Many of us are surprised to learn that the words for animal sounds, inanimate objects, or random vocalizations aren’t actually the same in each language. These onomatopoeia, simply defined as words that we use to imitate certain sounds, come in all different forms, and some may really surprise you.

When learning Chinese as a second language, people often treat onomatopoeia as unnecessary, not useful, or even childish. In reality, these simple sounds can add so much more color and dimension to your world. Plus, they’re a surprising amount of fun.

To give you a small glimpse into the vast amount of Chinese onomatopoeia out there, we’ve compiled a few short lists of words that we use to describe the sound of objects, animals, nature, and even people.

Bonus: Try to sound these out as you read them and add some gestures for even more pizzaz. Not only will you have a good laugh, but you’ll also commit them to memory more easily.

Chinese onomatopoeia – Object sounds

These sounds are all associated with inanimate objects and machines. If you look around your house, how many of these can you pick up on?

• 砰 (pēng) – Thump
• 唰 (shuā) – Swish, rustle
• 啪 (pā) – Pop, pow, bang
• 轰 (hōng) – Boom, bang
• 叮咚 (dīngdōng) – The sound of jingling or clattering, generally the sound of metal or porcelain objects clashing together
• 咔嚓 (kāchā) – Cracking or snapping
• 呱哒 (guādā) – Clip-clop, the sound of heels clicking on a hard floor
• 嘎吱 (gāzī) – Breaking or creaking due to heaviness
• 轧轧 (yàyà) – The sound of machinery running
• 刺溜 (cìliū) – Sliding
• 扑通 (pūtōng) – The sound when heavy objects land, or something falling into water
• 嘀铃铃 (dí línglíng) – The sound of a telephone ringing
• 乒乒乓乓 (pīngpīng pāngpāng) – The sound of two things colliding(especially to describe the sound of a ping pong ball in table tennis)
• 嘀嗒嘀嗒 (dīdādīdā) – Ticking clock or rain dropping
• 噼噼啪啪 (pīpīpāpā) – Patting or slapping

Chinese onomatopoeia – Human sounds

The sounds in this list all come from people. Some of them may be voluntary, others not so much. Take a second to close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in a busy restaurant or on a crowded bus in China. Can you hear a group of teens chittering away, or perhaps a baby that goes from crying to giggling when it plays with a toy?

• 啊 (à) – Ah, OK   
• 啊 (á) – Huh? Eh? What?  
• 哦 (ó) – Oh?
• 哦 (ò) – Oh!
• 吁 (yù) Woah (used to call an animal to stop)
• 哇 (wā) – Wow! This is also the sound of crying or vomiting
• 啦 (la) – The sound of singing, cheering etc.
• 呀 (ya) – Ah, oh
• 诶 (éi) – Eh?
• 嗬 (hē) – Oh/wow!
• 呃 (è) – Belch, hiccup
• 呼噜 (hūlū) – Snoring or wheezing
• 哈哈 (hāhā) – Laughter
• 哇哇 (wāwā) – Crying
• 嘻嘻 (xīxī) – Giggling
• 牙牙 (yáyá) – Sound of baby talk, babble
• 叽叽呱呱 (jījī guāguā) – Talking, gossiping, chatter
• 叽叽喳喳 (jījīzhāzhā) – The sound of birds chirping or people talking rapidly and indistinctly
• 嘟嘟囔囔 (dūdū nāngnāng) – Muttering to oneself
• 唧唧咕咕 (jījī-gūgū) – Whispering

Chinese onomatopoeia – Nature sounds

These sounds are all found in nature. You may also notice some crossover with the words we mentioned in the first section. For example, the sound of a frog jumping into a lake might sound like扑通 (pūtōng), or you may hear咔嚓 (kāchā) when you step on a twig. Listening to the sounds of nature can be extremely calming, and now you can say that it’s part of your routine for studying Chinese.

• 哗啦 (huála) – Crashing sound, or the sound of flowing water like rain pouring down.
• 轰隆 (hōnglóng) – Rumbling sound, most often used to refer to the sound of thunder or rumble of machines.
• 呼呼 (hūhū) – Sound of the wind
• 哗哗 (huáhuá) – Sound of water gurgling
• 轰隆隆 (hōng lónglóng) – Rumbling
• 嘀嗒嘀嗒 (dīdādīdā) – A ticking clock or rain dropping

Chinese onomatopoeia – Animal sounds

This last section is by far the most fun. Animals make all sorts of bizarre and interesting sounds. How good is your impression of a chicken? If you say 喵 (miāo) to your cat, does it say meow back?

• 喵 (miāo) – The sound of a cat
• 哞 (mōu) – The sound of a cow
• 咯咯 (gēgē) – The sound of a chicken
• 喔喔 (wōwō) – The sound of a rooster
• 唧唧 (jījī) – Buzzing or chirping, usually related to insects
• 嗡嗡 (wēngwēng) – The sound of bees
• 蛐蛐 (qūqū) – The sound of crickets
• 汪汪 (wāngwāng) – The sound of a dog
• 嘎嘎 (gāgā) – The sound of a duck
• 呱呱 (guāguā) – The sound of a frog
• 哼哼 (hēnghēng) – The sound of a pig
• 知了知了 (zhīliǎo zhīliǎo) – The sound of cicadas
• 叽叽喳喳 (jījīzhāzhā) – The sound of birds chirping

These lists are merely the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more onomatopoeia to discover, and some of them you may only discover after years of studying and immersion. When these sorts of words pop up in daily conversation, or even in literature and other media, they’re so small that we sometimes don’t even notice that they’re there. But if you pay careful attention, you can learn a lot about how Chinese people hear the world around them.

If you found this article fun and interesting, you can take it even further by studying Chinese comics and visual novels, also known as manhua. Their visual storytelling style often incorporates onomatopoeia to enrich the experience and add more dimension.

For now, let us know in the comments what your favorite onomatopoeia on this list was. Did any of them really surprise you? Do you think that any of these Chinese words sound more like the sound they imitate than the English equivalent? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

The post Wowza! or is it 哇塞? An Introduction to Chinese Onomatopoeia appeared first on .

What are euphemisms?

Euphemisms are expressions that allow us to describe something inappropriate, uncomfortable, or unpleasant in a proper and polite manner.

Why do we need to learn Chinese euphemisms?

Learning euphemisms is a crucial piece of learning authentic Chinese, just like mastering Chinese idioms (成语chéngyǔ). Euphemisms not only test our comprehension of the language itself but also our understanding of Chinese culture and history. They serve as a pathway to reaching an advanced proficiency level.

In addition to building linguistic proficiency, euphemisms also serve a practical purpose. Creating a comfortable and respectful atmosphere contributes to positive conversations and relationships. Euphemisms play a vital role in this regard, allowing us to navigate tricky situations and avoid potential embarrassment or offense.

To help you become more familiar with this aspect of Chinese language and culture, let’s explore the nuances of these 15 common Chinese euphemisms.

1. Chinese euphemisms for Going to the washroom (上厕所)
2. Chinese euphemisms for Death (死)
3. Chinese euphemisms for Suicide (自杀)
4. Chinese euphemisms for Gaining weight (长胖了)
5. Chinese euphemisms for Being poor (没钱)
6. Chinese euphemisms for Disabilities (跛子)
7. Chinese euphemisms for Sex (性爱)
8. Chinese euphemisms for Menstruation(月经)
9. Chinese euphemisms for Intoxication (喝醉)
10. Chinese euphemisms for Pregnancy (怀孕)
11. Chinese euphemisms for Extra-marital affairs (外遇)
12. Chinese euphemisms for Getting Fired(解雇)
13. Chinese euphemisms for Homosexuality (同性恋)
14. Chinese Euphemisms for Sex workers (性工作者)
15. Chinese euphemisms for Parents (父母)

1. Chinese euphemisms for going to the washroom (上厕所)

In certain situations, such as formal meetings or gatherings, it is preferable to refer to the restroom indirectly to avoid embarrassment and maintain good manners.

• 解手 (jiě shǒu)
• 方便一下 (fānɡbiàn yíxià)

One such euphemism is 解手(jiě shǒu), which literally means “to release the hands.” It originates from a historical anecdote from the Ming dynasty, where bound immigrants needed to relieve themselves on their journey. Requesting their captors loosen their restraints and untie their hands, they would use the phrase 解手(jiě shǒu) for simplicity and clarity.  This expression has since been passed down to modern times.

Another euphemism is 方便一下 (fāngbiàn yíxià). The term 方便(fāngbiàn) is also related to using the washroom, as 大便(dàbiàn) means “defecation”  and 小便(xiǎobiàn) means “urination”. Therefore, people use 方便(fāngbiàn)  as a collective term for both.

e.g.

