Chinese memes & internet slang, explained in English

"Awesome!" / "Nice play!" — praise for skill.

Working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week.

A playful way to ask whether something is trendy, modern or cool.

MBTI-based labels for introverts (i人) and extroverts (e人), used as quick social identities.

The GOAT — the greatest of all time.

Calling someone a 'bot' — robotic, clueless or stiff, like a computer-controlled game player.

The vibe of doing things quietly and self-consciously, trying not to draw anyone's attention.

Setting up and training the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, nicknamed "the lobster", to do your chores.

Exhausting competition where everyone works harder but nobody gets ahead.

A humblebrag — showing off while pretending to complain.

A confident 'for sure!' — guaranteeing that something will happen or turn out well.

A fond, teasing nickname for southern Chinese tourists visiting the snowy northeast, especially Harbin.

A joking title crowning someone the 'god' of one oddly specific thing they excel (or fail) at.

A cute nickname for cats, and a catchy nonsense word from a viral anime-inspired song.

A sad-faced plush horse that became a symbol of tired workers in the 2026 Year of the Horse.

A teasing label for city people who know nothing about farms or nature.

A joke template contrasting something plain with something that is anything but.

A label for anything bright, colourful and designed to lift your mood.

A breezy, shrug-it-off reply to setbacks: so what, what can you do?

A cutesy way of saying 'Really? No way!' to show surprise or playful disbelief.

A half-joking, admiring title for a child with surprising skill or confidence.

Replying to a message with something completely off-topic, whether by accident or on purpose.

The good feelings, comfort or validation that a person or thing gives you.

A joking reaction to someone (or some animal) doing something baffling — basically "what on earth is it doing?"

A jokey "I don't buy it — show me proof", used when something looks rigged or too good to be true.

A self-mocking name for ordinary wage workers.

Absurd, bizarre or surreal; 搞抽象 means deliberately making random, nonsensical humor.

A one-character comment for 'catching' good luck from someone else's success.

A buddy for one specific activity, without the commitments of a close friendship.

Giving up on purpose because things are already going badly.

An affectionate tease for someone who loves attention and stands out in a funny way.

A cheerful chant meaning "money, come to me" — a playful wish for good luck and fortune.

Calm, unhurried composure, staying relaxed and natural even under pressure.

Doing something openly and casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Praise for someone or something that feels genuinely human: spontaneous, unpolished and honest.

A nickname for ordinary, overworked people at the bottom of the ladder who dream of breaking free.

A playful self-care phrase for treating or comforting yourself, as if you were your own best friend.

Self-mocking slang for overworked, underpaid employees who feel like beasts of burden.

Cramming as many sights as possible into a very short, very cheap trip.

The tired, drained look and vibe that office workers pick up from their jobs.

Emotionally hit — something got past your guard.

When something grabs your attention so completely that you freeze and just stare.

Going red in the face with anger or frustration — losing your cool, especially while gaming.

"Absolutely amazing" — an over-the-top compliment.

A sincere bullet comment expressing deep respect for courage, kindness or perseverance.

Jiangsu's amateur inter-city football league and the viral city-rivalry banter around it.

An amateurish, thrown-together team; the realization that nobody really knows what they're doing.

Merchandise from anime, manga and games, such as badges, acrylic stands and cards.

Opting out of the rat race and doing the bare minimum.

A breezy "so what?" comeback that shrugs off criticism, awkward moments and other people's judgment.

Doing everyday tasks in weird but surprisingly effective shortcut ways.

A put-down for anything that feels mass-produced, scripted or fake-spontaneous.