “newbie,” literally “vegetable bird.”
- Usage: “我还是职场菜鸟，需要多学习。”
- 二货 (èr huò)
- Meaning: “Idiot,” “weirdo,” but not too harsh.
- Usage: “他老做些莫名其妙的事，真是个二货。”
- 傻缺 (shǎ quē)
- Meaning: “Dumb fool,” stronger insult.
- Usage: “你怎么这么傻缺，密码都忘了？”
- 损友 (sǔn yǒu)
- Meaning: “Bad friend,” someone who leads you astray.
- Usage: “他老教你逃课，简直损友。”
- 脑残 (nǎo cán)
- Meaning: “Brain-dead,” a harsh way to say “idiotic.”
- Usage: “这个计划很脑残啊，毫无可行性。”
- 没救了 (méi jiù le)
- Meaning: “Hopeless,” “beyond saving.”
- Usage: “他又迟到？算了，没救了。”
- 小白 (xiǎo bái)
- Meaning: “Novice,” “inexperienced,” can be endearing or insulting
- Usage: “我电脑技术是小白。”
- 吃翔 (chī xiáng)
- Meaning: Vulgar slang for “eat poop.”
- Usage: Very offensive, used in extreme anger: “不服来吃翔啊？”
- 装逼 (zhuāng bī)
- Meaning: “Pretend to be awesome,” “show off.”
- Usage: “别在那儿装逼了，大家都懂。”
- 滚 (gǔn)
- Meaning: “Get lost,” “roll away,” harsh dismissal.
- Usage: “你快滚，这里不欢迎你。”
Love & Dating (51–60)
- 小哥哥 (xiǎo gēge)
- Meaning: “Little brother,” used flirtatiously for a cute guy.
- Usage: “小哥哥，加个微信吧？”
- 小姐姐 (xiǎo jiějie)
- Meaning: “Little older sister,” flirtatious term for a pretty young woman.
- Usage: “小姐姐，你好漂亮，可以认识一下吗？”
- 备胎 (bèi tāi)
- Meaning: “Spare tire,” describing someone kept as a backup lover.
- Usage: “别当别人的备胎，太委屈了。”
- 表白 (biǎobái)
- Meaning: “Confess love,” a key stage in relationships.
- Usage: “我打算今晚向她表白。”
- 撒狗粮 (sǎ gǒu liáng)
- Meaning: “Spread dog food,” i.e. public display of affection that makes singles feel lonely.
- Usage: “朋友圈里，情侣天天撒狗粮。”
- 秀恩爱 (xiù ēn’ài)
- Meaning: “Show off love,” flaunting your relationship.
- Usage: “你们俩又在秀恩爱啦？”
- 吃醋 (chī cù)
- Meaning: “Eat vinegar,” i.e. be jealous in love contexts.
- Usage: “她看到他跟别人聊天就吃醋了。”
- 撩 (liáo)
- Meaning: “Flirt,” “tease,” from the internet slang.
- Usage: “他很会撩妹，每次都成功。”
- 官宣 (guān xuān)
- Meaning: “Official announcement,” used online for relationship confirmations.
- Usage: “他们微博官宣在一起了！”
- 脱单 (tuō dān)
- Meaning: “Leave singledom,” “get into a relationship.”
- Usage: “祝你早日脱单啊。”
School & Work (61–70)
- 学渣 (xué zhā)
- Meaning: “Academic slacker,” opposite of “学霸” (top student).
- Usage: “我不是学霸，是学渣。”
- 放鸽子 (fàng gēzi)
- Meaning: “Stand someone up,” literally “to release pigeons.”
- Usage: “别放我鸽子，开会要准时来。”
- 划水 (huá shuǐ)
- Meaning: “To slack off,” literally “paddle water.”
- Usage: “别一直划水，要努力一点。”
- 拼命 (pīn mìng)
- Meaning: “To work desperately hard,” literally “risking life.”
- Usage: “他在公司拼命加班。”
- 摸鱼 (mō yú)
- Meaning: “Goof around at work,” literally “touch fish.”
- Usage: “上班不要摸鱼，被老板发现就糟了。”
- 擦边球 (cābiān qiú)
- Meaning: “Edge ball,” pushing boundaries, borderline acceptable.
- Usage: “他做事总打擦边球，离违规不远。”
- 掉链子 (diào liànzi)
- Meaning: “Drop the chain,” messing up at a critical moment.
- Usage: “关键时刻不要掉链子！”
- 加油 (jiā yóu)
- Meaning: “Add oil,” “come on,” “keep going,” cheerleading phrase.
- Usage: “考试加油，别紧张！”
- 鬼知道 (guǐ zhīdào)
- Meaning: “Who knows? (not me),” literally “Only ghosts know.”
- Usage: “他在干啥？鬼知道。”
- 冲刺 (chōng cì)
- Meaning: “Sprint,” used for last-minute effort at work or study.
- Usage: “期末了，大家都在冲刺。”
Family & Daily Life (71–80)
- 老妈 / 老爸 (lǎomā / lǎobà)
- Meaning: “Mom / Dad,” playful address.
- Usage: “老妈，今晚吃啥？”
- 熊孩子 (xióng háizi)
- Meaning: “Bratty kid,” literally “bear child.”
- Usage: “那熊孩子一直吵，真头疼。”
- 哥们儿 / 姐们儿 (gēmenr / jiěmenr)
- Meaning: “Bro / Sis,” used among close male/female friends.
- Usage: “姐们儿，下次逛街叫上我。”
- 粑粑 / 麻麻 (bābā / máma)
- Meaning: Baby talk for “daddy / mommy.”