对不起，我刚去解手了。(Duìbuqǐ, wǒ ɡānɡ qù jiě shǒu le.)
Sorry, I just went to the restroom.

水喝多了，我去方便一下。(Shuǐ hē duō le, wǒ qù fānɡbiàn yíxià.)
I drank too much water, so I have to go to the bathroom.

• 上大号 (dà hào)
• 上小号 (xiǎo hào)

As mentioned earlier, 大便(dàbiàn)  refers to defecation, while 小便(xiǎobiàn)  refers to urination. However, we can also use the terms 大号(dà hào) and 小号(xiǎo hào)  respectively, as they sound more indirect and polite.

e.g.

让我先去厕所，我要上大号。(Rànɡ wǒ xiān qù cèsuǒ, wǒ yào shànɡ dà hào.)
Let me go the toilet first, because I want to go number 2.

这个厕所坏了，不能上小号。(Zhèɡe cèsuǒ huài le, bù nénɡ shànɡ xiǎo hào.)
This toilet is broken, we can’t go number 1 here.

2. Chinese euphemisms for Death (死)

Euphemisms are commonly used when discussing the harsh topic of death.

• 去世了 (qù shì le)
• 走了 (zǒu le)
• 没了 (méi le)
• 不在了 (bú zài le)

One euphemism is 去世了 (qùshìle), which literally means “having left this world” and is equivalent to the English expression “pass away.” Similarly, 走了 (zǒule) meaning “to be gone,” 没了 (méile) meaning “to not exist anymore,” and 不在了 (bù zàile) meaning “to not be here anymore” can also signify someone’s departure from this world. Compared to 去世了(qùshìle), the others are more commonly used in everyday conversation.

e.g.

他的家人因病去世了。(Tāde jiārén yīn bìnɡ qùshì le.)
His family member died of illness.

人早就没了，上个星期五就走了。(Rén zǎo jiù méi le, shànɡɡè xīnɡqīwǔ jiù zǒu le.)
The person had already passed away last Friday.

等到他回到家的时候，他奶奶已经不在了。(Děnɡdào tā huídào jiā de shíhou, tā nǎinɑi yǐjīnɡ bú zài le.)
His grandma had already passed away when he arrived at home.

• 仙逝 (xiān shì)
• 作古 (zuò ɡǔ)

In Chinese culture, when an elderly person passes away, we use the terms 作古(zuò gǔ) or 仙逝(xiān shì) to discuss their death. 作古(zuò gǔ)  literally means “to become an ancient person,” serving as a euphemism for passing away. On the other hand, 仙逝(xiān shì)  literally means “to leave the world like a fairy” and has connections with Daoism. In Daoism, individuals seek immortality, and when their aspirations are fulfilled, they depart from this world to a new realm. It’s worth noting that 作古(zuò gǔ) or 仙逝(xiān shì) can also be used in eulogies.

e.g.

我昨晚好像在梦里见到了已作古的父母。(Wǒ zuówǎn hǎoxiànɡ zài mènɡlǐ jiàndào le yǐ zuòɡǔ de fùmǔ.)
I saw my deceased parents in my dreams last night.

那位老人在那个雨天仙逝了。(Nà wèi lǎorén zài nàɡè yǔtiān xiānshì le.) That old man passed away on that rainy day.

• 圆寂 (yuánjì)

Buddhism holds significance in Chinese culture, and a specific term is used to indicate the passing of a monk: 圆寂 (yuánjì).

e.g.

大师已于上周圆寂了。(Dàshī yǐ yú shànɡzhōu yuánjì le.)
The master passed away last week.

• 挂了 (ɡuà le)
• 蹬腿了 (dēnɡ tuǐ le)
• 见阎王 (jiàn yánwánɡ)

Pay close attention to these three phrases as they may sound impolite and even somewhat offensive in certain cases. Use them with caution.

One such phrase is 挂了(guàle), which can also indicate someone’s death. Initially, it was used to describe dying in a game. With the increasing popularity of video games, the usage of 挂了(guàle) has extended to refer to the death of real-life people as well.

e.g.

我刚进去这个游戏，三分钟不到就挂了。(Wǒ ɡānɡ jìnqù zhèɡe yóuxì, sān fēnzhōnɡ bú dào jiù ɡuà le.)
I just entered this game, and in less than three minutes, I died.

快点儿，等你去救人，人早就挂了。(Kuài diǎn’r, děnɡ nǐ qù jiù rén, rén zǎo jiù ɡuà le.)
Hurry up, when you arrived to save them, they had already died.

The vivid expression 蹬腿了 (dēng tuǐ le) is used to describe the act of kicking one’s legs when nearing death. It reflects the body’s natural physical reactions.

Furthermore, when we wish to convey that someone we have negative feelings towards has passed away, we use the phrase 见阎王 (jiàn Yán Wáng), which means “going to see the god of death.” In Chinese mythology, it is believed that the deceased go to the realm of the god of death. Hence, 见阎王(jiàn Yán Wáng) is used  to describe the death of someone whom we dislike or hate.

e.g.

你来晚了，她已经蹬腿了。(Nǐ láiwǎn le, tā yǐjīnɡ dēnɡ tuǐ le.)
You’re late, she has already passed away.

祝你早日见阎王！(Zhù nǐ zǎorì jiàn yánwánɡ!)
Hope you go see the god of death as soon as possible!

他们去见阎王了！(Tāmen qù jiàn yánwánɡ le!)
They have gone to see the god of death!

3. Chinese euphemisms for Suicide (自杀)

• 轻生 (qīnɡ shēnɡ)
• 自我了断 (zìwǒ liǎoduàn)

One euphemism for suicide is 轻生 (qīngshēng), which literally means “light life.” It is used to indirectly convey that someone doesn’t value their own life and wishes to end it. Another similar expression is 自我了断 (zì wǒ liǎo duàn), which translates to “self-deprecating.”

e.g.

我刚看到有人在楼上想轻生。(Wǒ ɡānɡ kàndào yǒu rén zài lóushànɡ xiǎnɡ qīnɡshēnɡ.)
I just saw someone upstairs who wanted to attempt suicide.

我没办法了，不如自我了断算了。(Wǒ méi bànfǎ le, bùrú zìwǒ liǎoduàn suàn le.)
I have no choice, and I may as well commit suicide.

4. Chinese euphemisms for Gaining weight (长胖了)

• 圆润 (yuánrùn)

When referring to someone who has gained weight, we avoid saying “you became fat” directly. Instead, we can use the term 圆润(yuán rùn). 圆润(yuán rùn) literally means “rounded,” describing the rounder shape of someone’s body without being offensive. It is similar to the term “roly-poly” in English.

e.g.

最近日子过得挺好啊，你看起来越来越圆润了。(Zuìjìn rìzi ɡuòde tǐnɡ hǎo’ ā, nǐ kàn qǐlái yuè lái yuè yuánrùn le.)
You have had a nice life recently, so you look rounder and rounder.

少吃点，你越来越圆润了。(Shǎo chī diǎn, nǐ yuè lái yuè yuánrùn le.)
Try to eat a little less because you’re becoming rounder and rounder.

• 发福 (fāfú)

Another similar term is 发福 (fā fú), which means “to get lucky.” In ancient times, when food was scarce, thinness was common among the general population while wealthier individuals appeared plumper. Therefore, people associated a fat appearance with a prosperous life. 发福(fā fú) was used to indicate that someone was living a wealthy life. However, in modern times, as people’s values have changed, the positive connotation of 发福(fā fú) is gradually fading away, and it is more commonly used to simply mean that someone is fat.

e.g.

他这几年发福得厉害，完全变样了。(Tā zhè jǐ nián fāfú de lìhɑi, wánquán biàn yànɡ le.)
He has gained a lot of weight in recent years, and he looks completely different now.

减肥吧，发福后有点儿难看。(Jiǎn féi bɑ, fāfú hòu yǒu diǎn’r nán kàn.)
Lose some weight, you don’t look so good after gaining some extra pounds.

5. Chinese euphemisms for being poor (没钱)

When someone is unable to repay others or has borrowed money, they won’t  directly say “I don’t have any money” to avoid losing face. Instead, they use more indirect expressions.

• 手头不方便 (shǒutóu bù fānɡbiàn)
• 手头有点儿紧 (shǒutóu yǒu diǎn’r jǐn)     

One common expression is 手头不方便(shǒu tóu bù fāng biàn), which translates to “my hands aren’t convenient.” This phrase, derived from the renowned Chinese novel “Nie Hai Hua,” serves as a universal way to say “I don’t have any money.” Similarly, 手头有点儿紧(shǒu tóu yǒu diǎn er jǐn), meaning “my hands are a bit tight,” can also be used to express the same meaning.

e.g.

