人机

What does 人机 mean?

人机 originally means a computer-controlled bot in a video game. As slang, it labels real people who act like one: a teammate who plays badly and predictably, a friend who answers with stiff, canned replies, or someone who seems oblivious to social cues. '你个人机' ('you bot') is a common teasing jab, and 人机感 describes mechanical, soulless behavior. It's usually lighthearted, and its opposite is 活人感, the quality of feeling like a real, lively person. English gamers use 'bot' or 'NPC' the same way.

Where does 人机 come from?

In Chinese gaming, 人机 has long referred to AI-controlled opponents in player-versus-computer modes, which tend to be weak and predictable. In 2024 '你个人机' became a widespread meme for teasing real people who act like bots, spreading through livestreams and short videos.

How to use 人机

• 你回消息怎么跟人机一样？
  Nǐ huí xiāoxi zěnme gēn rén jī yíyàng?
  Why do you text like a bot?
• 这队友操作太人机了。
  Zhè duìyǒu cāozuò tài rén jī le.
  This teammate plays like a total bot.