Happy International Youth Day (国际青年节guó jì qīng nián jié) everyone! Do you know what buzzwords Chinese young people are using these days? Let’s learn these words to surprise your Chinese friends/colleagues tomorrow!
Here are some Chinese internet slangs you can use to blend in with the locals!
1. 栓Q （shuān Q）= thank you（speechless）
我刚刚喝了一杯咖啡，你又做了一杯，栓Q啊！
wǒ gāng gāng hē le yī bēi kā fēi ， nǐ yòu zuò le yī bēi ， shuān Q a ！
I’ve just drunk a cup of coffee, and then you made another one, I’m running out of words!
2. 芭比Q （bābǐ Q）= game over/all up/finished
芭比Q了，我的老板生气了！
bā bǐ Q le ， wǒ de lǎo bǎn shēng qì le ！
I’m so done, my boss is angry!
3. 真的会谢 （zhēn de huì xiè）= speechless
这个周末又要加班， 我真的会谢！
zhè gè zhōu mò yòu yào jiā bān ， wǒ zhēn de huì xiè！
I’m speechless, I have to work overtime again this week!
4. YYDS (永远的神 yǒng yuǎn de shén）= the OG
这部电影太好看了！ 这个导演真是YYDS！
zhè bù diàn yǐng tài hǎo kàn liǎo ！ zhè gè dǎo yǎn zhēn shì YYDS！
This movie is very interesting! The director is just unbeatable!
5. emo (abbreviation of emotional) = used to express hard feelings such as bad mood, depression, and so on.
一想到明天早上要去挤地铁，我就emo了。
yī xiǎng dào míng tiān zǎo shàng yào qù jǐ dì tiě ， wǒ jiù emo liǎo 。
The thought of squeezing into the metro crowd tomorrow morning is overwhelming.
6. 破防了（pò fáng le） = hit/be moved to tears/ overwhelm
今天遇到了一位好心人，她帮了我一个大忙，我破防了。
jīn tiān yù dào liǎo yī wèi hǎo xīn rén ， tā bāng liǎo wǒ yī gè dà máng ， wǒ pò fáng liǎo。
Today I met a kind-hearted person who did me a huge favor. I’m so moved.
7. 躺平（tǎng píng）= slack off
上个月工作太累了，这个星期我打算躺平。
shàng gè yuè gōng zuò tài léi liǎo ， zhè gè xīng qī wǒ dǎ suàn tǎng píng 。
Last month, my work was so tiring, I just want to chill out this week.
8. 老哥，稳！ = Amazing , old fellow !
我的同事5分钟就帮我把电脑修好了。老哥，稳！
wǒ de tóng shì 5 fēn zhōng jiù bāng wǒ bǎ diàn nǎo xiū hǎo liǎo 。 lǎo gē ， wěn ！
My colleague fixed my computer in just 5 minutes. He’s brilliant!
9. 凡尔赛（fán ěr sài）= Humblebrag
我的朋友每天和男朋友视频，还和我这个单身的人说这是浪费时间。太凡尔赛了！
wǒ de péng yǒu měi tiān hé nán péng yǒu shì pín ， huán hé wǒ zhè gè dān shēn de rén shuō zhè shì làng fèi shí jiān 。 tài fán ěr sài liǎo！
My friend video chats with her boyfriend everyday and she told me, a leftover lady , that it is a waste of time. They’re such an attention seeker!
10. diss (abbreviation of disrespect) = slander or belittle
昨天，我的同事diss经理被HR听到了，今天被罚了。
zuó tiān ， wǒ de tóng shì diss jīng lǐ bèi HR tīng dào liǎo ， jīn tiān bèi fá liǎo。
Yesterday, the HR overheard my colleague disrespecting the manager. Today he is punished.
11. 带节奏（dài jié zòu）= deliberately mislead/fan the flames
等等，我们刚刚在聊周末的计划，你现在说朋友的八卦，不要乱带节奏。
děng děng ， wǒ mén gāng gāng zài liáo zhōu mò de jì huá ， nǐ xiàn zài shuō péng yǒu de bā guà ， bù yào luàn dài jié zòu 。
Wait a sec, we have just discussed about the weekend plan, and now you are talking about others’ gossip, don’t mix everything up.
12.扎心了（zhā xīn le）= what a dagger in the heart !
我的表弟说我的头发越来越少了。这句话扎心了！
wǒ de biǎo dì shuō wǒ de tóu fā yuè lái yuè shǎo liǎo 。 zhè jù huà zā xīn liǎo！
My cousin said my hair is getting thinner. He really got me !