最近手头有点儿紧，能先借我点儿钱吗？(Zuìjìn shǒutóu yǒu diǎn’r jǐn, nénɡ xiān jiè wǒ diǎn’r qián mɑ?)
I’m tapped out lately, could you lend me some money?

对不起，最近手头不太方便，能过几天再还钱吗？(Duìbuqǐ, zuìjìn shǒutóu bú tài fānɡbiàn, nénɡ ɡuò jǐ tiān zài huán qián mɑ?)
Sorry, I am a bit short on cash recently, can I pay you back in a few days?

• 囊中羞涩 (nánɡ zhōnɡ xiūsè)

Another expression used to convey being short on money is 囊中羞涩(náng zhōng xiū sè). This idiom combines the term 囊(náng), which refers to a pocket, with 羞涩(xiū sè), meaning “embarrassing.” So, 囊中羞涩(náng zhōng xiū sè) literally means “embarrassing in the pocket.” It is commonly used in written Chinese to express a lack of funds, while 手头有点儿紧(shǒu tóu yǒu diǎn er jǐn) and 手头不方便(shǒu tóu bù fāng biàn) are more colloquial alternatives.

e.g.

我想去参加活动，但是囊中羞涩，所以你们自己去吧。(Wǒ xiǎnɡ qù cānjiā huódònɡ, dànshì nánɡ zhōnɡ xiūsè, suǒyǐ nǐmen zìjǐ qù bɑ.)
I want to join the activity, but I’m short on money, so you just go by yourselves.

他想买一块月饼，但是囊中羞涩，买不了。(Tā xiǎnɡ mǎi yí kuài yuèbǐnɡ, dànshì nánɡzhǒnɡ xiūsè, mǎibuliǎo.)
He wants to buy a piece of mooncake, but he doesn’t have any money, so he can’t buy it.

6. Chinese euphemisms for Disabilities (跛子)

• 腿脚不便 (tuǐ jiǎo bú biàn)
• 行动不便 (xínɡdònɡ bú biàn)

Directly calling someone a 跛子(bǒ zi), or cripple, when they have difficulty walking is considered rude. Instead, people use more indirect or intangible expressions to describe such situations. For example, they may say 腿脚不便(tuǐ jiǎo bù biàn) or 行动不便(xíng dòng bù biàn), which describe the condition of individuals who experience difficulties with their legs or mobility, but in a less offensive manner.

e.g.

他因为小时候生病，所以现在腿脚不便。(Tā yīnwèi xiǎo shíhou shēnɡ bìnɡ, suǒyǐ xiànzài tuǐ jiǎo bú biàn.)
He has trouble walking because he was sick when he was a child.

因为她行动不便，她的同学经常帮她带午饭。(Yīnwèi tā xínɡdònɡ bú biàn, tāde tónɡxué jīnɡchánɡ bānɡ tā dài wǔfàn.)
Her classmates often help her bring lunch because she has difficulty moving.

7. Chinese euphemisms for Sex (性爱)

In Chinese culture, sex is not commonly discussed directly as it is considered a private matter. Instead, people prefer to appreciate the romantic aspect of it. As a result, there are some ambiguous terms used to refer to “making love.”

• 同房 (tónɡfánɡ)
• 发生关系 (fāshēnɡ ɡuānxi)
• 上床 (shànɡ chuánɡ)
• 爱爱 (àiài)

One such term is 同房(tóng fáng), which literally means “in the same room” and is similar to “sleeping together” in English. Another term is 上床(shàng chuáng), which literally means “go to bed” and also implies the act of sex. 发生关系(fā shēng guān xì) literally means “have relations” and carries the same meaning as in English. Additionally, some people nowadays use the cute and indirect expression 爱爱(ài ài), derived from the term “making love” (做爱, zuò ài).

e.g.

他们早就同房了。(Tāmen zǎo jiù tónɡ fánɡ le.)
They have already slept together.

你是不是跟她上过床了？(Nǐ shì bu shì ɡēn tā shànɡɡuo chuánɡ le?) Have you already slept with her or not?

我们之间没有发生过关系。(Wǒmen zhījiān méiyǒu fāshēnɡɡuo ɡuānxi.) We didn’t have sexual relations.

爱爱之前他们总是要先吃顿饭。(Àiài zhīqián tāmen zǒnɡshì yào xiān chī dùn fàn.)
Before making love, they always have a meal first.

• 鱼水之欢 (yú shuǐ zhī huān)
• 云雨 (yún yǔ)

In ancient China, people used various metaphors to describe making love. Two common expressions were 鱼水之欢(yú shuǐ zhī huān) and 云雨(yún yǔ). 鱼水之欢(yú shuǐ zhī huān) originates from the renowned novel “Xi Xiang Ji” and represents the intimate relationship between fish and water. It metaphorically depicts the harmonious and intimate emotions experienced during sexual encounters between men and women. On the other hand, 云雨(yún yǔ) directly translates to “clouds and rain” and is derived from the famous Chinese essay “Gao Tang Fu.” This expression elegantly and vividly captures the love and physical intimacy shared between a man and a woman, making it a common term used in ancient novels to describe sexual intercourse. These metaphors have been passed down through the ages and are still used today.

e.g.

昨晚他们一番云雨到半夜。(Zuó wǎn tāmen yì fān yún yǔ dào bàn yè.)
Last night, they engaged in passionate lovemaking until midnight.

时间不早了，我们去共享鱼水之欢吧。(Shíjiān bù zǎo le, women qù ɡònɡxiǎnɡ yú shuǐ zhī huān bɑ.)
It’s getting late, let’s go and enjoy the intimacy between us.

• 圆房 (yuán fánɡ)
• 洞房 (dònɡ fánɡ)

When two people get married and engage in sexual intimacy, it can be referred to as “entering the bridal chamber” or 圆房(yuán fánɡ) in Chinese. In the past, 圆房(yuán fánɡ) specifically denoted the consummation of a marriage when young girls reached a certain age after being sent to their in-laws’ homes. Nowadays, it generally signifies couples having sex sometime after their wedding. Similarly, 洞房(dònɡ fánɡ) originated from an essay from the Tang dynasty and initially referred to the wedding chamber. This meaning has been preserved, and now it is also used to describe the act of making love.

e.g.

你们还没圆房啊？(Nǐmen hái méi yuán fánɡ ā?)
Haven’t you consummated your marriage yet?

送新郎、新娘入洞房！(Sònɡ xīnlánɡ, xīnniánɡ rù dònɡfánɡ!)
Take the bride and groom to the bridal chamber!

8. Chinese euphemisms for Menstruation(月经)

• 大姨妈 (dà yímā)
• 例假 (lìjià)
• 来事儿了 (lái shìr le)

The term 大姨妈(dà yímā) literally means “older aunt” and is used to refer to “that time of the month” or menstruation. The origin of this term can be traced back to a story from the Han Dynasty. There was a girl who was in love with a young man, but she would always use the excuse that her older aunt was visiting whenever he wanted to kiss her. On their wedding night, when the young man saw the girl’s menstrual blood, he asked what was wrong, and she told him that her older aunt had come. As a result, the young man refrained from having sex. Since then, 大姨妈(dà yímā) has been used to refer to menstruation. Additionally, because menstruation occurs regularly every month, it is also called 例假(lìjià) in Chinese. In some regions, people simply say 来事儿了(lái shìr le)  to imply menstruation without explicitly mentioning it.

 e.g.

 来例假了，不舒服。(Lái lìjià le, bù shūfu.)
I felt unwell during my period.

 我昨天刚来事儿了。(Wǒ zuótiān ɡānɡ lái shì’r le.)
My period came yesterday.

我不去游泳了，大姨妈来了。(Wǒ bú qù yóuyǒnɡ le, dà yímā lái le.)
I’m not going swimming because my period came.

9. Chinese euphemisms for Intoxication (喝醉)

• 喝多了 (hē duō le)
• 喝高了 (hē ɡāo le)

In fact, people still say 喝醉了(hē zuì le) to directly express that someone was drunk. Alternatively, there are two simple euphemisms to describe this situation: 喝多了(hē duō le) meaning “drank too much,” and 喝高了(hē ɡāo le) meaning “drank high.”

 e.g.

别喝了，你喝多了。(Bié hē le, nǐ hē duō le.)
Don’t drink anymore since you’re drunk.