- Usage: “粑粑，我要吃糖！”
- 宅 (zhái)
- Meaning: “Homebody,” someone who stays in a lot.
- Usage: “周末我就宅在家，看剧。”
- 小case (xiǎo kèisī)
- Meaning: “Piece of cake,” from English “case.”
- Usage: “这点家务，小case啦。”
- 没事儿 (méi shìr)
- Meaning: “No problem,” “it’s fine.”
- Usage: “打碎东西？没事儿，我来收拾。”
- 懒癌晚期 (lǎn ái wǎnqī)
- Meaning: “Terminal laziness,” joking about extreme laziness.
- Usage: “他懒癌晚期，一天不想动。”
- 买买买 (mǎi mǎi mǎi)
- Meaning: “Shop, shop, shop,” expression for shopping spree.
- Usage: “双十一快到了，买买买！”
- 有空再说 (yǒu kòng zài shuō)
- Meaning: “We’ll talk when we’re free,” often politely brushing off.
- Usage: “周末一起吃饭？有空再说吧。”
Entertainment & Hobbies (81–90)
- 吃土 (chī tǔ)
- Meaning: “Eating dirt,” joking about being broke after spending.
- Usage: “买了新手机，只能吃土了。”
- 狂刷剧 (kuáng shuā jù)
- Meaning: “Binge-watch dramas,” from “刷” meaning “to swipe/watch continuously.”
- Usage: “周末我狂刷剧，一口气看十集。”
- 佛系 (fó xì)
- Meaning: “Buddha-like,” meaning laid-back, uncompetitive attitude.
- Usage: “他对感情很佛系，随缘就好。”
- 打卡 (dǎ kǎ)
- Meaning: “Check in,” like at trendy spots or on social media.
- Usage: “周末去网红店打卡吧。”
- 羡慕嫉妒恨 (xiànmù jídù hèn)
- Meaning: “Admire, envy, hate,” expression of strong envy.
- Usage: “你又出去旅行？我真是羡慕嫉妒恨。”
- 舔屏 (tiǎn píng)
- Meaning: “Lick the screen,” describing extreme admiration of pictures, often idols.
- Usage: “他太帅了，我在舔屏！”
- 真香定律 (zhēn xiāng dìnglǜ)
- Meaning: “So fragrant rule,” meaning you end up liking something you previously disliked.
- Usage: “他说不吃甜食，结果真香定律，又买了蛋糕。”
- 路人缘 (lù rén yuán)
- Meaning: “Affinity with bystanders,” describing how likable you are to strangers.
- Usage: “这个明星路人缘特别好。”
- 安利 (ān lì)
- Meaning: “Recommend,” from “Amway” brand, repurposed for “recommendation.”
- Usage: “给你安利一部新剧，超好看。”
- 沉迷…无法自拔 (chénmí…wúfǎ zìbá)
- Meaning: “Addicted to … can’t extricate oneself.”
- Usage: “他沉迷游戏无法自拔，整天打机。”
Popular Abbreviations & Shortened Terms (91–100)
- ZZZQ
- Meaning: “政治正确,” i.e. “politically correct,” from initial letters.
- Usage: “这个话题容易引发争议，得注意ZZZQ。”
- PYQ
- Meaning: “朋友圈,” meaning “Moments” (WeChat feed).
- Usage: “看你PYQ，好像去旅行了？”
- CP
- Meaning: “Couple,” from “character pairing” or “shipped couple.”
- Usage: “我磕这对CP，太甜了！”
- QWQ
- Meaning: An emoticon for crying face, like “T_T.”
- Usage: “我作业没写完，QWQ。”
- NB
- Meaning: Short for “牛逼” (niú bī), “awesome.”
- Usage: “你在比赛里赢了？NB啊！”
- 886
- Meaning: “Bye-bye-le,” from “拜拜了,” meaning “Bye-bye.”
- Usage: “不说了，886。”
- 88
- Meaning: “Bye-bye,” from the pun on “8=ba.”
- Usage: “聊完了？那88。”
- DISS
- Meaning: “Diss,” from English, “to insult.”
- Usage: “别老DISS别人，要尊重。”
- AWM
- Meaning: Refers to “Arctic Warfare Magnum” (PUBG gun), used figuratively for a “powerful advantage.”
- Usage: “他有钱又帅，简直AWM。”
- ZQSG
- Meaning: “真情实感,” “true feelings,” typed in shorthand.
- Usage: “我ZQSG地喜欢这部剧，没在开玩笑。”
Conclusion: Add Spice to Your Mandarin
恭喜！(Congratulations!) You’ve just explored 100 essential Chinese slang terms to bring your Mandarin street talk to life. Remember, these words are best used with a dash of context—some are playful, some are edgy, and some are strictly for casual convos. Master a handful first, see how locals use them, and gradually expand your repertoire.
Final Tips
- Watch Chinese Content: Dramas, vlogs, Douyin (China’s TikTok) creators—these are your goldmine for hearing slang in action.
- Ask for Feedback: Chinese friends or language partners can help refine your usage. Don’t be shy to ask, “我这样说对吗？” (“Am I saying this correctly?”)
- Stay Open to Change: Slang evolves quickly; keep your eyes peeled for new trends.
Call to Action
Which term did you find the most fascinating? Or did we miss a personal favorite you’ve heard on the streets of Beijing or Shanghai? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts and experiences. Also, if you enjoyed this guide, share it with fellow Mandarin learners and subscribe to our newsletter for more cultural insights and language tips.
Now it’s time to go out there, 秀恩爱 with your new knowledge, and enjoy the world of Chinese slang—666 all the way!
See Also: Indian Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms to Navigate Desi Conversations