Youth (青年qīng nián） is the stage of life where you finally find your true self, get the long-awaited freedom, and have so much fun!
Here, we have listed some activities youths often do to chill out and release yourself from stress!
1. Go on a vacation (去旅游 qù lǚ yóu)
When going on a vacation, these simple conversations might be helpful for you along the way:
我想订一张下周飞往北京的机票。
wǒ xiǎng dìng yī zhāng xià zhōu fēi wǎng běi jīng de jī piào。
I’d like to make a flight booking to Beijing next week.
这是直飞还是转机的航班？
zhè shì zhí fēi hái shì zhuǎn jī de háng bān？
Is it a direct flight or a transit flight?
你们喜欢独自出游，还是随旅行团出游？
nǐ men xǐ huān dú zì chū yóu， hái shì suí lǚ xíng tuán chū yóu？
Do you prefer to travel on your own or travel in a group organized by travel agencies?
2. Do exercise (做运动 zuò yùn dòng)
Here are some basic conversations that you can use when going for an exercise:
今天太凉快了！ 咱们运动运动吧！
jīn tiān tài liáng kuài le！ zán men yùn dòng yùn dòng ba！
It’s so cool today! Let’s go and do some exercise!
球场预订好了吗？
qiú chǎng yù dìng hǎo le ma？
Have you booked the court?
你看起来累坏了。你昨晚去上健身课了吗？你一定是被虐了一番。
nǐ kàn qǐ lái lèi huài le。 nǐ zuó wǎn qù shàng jiàn shēn kè le ma？ nǐ yī dìng shì bèi nüè le yī fān。
You look worn out. Did you attend the aerobics class last night? You must have got quite a workout!
我今天早上锻炼了。我想我消耗了500个卡路里。
wǒ jīn tiān zǎo shàng duàn liàn le。 wǒ xiǎng wǒ xiāo hào le 500 gè kǎ lù lǐ。
I did my workout this morning. I think I burned 500 calories.
3. Eat some delicacies (吃美食 chī měi shí)
They say good food brings a good mood 🙂 You can use these sentences to order some food.
今天有什么特色菜？
jīn tiān yǒu shén me tè sè cài？
Do you have any special menu today?
你好，能给我份菜单吗？
nǐ hǎo ， néng gěi wǒ fèn cài dān ma？
Hi, could I have the menu, please?
我想尝尝当地的特色菜，你有好的推荐吗？
wǒ xiǎng cháng cháng dāng dì de tè sè cài ，nǐ yǒu hǎo de tuī jiàn ma？
I want to try the local specialty. Do you have any good recommendations?
你的牛排要几分熟？三成，五成，七成，还是全熟?
nǐ de niú pái yào jǐ fēn shú ？ sān chéng ， wǔ chéng ， qī chéng ， hái shì quán shú?
How would you like your steak to be cooked? Medium rare, medium, medium well, or well done?
4. Attend gatherings (参加聚会 cān jiā jù huì)
Are you considering going to gatherings, but don’t know how to talk? Try out these simple dialogs!
明天的聚会是谁办的？
míng tiān de jù huì shì sheí bàn de？
Who will host tomorrow’s party?
你打算穿休闲装，主题服装还是晚礼服去参加派对呢？
nǐ dǎ suàn chuān xiū xián zhuāng ， zhǔ tí fú zhuāng hái shì wǎn lǐ fú qù cān jiā pài duì ne？
Will you dress up casually， wear a themed dress， or an evening gown to the ball?
谢谢你送我一程。我很期待参加这个派对，但是我不想一个人去。
xiè xiè nǐ sòng wǒ yī chéng 。 wǒ hěn qī dài cān jiā zhè gè pài duì ， dàn shì wǒ bù xiǎng yī gè rén qù。
Thanks for offering to give me a lift. I’m looking forward to this party, but I didn’t want to go alone.
你可以和我一块跳舞吗？
nǐ kě yǐ hé wǒ yī kuài tiào wǔ ma？
Could you dance with me?
Youth is the moment for vast exploration and self-improvement. Learning a new language and culture is always an interesting thing to make you stand out from others.
Curious to learn more? We’ve got you covered! Mandarin Inn offers Chinese classes, where you can get yourselves immersed in both the language and culture! Sign up for a free trial class or cultural workshops at Mandarin Inn by scanning the QR code below!