你送他回去吧，他喝高了。(Nǐ sònɡ tā huíqù bɑ, tā hē ɡāo le.)
You should take him back home; he’s drunk.

10. Chinese euphemisms for Pregnancy (怀孕)

• 有了 (yǒu le)
• 有喜了 (yǒu xǐ le)

Actually, people mostly say 怀孕了 (huáiyùn le) to directly indicate that someone is pregnant, so there are only two simple euphemisms for this situation: “有了” and “有喜了”. The former means “having” while the latter means “having something good and happy” since pregnancy is considered a joyful and wonderful thing.

e.g.

有了有了，两个月了。(Yǒu le yǒu le, liǎnɡɡè yuè le.)
She’s two-months pregnant.

别担心，她这是有喜了。(Bié dānxīn, tā zhè shì yǒu xǐ le.)
Don’t be worried, she is just pregnant.

11. Chinese euphemisms for Extra-marital affairs (外遇)

• 出轨 (chū ɡuǐ)
• 劈腿 (pī tuǐ)
• 小三 (xiǎo sān)
• 第三者 (dì sān zhě)

When someone is romantically involved with multiple people at the same time, we can use a comical term, 劈腿(pī tuǐ), which primarily refers to a person’s unfaithfulness. However, when such a situation occurs within a marriage, we can also use 出轨(chū guǐ). 出轨(chū guǐ) literally means “derailed” or “off the rail,” metaphorically describing actions or thoughts that deviate from the norms of a marriage. The person in a relationship with someone who is already married  is called 小三(xiǎo sān) or 第三者(dì sān zhě), similar to the terms “the other woman” or “the other man” in English.

 e.g.

 他老婆出轨了。(Tā lǎo pó chū ɡuǐ le.)
His wife had an affair.

 我被劈腿了。(Wǒ bèi pī tuǐ le.)
I was betrayed.

你想当小三，就给我滚出去。(Nǐ xiǎnɡ dānɡ xiǎo sān, jiù ɡěi wǒ ɡǔn chūqu.)
If you want to be a mistress, then just get out of here.

我不是第三者，你认错人了吧。(Wǒ bú shì dì sān zhě, nǐ rèn cuò rén le bɑ.)
I’m not the other woman, you’re mistaken.

12. Chinese euphemisms for Getting Fired(解雇)

• 炒了 (chǎo le)
• 炒鱿鱼  (chǎo yóuyú)

The phrase for getting fired, 炒鱿鱼(chǎo yóu yú), literally means “fried squid”. But why do we use this phrase  to refer to being let go? Historically, when someone was fired, they would roll up their bedding and leave. Later on, people noticed that when cooking squid, each piece would slowly curl up into a cylindrical shape, resembling the rolled-up bedding.This association led people to use 炒鱿鱼(chǎo yóu yú) to describe someone being dismissed. 炒了 (chǎo le) is the shortened form of this expression.

e.g.

他因为经常上班迟到，刚被炒了。(Tā yīnwèi jīnɡchánɡ shànɡ bān chídào, ɡānɡ bèi chǎo le.)
He was often late for work and was fired just now.

他们那批人因为业绩不好，都被炒鱿鱼了。(Tāmen nà pī rén yīnwèi yèjì bù hǎo, dōu bèi chǎo yóuyú le.)
Those people were fired because of their poor performance.

• 丢饭碗 (diū fànwǎn)

The phrase 丢饭碗 (diū fàn wǎn) literally means “lose the bowl”. Since people need to work to support themselves, a job is like a bowl that provides food. This expression is used to mean “lose your job,” and it originated from the well-known novel “Nan Guo Feng Yan.”

e.g.

他不敢说话，还不是因为怕丢了饭碗。(Tā bù ɡǎn shuō huà, hái búshì yīnwèi pà diū le fànwǎn.)
He didn’t dare to speak, because he was afraid of losing his job.

丢饭碗也没什么，我们可以再找其他的工作。(Diū fànwǎn yě méi shénme, women kěyǐ zài zhǎo qítāde ɡōnɡzuò.)
Losing your job is nothing big, we can find other jobs.

13. Chinese euphemisms for Homosexuality (同性恋)

• 同志 (tónɡzhì)
• 弯 (wān)
• 出柜 (chū ɡuì)

The term 同志 (tóngzhì) literally means “having the same pursuit” and is commonly used as a form of address among people working in an organization. It first appeared as a synonym for homosexuals in Hong Kong during the 1970s and 1980s. The word 弯(wān) is similar to “bent” in English and is also used to refer to gay people. Lastly, 出柜(chū guì) comes from the English phrase “come out of the closet.”

e.g.

他是弯的，他出柜了。(Tā shì wān de, tā chū ɡuì le.) He is homosexual, and he came out of the closet.

14. Chinese Euphemisms for Sex workers (性工作者)

• 小姐 (xiǎojiě)
• 鸡 (jī)
• 鸭 (yā)

The term 小姐(xiǎojiě) literally means “miss” or “lady”. It is a word that you may have encountered when you first started learning Chinese. However, it’s important to use this term carefully because it is also used to refer to female sex workers. Another term, 鸡(jī), is a homonym for 妓(jì) in the word 妓女(jì nǚ, prostitute), so people also use 鸡(jī) to refer to women in the sex industry. On the other hand, 鸭(yā) is used to refer to male sex workers.

e.g.

找小姐是犯法的。(Zhǎo xiǎojiě shì fàn fǎ de.) It is illegal to look for an escort.

她是个鸡，而他是个鸭，但是他们相爱了。(Tā shì ɡè jī, ér tā shì ɡè yā, dànshì tāmen xiāng`ài le.) She is an escort while he is a male prostitute. But they fall in love with each other.

15. Chinese euphemisms for Parents (父母)

• 令尊 (lìnɡ zūn)
• 令堂 (lìnɡ tánɡ)
• 高堂 (ɡāo tánɡ)

When engaging in a conversation, how can we respectfully refer to other people’s parents? In such situations, we can use 令尊(lìng zūn) to address someone’s father, and 令堂(lìng táng) for their mother. The term 令(lìng) serves as a respectful form of address for other people’s relatives. 令尊(lìng zūn) and 令堂(lìng táng) are commonly used in formal settings or when elders are present.

On the other hand, when speaking to others, we can use 高堂(gāo táng) to refer to our own parents. This term originates from ancient familial houses, where the parents’ living quarters were often called a 高堂(gāo táng) or “high hall house.” They were typically located in the center of the house with higher floors and roofs compared to other rooms. Ancient children would use 高堂(gāo táng) to show respect for their parents, especially in the presence of outsiders. Therefore, 高堂(gāo táng) can be used to refer to the parents’ living space or the parents themselves, primarily in written Chinese.

e.g.

令尊和令堂最近身体还好吗？(Lìnɡ zūn hé lìnɡ tánɡ zuìjìn shēntǐ hái hǎo mɑ?) Have your parents been in good health lately?

君不见，高堂明镜悲白发, 朝如青丝暮成雪。(Jūn bú jiàn, ɡāotánɡ mínɡ jìnɡ bēi báifà, cháo rú qīnɡsī mù chénɡ xuě.)
Do you not see the mirrors bright in chambers high
Grieve o’er your snow-white hair
though once it was silk-black?  
(excerpt from poem “Qiang Jin Jiu” written by Li Bai in the Tang Dynasty)

Closing Thoughts

The Chinese language is rich with euphemisms that reflect the cultural nuances and sensitivities around various topics. These expressions serve as a way to convey messages indirectly, avoiding harsh or offensive language. From discussing financial situations to delicate matters of intimacy, euphemisms provide a subtle and tactful means of communication in Chinese culture.

By understanding and using these euphemisms appropriately, you can navigate social interactions with grace and respect. Whether you’re referring to someone’s parents or discussing sensitive topics, such as disabilities or relationships, choosing the right words can make a significant difference in fostering understanding and maintaining harmonious relationships.

As language and cultural dynamics continue to evolve, it is important to approach conversations with sensitivity and cultural awareness. While some euphemisms may remain consistent over time, others may adapt or change with societal shifts.

So, the next time you find yourself engaging with Chinese people, remember the power of euphemisms to convey subtle messages and navigate sensitive conversations.

The post Read Between the Lines: 15 Common Chinese Euphemisms appeared first on .

1. For food
2. For fruit and seasoning
3. For people
4. For relationships
5. For feelings and characteristics

For food

• 猪肉 /zhūròu/ pork
• 牛肉 /niúròu/ beef
• 鸡肉 /jīròu/ chicken
• 羊肉 /yángròu/ lamb
• 肉食动物 /ròushí dòngwù/ carnivorous animal

Note that when you say “肉” without specifying the type of meat, most people will assume you mean “猪肉” (pork) because it’s the most commonly consumed meat in China. But what about other types of meat? If you want to order beef, chicken, lamb, or other meats in a restaurant, simply use the appropriate attribute words like “牛” (niú) for beef, “鸡” (jī) for chicken, and “羊” (yáng) for lamb before the character “肉” to form “牛肉” (niúròu), “鸡肉” (jīròu), “羊肉” (yángròu), and so on.

When discussing a specific dish, you may be familiar with the famous food “烤鸭” (kǎo yā) roasted duck, but you won’t hear “duck meat” in Chinese as often. Instead, people usually refer to the meat as “鸭” (yā) alone, without adding “肉” after it. This practice is not unique to duck meat. People also use “鱼” (yú) to refer to fish meat without adding “肉”. Furthermore, for carnivorous animals, you can simply say “肉食动物” (ròushí dòngwù) to describe them.

For example:

早点儿去菜市场，早上的猪肉会新鲜点儿。(Zǎo diǎn’r qù càishìchǎnɡ, zǎoshɑnɡ de zhūròu huì xīnxiān diǎn’r.) Go to the market early because the pork in the morning is fresher.

吃火锅的时候，他特别喜欢吃牛肉。(Chī huǒɡuō de shíhou, tā tèbié xǐhuɑn chī niúròu.) He likes eating beef while eating hotpot.

这碗米线的浇头是鸡肉做的。(Zhè wǎn mǐxiàn de jiāotóu shì jīròu zuò de.) The topping of this rice noodle dish is made of chicken.

For fruit and seasoning

• 果肉 /guǒròu/ pulp
• 肉桂 /ròuguì/ cinnamon

As its name suggests, “果肉” (guǒròu) literally refers to the “meat” of a fruit, which is actually the pulp. When discussing “肉桂” (ròuguì), it’s important to first mention its counterpart “桂皮” (guìpí). In China, “桂皮” is not only a popular seasoning in cooking, but also a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine. “肉桂” is a species in the Lauraceous family, and it’s named so because it’s thicker than “桂皮”.

e.g.

这个饮料里真的有果肉吗？(Zhèɡe yǐnliàolǐ zhēnde yǒu ɡuǒròu mɑ?) Does this drink really have pulp in it?

他喝咖啡的时候喜欢加肉桂。(Tā hē kāfēi de shíhou xǐhuɑn jiā ròuɡuì.) He likes to add cinnamon when drinking coffee.

For people

• 肌肉 /jīròu/ muscle
• 肉眼 /ròu yǎn/ unaided eye
• 肉身 /ròu shēn/ mortal body
• 血肉 /xuè ròu/ blood and flesh
• 有血有肉 /yǒuxuè yǒuròu/ true to life
• 行尸走肉 /xíng shī zǒu ròu/ an utterly useless person
• 肉票 /ròu piào/ hostages

People often use “肉” to describe human attributes. For muscles, we use “肌肉” (jīròu), which sounds similar to “鸡肉” (jīròu) but uses a different character. “肉眼” (ròuyǎn) and “肉身” (ròushēn) emphasize the use of our eyes and body alone, without any external help. “血肉” (xiěròu) emphasizes our blood and flesh. The phrase “有血有肉” (yǒu xiě yǒu ròu) means to be “real” or “true to life,” and is often used in literary works.

There are two interesting expressions to describe people: “行尸走肉” (xíngshīzǒuròu) and “肉票” (ròupiào). “行尸走肉” literally means “walking corpse and running flesh,” but it’s a metaphor for a person who doesn’t use their brain, doesn’t work, and lives a confused life. “肉票” means “meat tickets” literally, but it usually refers to hostages who are taken for ransom.

e.g.

刚运动完要拉伸一下肌肉。(Gānɡ yùndònɡ wán yào lāshēn yí xià jīròu.) You need to stretch your muscles after exercising.

这里太脏了，桌子上的灰都肉眼可见。(Zhèlǐ tài zānɡ le, zhuōzishànɡ de huī dōu ròu yǎn kě jiàn.) It’s so dirty here that the ashes on the table are visible to my naked eye.

我太喜欢这本小说里的主角了，有血有肉很生动。(Wǒ tài xǐhuɑn zhè běn xiǎoshuōlǐ de zhǔjué le, yǒu xuè yǒu ròu hěn shēnɡdònɡ.) I like the protagonists in this novel so much because he is true to life and very vivid.

能不能多思考一下，别像个行尸走肉一样。(Nénɡ bu nénɡ duō sīkǎo yí xià, bié xiànɡ ɡè xínɡ shī zǒu ròu yíyànɡ.) Can you think about it a little more? Don’t act like an utterly useless person.

他被绑了，会被当作肉票向他家里要赎金。(Tā bèi bǎnɡ le, huì bèi dànɡzuò ròupiào xiànɡ tā jiālǐ yào shújīn.) He was kidnapped and would be used as a hostage to ask his family for ransom.

For relationships

• 眼中钉，肉中刺 /yǎn zhōng dīng, ròu zhōng cì/ (of someone) to be hated very much
• 手心手背都是肉 /shǒuxīn shuǒbèi dōu shì ròu/ to value both equally
• 骨肉 /gǔròu/ blood relation

The word “骨肉” is used to express blood relation and means bones and flesh literally. The saying “眼中钉，肉中刺” literally translates to “a sting in the eye and a thorn in one’s flesh” and means a person is extremely hated in the heart of another. “手心手背都是肉”, literally meaning “the palms and backs of the hands are meat,” means all things involved are relative, so they should be treated equally, and you can’t choose to abandon anyone.

e.g.

她就是我的“眼中钉，肉中刺”，我永远都不会原谅她的。(Tā jiù shì wǒde “yǎn zhōnɡ dìnɡ, ròu zhōnɡ cì“, wǒ yónɡyuǎn dōu bú huì yuánliànɡ tā de.) She is a thorn in my eye, and I will never forgive her.

你们都是她的女儿，手心手背都是肉，你让她帮谁？(Nǐmen dōu shì tā de nǚ’r, shǒuxīn shǒubèi dōu shì ròu, nǐ rànɡ tā bānɡ shuí?) You are all her daughters, so she should be equal to you all, and she will help nobody.

因为一场意外，王先生一家骨肉离散，直到五年后大家才相聚。(Yīnwèi yì chǎnɡ yìwài,Wánɡ xiānshenɡ yì jiā ɡǔròu lísàn, zhídào wǔ nián hòu dàjiā cái xiānɡjù.) Because of an accident, Mr. Wang’s family was separated and did not get together until five years later.

For feelings and characteristics

• 肉麻 /ròu má/ cheesy
• 性格很肉 /xìnggé hěn ròu/ introversion and reticence

“肉麻,” literally meaning numb flesh, means someone is excessively romantic to the point of making others feel uncomfortable and creeped out. “性格很肉” originates from a dialect and means someone is unresponsive and slow, causing others to feel anxious

e.g.

看他们俩在那里互相喂东西就觉得肉麻。(Kàn tāmenliǎnɡ zài nàlǐ hùxiānɡ wèi dōnɡxi jiù juéde ròu má.) Watching the two of them feed each other there gave me goosebumps.

她性格很肉，你跟她说十句话，她才会回你一句。(Tā xìnɡɡé hěn ròu, nǐ ɡēn tā shuō shí jù huà, tā cái huì huí nǐ yí jù.) She is reticent, and if you say ten words to her, she will just reply with one.

The word “肉” forms many words and expressions, which are practical and useful in daily life. They can improve your spoken language and help you understand Chinese dramas and literature, so don’t underestimate their utility.

The post Meat is not always meat – The most common expressions with “肉” in Chinese appeared first on .

Besides the most common definition (the large flat object that you open and close at the entrance of a building or a room), “门” (door) in Chinese has several other meanings that you should know.

1. Door-like things or objects:

• 冰箱门 (bīng xiāng mén) Fridge door
• 柜门 (guì mén) Cupboard door
• 心门 (xīn mén) This word refers to the ostium. It also refers to the metaphorical
  door of one’s heart.

e.g.

为了打开她的心门，我每天都陪她散步，送她回家。但为什么她还是不能告诉我她的秘密？(Wèile dǎkāi tā de xīn mén, wǒ měitiān dōu péi tā sànbù, sòng tā huí jiā. Dàn wèishénme tā háishì bùnéng gàosù wǒ tā de mìmì?) In order to open her heart, I walk with her every day and take her home. But why can’t she still tell me her secret?

2. Entrance or doorway:

• 门可罗雀 (mén kě luó què) This
  idiom indicates a place where it is rare that people or guests come, very
  desolate.
• 门庭若市 (méntíng ruò shì) This
  idiom indicates a place that is very lively and bustling. There are many
  people. It’s often used in family and business situations.  

e.g.

这家饭店20年前门庭若市，很多人排队来这吃饭。但是后来换了一批厨师，生意就慢慢不好了，现在门可罗雀。可惜呀！(Zhè jiā fàndiàn 20 nián qián méntíngruòshì, hěnduō rén páiduì lái zhè chīfàn. Dànshì hòulái huànle yī pī chúshī, shēngyì jiù mànman bù hǎole, xiànzài ménkěluóquè. Kěxī ya!) 20 years ago, this restaurant was very popular, and many people lined up to eat here. But then a group of chefs were replaced, and the business slowly deteriorated, and now there is rare guests. What a pity!

3. Describing a certain family:

• 豪门 (háo mén) refers to a family with power and influence.
• 朱门 (zhū mén) refers to a family with great power
  and fortune.
• 名门 (míng mén) refers to a famous family. There are usually one or
  more celebrities who come from this family.  
  
• 寒门 (hán mén) Contrary to the words above, this word refers to a poor
  family without fortune or influence.
• 门风 (mén fēng) The ethics and moral
  standards that a family / clan has kept for generations.
• 门当户对 (mén dāng hù duì) A
  marriage between families that are of equal social standing.
• 双喜临门 (shuāng xǐ lín mén) It indicates that two joyous events
  come simultaneously.

e.g.

他家大儿子马上要和一位门当户对的姑娘结婚，小女儿又考上了全国最好的大学，真是双喜临门啊！(Tā jiā dà érzi mǎshàng yào hé yī wèi méndānghùduì de gūniáng jiéhūn, xiǎo nǚ’ér yòu kǎo shàngle quánguó zuì hǎo de dàxué, zhēn shì shuāngxǐlínmén a!) The eldest son of his family is about to marry a well-matched girl, and the youngest daughter has been admitted to the best university in the country. It is double happiness!

4. A certain school of thought or religious sect, sometimes referring to a teacher’s or master’s entrance hall:

• 佛门弟子 (fó mén dì zǐ) Buddhist disciple
• 门生(mén shēng) / 门徒(mén tú)  Disciple, follower of a famous master
• 同门（弟子）(tóng mén dì zǐ) Disciples / pupils of
  the same master
• 关门弟子 (guān mén dì zǐ) refers to the last student or disciple that the master
  enrolled.
• 入门 (rù mén) indicates that one knows the basic principles and
  knowledge when learning an art form or technology.
• 门外汉 (mén wài hàn) layman,
  outsider

e.g.

我来介绍一下，这位是李先生的得意门生小张，这一位是赵先生的关门弟子小陈。两位的老师原来也是同门师兄弟，你们可以互相认识一下。(Wǒ lái jièshào yīxià, zhè wèi shì Lǐ xiānsheng de déyì ménshēng xiǎo Zhāng, zhè yī wèi shì Zhào xiānsheng de guānmén dìzǐ xiǎo Chén. Liǎng wèi de lǎoshī yuánlái yěshì tóngmén shī xiōngdì, nǐmen kěyǐ hùxiāng rènshi yīxià.) Let me introduce, this is Mr. Li’s favorite student Xiao Zhang, and this one is Mr. Zhao’s close disciple Xiao Chen. The two teachers turned out to be fellow apprentices from the same master, so you can get to know each other.

音乐方面，我只是个门外汉，还没有入门，请各位老师多多指教。(Yīnyuè fāngmiàn, wǒ zhǐshì gè ménwàihàn, hái méiyǒu rùmén, qǐng gèwèi lǎoshī duōduō zhǐjiào.) In terms of music, I’m just a layman, and I haven’t gotten started yet. Please give me more advice, teachers.

5. A measurement word, usually for subjects of study or branches of science, a marriage, or relatives:

• 一门外语 (yì mén wài yǔ) A foreign language
• 一门亲戚 (yì mén qīn qi) A set of relatives
• 一门技术 (yì mén jìshù) A kind of skills
• 一门艺术 (yì mén yìshù) A type of arts

e.g.

你必须要学会一门外语或者一门技术，这样找工作更容易。(Nǐ bìxū yào xuéhuì yī mén wàiyǔ huòzhě yī mén jìshù, zhèyàng zhǎo gōngzuò gèng róngyì.) You have to learn a foreign language or technology to make it easier to find a job.

6. A way to do something:

• 窍门 (qiào mén) Knack or key to a problem
• 门路 (mén lù) The way to do something
• 没门儿 (méi ménr) No way!

e.g.

A: 你能告诉我打开这个盒子的窍门吗？(Nǐ néng gàosù wǒ dǎkāi zhège hézi de qiàomén ma?) Can you tell me the trick to open this box?

B: 没门儿！(méi ménr) No way!

7. The categories or arrangements of things or objects:

• 五花八门 (wǔ huā bā mén) many and manifold; all kinds of things
• 分门别类 (fēn mén bié lèi) be
  divided into classes and divisions; classify according to subject

e.g.

这个书店的书五花八门的，你们能帮我把这边的书分门别类放在书架上吗？(Zhège shūdiàn de shū wǔhuābāmén de, nǐmen néng bāng wǒ bǎ zhè biān de shū fēnménbiélèi fàng zài shūjià shàng ma?) This bookstore has a variety of books, can you help me sort the books here and put them on the shelves?

8. As a suffix, indicating a negative event that got public attention:

• 水门事件 (Shuǐmén shìjiàn) Watergate
  scandal
• 艳照门 (Yànzhào mén) Sexy Photo Gate (China’s
  first big internet celebrity sex scandal)

Bonus word:

• 走后门 (zǒu hòu mén) Originally, this term refers to going through the back
  door. Now it also often indicates that someone secures advantages through pull
  or influence.

e.g.

A：他的能力那么差，为什么可以当领导？(Tā de nénglì nàme chà, wèishénme kěyǐ dāng lǐngdǎo?) His ability is so poor, why can he be a leader?

B：走后门呗。(Zǒu hòumén bei.) By the back door.

There is a famous story related to门 (mén) – 程门立雪 (chéng mén lì xuě). It is the story of Yang Shi and You Zuo, two students in the Song Dynasty. Patiently and respectfully, they waited in the snow outside the house of their teacher, Cheng Yi, until the snow piled one-chi deep. This phrase now means to revere a teacher and respect his or her teachings, with 门 (mén) referring to the door of someone’s house.

Do you have any questions about the various uses of门 (mén)? Are there any other Chinese characters you want to see a deep dive for? Let me know in the comments!

The post The Uses of “Door” in Chinese – All about “门” appeared first on .

When used as a reply, it can mean ‘sure,’ ‘fine,’ or ‘ok.’ You can alter the meaning slightly by using different words or interjections after it, such as ‘的(de)’, ‘啊(a)’, ‘吧(ba)’, ‘嘛(ma)’, and ‘啦(la)’. When paired with one of these, 好 can convey different emotions or tones that tell the other person how you feel about what they’re saying.

This article serves as an introduction to these interjections and will help you add more nuance and tone to your everyday conversations with only a few simple words.

好的(hǎo de)

When you add ‘的(de)’ at the end of a sentence, it indicates a confirmation. ‘好的’ means ‘sure’ or ‘ok’ and shows agreement. This interjection is commonly used to accept a request or suggestion and quickly express understanding.

Example

经理：你明天9点前到公司吧！(Jīnglǐ: nǐ míngtiān 9 diǎn qián dào gōngsī ba!)
Manager: Arrive at the company by 9 tomorrow.

小刚：好的。(Xiǎogāng: hǎo de.)
Xiaogang: Sure.

妈妈：你能帮我买点儿鸡蛋吗？(Māma: nǐ néng bāng wǒ mǎi diǎnr jīdàn ma?)
Mum: Can you help buy some eggs for me?

儿子：好的，没问题。(érzi: hǎo de, méi wèntí.)
Son: Sure, no problem.

好啊 (hǎo a)

When you put ‘啊 (a)’ at the end of a sentence, it expresses excitement and enthusiasm. So, ‘好啊’ means ‘yes!’ or ‘okay!’ with a keen tone.

Example

A：你想去那家饭馆吗？ (Nǐ xiǎng qù nà jiā fànguǎn ma?)
Do you want to go to that restaurant?

B：好啊！(Hǎo a!) 
Sure!

 A：我们一起踢足球，怎么样？(Wǒmen yìqǐ tī zúqiú, zěnmeyàng?)
Let’s play football together. How about it?

B：当然 ， 好啊！(Dāngrán， hǎo a!)
Of course, great!

好吧 (hǎo ba)

People often use ‘好吧(hǎo ba)’ to agree to a request or suggestion, but they might not feel very excited about it. This is similar to how English speakers might use ‘ok…’, ‘fine’, or ‘all right.’ For example, if someone suggests going to a restaurant and you reply ‘好吧’, it means you agree, but you aren’t very enthusiastic about that choice.

Example

妈妈：你先把作业写好才可以出去玩。(Mama: nǐ xiān bǎ zuòyè xiě hǎo cái kěyǐ chūqù wán.
Mum: You can go out to play only after you finish your homework first.

儿子：好吧！(ér zǐ: hǎo ba!)
Son: Ok, fine.

老师：下个星期我们有考试，大家请记得。(Lǎoshī : xià ge xīngqī wǒmen yǒu kǎoshì, dàjiā qǐng jìdé.)
Teacher: There’s an exam next week. Please keep it in mind.

学生：好吧！(Xuéshēng: hǎo ba!)
Students: Fine.

好嘛 (hǎo ma)

‘嘛 (ma)’ can make your tone sound more ‘cute’ or lighthearted when making a simple request. That’s why ‘好嘛 (hǎo ma)’ is often used when you’re asking for help and hoping someone will agree. It’s similar to saying ‘please’ or ‘say yes, please’. For example, if you ask your friend to lend you a book and they hesitate, you might say ‘好嘛’ to try and nudge them to let you borrow it.

Example

儿子：我真的很喜欢这个电脑游戏，你买给我吧！(érzi: wǒ zhēnde hěn xǐhuān zhè ge diànnǎo yóuxì, nǐ mǎi gěi wǒ ba!)
Son: I really like this computer game. Buy it for me!

妈妈：走吧，别看了。(Māma: zǒu ba, bié kàn le.)
Mum: Let’s go, stop looking.

儿子：妈，好嘛！就买给我嘛！(érzi: mā, hǎo ma! jiù mǎi gěi wǒ ma!)
Son: Mum, please! Just buy it for me.

妈妈：不行。(Māma: bù xíng.)
Mum: No.

同学：小丽，借我看一下你的作业，行吗？(Tóng xué: Xiǎolì, jiè wǒ kàn yíxià nǐ de zuòyè, xíng ma?)
Classmate: Xiaoli, can I take a look at your homework real quick, is that ok?

小丽：这个啊，让我想想。(Xiǎolì: zhè ge a, ràng wǒ xiǎng xiǎng.)
Xiaoli: well …let me think.

同学：好嘛！(Tóngxué: hǎo ma!)
Classmate: Please!

小丽：那好吧！看完了马上还我。(Xiǎolì: nà hǎo ba! kàn wán le mǎshang huán wǒ.)
Xiaoli: Fine, then! Give it back when you’re done

好啦 (hǎo la)

People use ‘好啦 (hǎo la)’ to show they agree to a request, but they really don’t want to. They may feel like they don’t have another choice. It shows dissent. This is similar to how English speakers might use ‘fine’ or ‘alright then’ when they are really against an idea. ‘好啦’ is similar to ‘好吧’ but with a stronger sense of reluctance. For example, if someone asks you to clean your room and you reply ‘好啦’, it means you will do it, but you really don’t want to.

Example

朋友：好啦，别哭了，我们出去散散步吧！(Péngyǒu: hǎo la, bié kū le, wǒmen chūqù sàn sàn bù ba!)
Friend: Fine, stop crying. Let’s go out for a walk!

小红：好吧！(Xiǎohóng: hǎo ba!)
Xiaohong: Ok.

女儿：爸，可以带我去逛商场吗？(Nǚér: bà, kěyǐ dài wǒ qù guàng shāngchǎng ma?)
Daughter: Dad, can you take me to the mall to go shopping?

爸爸：好啦，好啦！(Bàba: hǎo la, hǎo la!)
Dad: Ok, fine, fine!

Conclusion

By simply adding another character after ‘好(hǎo)’, you can add a variety of different implications to your response, from reluctance to neutrality to enthusiasm.

Mastering this skill can make you both a better speaker and listener of Chinese. These different interjections will help you express yourself more clearly when you say “ok” and help you understand what native Chinese speakers really mean when they say “ok” to you. You can make a surprising leap forward in your Chinese fluency with only a few simple words. 

Now it’s time for you to put them to use and go strike up a conversation with someone, 好嘛！

The post Responding with ‘好的’(hǎo de), ‘好啊’(hǎo a), ‘好吧’(hǎo ba), ‘好嘛’(hǎo ma), ‘好啦’(hǎo la) appeared first on .

However, are you familiar with how and in what situations they’re used? In this article, we’ll have a closer look at 5 common Chinese interjections, and discuss how they are applied.

1. 啊 (a)

Expressing exclamation in statements

• This is placed at the end of statements when one intends to show your exclamation or enthusiasm.

Example:

(Nǐ de jiā zhēn dà a!)
你的家真大啊！
Your home is really big!

(Nǐ bié chídào a!)
你别迟到啊！
Don’t be late!

(Jīntiān de tiānqì duō hǎo a!)
今天的天气多好啊！
Today’s weather is so nice!

Expressing the feeling of surprise in questions

• This is placed at the end of questions when there’s a need to emphasize your being surprised or suddenly curious.

Example:

(Zěnme tā jīntiān méi shàngxué a?)
怎么他今天没上学啊？
How come he didn’t go to school today?

(Zhè ge rén shì shéi a?)
这个人是谁啊？
Who’s this person?

(Wǒmen xiànzài zài nǎli a?)
我们现在在哪里啊？
Where are we now?

2. 吧 (ba)

Soften the tone when giving commands, requests, or suggestions in statements

• This is placed at the end of statements to soften the tone when giving a command, request, or suggestion
• It can also act as ‘let me’ or ‘let’s’

Example:

(Nǐ bāng wǒ ná bēi shuǐ ba!)
你帮我拿杯水吧！
Help me to get a cup of water.

(Nǐ chūqù ba! wǒ bù xiǎng zài gēn nǐ shuō le.)
你出去吧！我不想再跟你说了。
Get out! I don’t want to talk to you anymore.

(Wǒmen yì qǐ qù tī zúqiú ba!)
我们一起去踢足球吧！
Let’s go play football together!

(Wǒ sòng nǐ huíjiā ba!)
我送你回家吧！
Let me send you home.

Seek for confirmation in questions

• This is placed at the end of questions when you’re not 100% sure of your thoughts and are seeking for confirmation
• It is therefore equivalent to ‘right?’ or ‘isn’t it?’

Example:

(Tāmen bú zài jiā ba?)
他们不在家吧？
They aren’t at home, right?

(Tā bú huì gàosu nǐ ba?)
他不会告诉你吧？
He won’t tell you, will he?

(Tā chángcháng kàn zhe nǐ, shì xǐhuān nǐ ba?)
他常常看着你，是喜欢你吧？
He often looks at you, he likes you, right?

3. 呢 (ne)

Produce a casual tone in both statements and questions

• This is placed at the end of both statements and questions, which helps to express a casual, relaxed but friendly tone

Example:

(Nǐ de xīn qúnzi hěn piàoliang ne!)
你的新裙子很漂亮呢！
Your new dress is very pretty!

(Tā huì bú huì wàngjì wǒ de shēngrì ne?)
他会不会忘记我的生日呢？
Will he or or won’t he forget my birthday?

(Wǒmen zěnme qù túshūguǎn ne?)
我们怎么去图书馆呢？
How do you go to the library?

Ask the same question back in return

• This is placed at the end of a subject, to suggest ‘what about that subject?’

Example:

(Wǒ jīntiān wǔ diǎn xiàbān, nǐ ne?)
我今天五点下班，你呢？
I get off work at five today, what about you?

(Wǒ ài pǎobù, tā ne?)
我爱跑步，他呢？
I love running, what about him?

Short version of ‘where?’

• This is placed at the end of an object, to create a short version of ‘where’s that object?’
• This application is often used when you’re in a rush or urgently seeking something

Example:

(Wǒ de qiánbāo ne?)
我的钱包呢？
Where’s my wallet?

(Wǒ de shǒujī ne?)
我的手机呢？
Where’s my mobile phone?

4. 啦 (la)

Replace the ending了(le) in both statements and questions to produce a relaxed tone

• You can substitute 啦(la) at the end of any statement or question that originally ends with了(le), to make the sentence sound relaxed or delightful
• It even has the function of creating a ‘cute’ tone if you extend the vowel

Example:

(Wǒ yǐjīng bānjiā la!)
我已经搬家啦！
I already moved home.

(Wǒ xiànzài lái la!)
我现在来啦！
I’m coming now!

(Nǐ bú yào zài kū la!)
你不要再哭啦！
Don’t cry anymore.

(Nǐ gāngcái mǎi shénme la?)
你刚才买什么啦？
What did you just buy?

(Nǐ jīnnián duō dà la?)
你今年多大啦？
How old are you?

5. 嘛 (ma)

Emphasize an obvious fact in statements

• It can be considered as ‘as you know’, ‘obviously’, ‘as a reminder’
• It also has the function of creating a ‘cute’ tone if you extend the vowel

Example:

(Tā háishì xiǎo háizi, bù dǒngshì ma, bié jièyì.)
他还是小孩子，不懂事嘛，別介意。
He’s still a child, therefore not very sensible. Please don’t mind him.

(Wǒ kàn bu dǒng yīngwén ma!)
我看不懂英文嘛！
(You know,) I can’t read English.

(Tā hěn máng ma, suǒyǐ méiyǒu shíjiān fā nǐ duǎnxìn.)
他很忙嘛，所以没有时间发你短信。
(You know,) he’s very busy, so doesn’t have time to send you texts.

Add ‘cute’ element to state an expectation in statement

• It makes the tone sound more ‘cute’ when specifying your expectation
• It’s close to the meaning ‘you should’
• It’s specifically useful when you want to blame someone, however, with a ‘cute or soft’ tone

Example:

(Nǐ zěnme bù zǎo shuō ma!)
你怎么不早说嘛！
How come you didn’t say so earlier!

(Nǐ zìjǐ zuò ma!)
你自己做嘛！
Do it yourself.

(Nǐ zǒu màn diǎn ma!)
你走慢点嘛！
Walk slower.

(Tā wèishénme yào zhèyàng zuò ma!)
他为什么要这样做嘛！
Why did he have to do this!

As a Topic Marker

• This is placed at the end of a topic – often a subject or object, followed by further information or comment
• It’s similar to the meaning: ‘about the topic’, ‘regarding the topic’
• It serves to give a pause before giving further information or feedback on the topic, hence it’s particularly useful when you’d like to sound patient or gentle

Example:

(Zhè jiàn shìqíng ma, wǒ yě bù qīngchǔ.)
这件事情嘛，我也不清楚。
About this matter, I’m also not sure.

(Nǐ ma, zuò shì zǒngshì bú rènzhēn.)
你嘛，做事总是不认真。
You’re just not serious when doing work all the time.

Interjections are a great way to add flavor and character to your sentences. They make you sound informal, and show that you are becoming more comfortable with the Chinese language. Once you master when and how to use these interjections, it will also make you sound more like a native speaker.

The post 5 Common Chinese Interjections to Add Tonal Color -啊(a) 吧(ba) 呢(ne) 啦(la) 嘛(ma) appeared first on .

Hosting meetings online adds a new layer of complexity. For many learners, it can be embarrassing to revert to English because they don’t know how to say ‘Your video is frozen’ or ‘I can’t hear you clearly.’ That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 32 essential phrases to help you tackle online meetings and take your business Chinese to the next level.

Getting Set Up

Unlike traditional meetings, online meetings require some extra effort to set up properly. Before the actual discussion can begin, everyone must make sure that the other participants can clearly see and hear them.

Here are some handy phrases to get you started:

Fortunately, many of these phrases use the same sentence structures that you’re already familiar with. They simply add some new vocabulary words, such as 摄像头, or camera. Here’s a tip: if you have trouble remembering certain words or short expressions, write them on a post-it note and stick it to your monitor. Then if you find yourself struggling to remember it during a meeting, you can sneakily glance over at your note.

Once you become more comfortable with these new words, you can start to use them in more complex sentence structures. For example, if you want to say 你可以打开摄像头吗？or 请大家打开摄像头, but you want to put more emphasis on the word 摄像头, you can use the 把 sentence structure. So instead, you would say 请把摄像头开设。You can read more about how to use 把 in this article.

These expressions help you start the meeting off on the right foot. They show your colleagues or clients that you are comfortable speaking Chinese and help you come across as both intelligent and confident. In the next section, we’ll talk about maintaining this impression when problems arise.

Technology Problems

The unfortunate reality of hosting digital meetings is that you are bound to run into tech problems sooner or later. This is another scenario where many Chinese leaners end up reverting to English. Being able to handle unexpected problems while still speaking Chinese is a true sign of fluency, and these phrases are an excellent way to prepare for those moments.

When you can’t hear someone on a video call, or they can’t hear you, how can you tell them in Chinese that there is a problem? You can’t write Chinese characters on your screen with a pen, but you CAN type them using your keyboard. If you want to type messages in Chinese, you can use what is called a pinyin input keyboard.

To set up Chinese pinyin input on Windows 10, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language > Add a Language. From there, Select Chinese (Simplified, China) and complete the setup. This will allow you to switch to Chinese mode whenever you need to type messages in Mandarin. You can simply type the pinyin of the character you want and use the number keys to select the character from a list.

To set up Chinese pinyin input on Mac, go to Apple menu  > System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources. From there you can click the Add button and select Chinese, Simplified. This will also allow you to type in Chinese using pinyin and selecting the characters you want.

Conducting a Meeting

This next set of phrases can be used both for online and in person meetings. They are all polite expressions that help you run a meeting smoothly.

Pay attention to the use of 您 instead of 你 in the expression 您先说. This emphasizes the respect that you show when you let someone else speak first. In business meetings, it’s a good idea to address others formally, especially if you are in a meeting with more senior colleagues, people you have never met before, or clients.

Saying Goodbye

Now that the main part of the meeting is over, it’s time to end on a positive note. These expressions help you wrap things up:

Once you have answered everyone’s remaining questions, you can quickly say goodbye before hanging up with a simple 再见, or if you will see them again soon, 下次见 or明天见。

Conclusion

Digital meetings have become an essential part of conducting business in the modern world, and that makes having the vocabulary to participate in these meetings an essential part of learning Chinese. The expressions we’ve looked at today will give you a solid foundation for running meetings and dealing with most common problems that arise. Once you become comfortable using these key phrases, you’ll be prepared to handle important meetings with Chinese clients, or you’ll be able to impress your Chinese colleagues with your authentic, modern vocabulary. To help you get started studying these expressions, you can download the full list as a PDF below. From there, you can make flashcards or put post-it notes on your computer screen to help you study as you work. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment down below! We’ll see you soon with more business Chinese essentials.

The post Business Chinese: Essential Mandarin Expressions for Online Meetings appeared first on .

It’s not just because it’s a bold and vibrant hue. In fact, you’ll see it on special occasions such as festivals and weddings because it represents happiness, wealth, and luck.

But did you know that there are other colors that hold special meaning in Chinese culture?

In this article, we’ll explore the role of colors in Chinese culture and introduce you to some authentic expressions related to those colors. By the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and be able to impress your Chinese friends with your newfound understanding of their culture!

#1 红色 / 紫色（hónɡsè / zǐsè）Red / Purple

Let’s first explorethe meaning of the color red, which is extremely popular among Chinese people for a very important reason.

红红火火 (hónɡhónɡ huǒhuǒ)

In Chinese culture, red symbolizes good fortune, wealth, and happiness, making it a common expression of goodwill. The repetition of “红” (red) and “火” (fire) here conveys a sense of vigor, vitality, and success. This phrase evokes not only the bright and lively nature of something but also its positive and prosperous state.

祝你的生活红红火火。May your life be prosperous.
(Zhù nǐ de shēnɡhuó hónɡhónɡ huǒhuǒ.)

这家新店的生意红红火火的。This new store is a flourishing business.
(Zhè jiā xīndiàn de shēngyì hónghónghuǒhuǒ de.)

红光满面 (hónɡɡuānɡ mǎnmiàn)

The “red” (红) in this phrase suggests a healthy, flushed complexion, which is often associated with good health, energy, or a joyful mood.

It is commonly used to describe someone who is glowing, lively, or enthusiastic, particularly in a context where they seem to be in great physical or emotional shape.

e.g.

看你红光满面，最近一定有好事吧！Look at your red face. You must have heard some good news recently.
(Kàn nǐ hónɡɡuānɡ mǎnmiàn, zuìjìn yídìnɡ yǒu hǎoshì bɑ!)

她听到这个好消息后，红光满面，笑得很开心。After hearing the good news, she was glowing with joy and smiling happily.
(Tā tīng dào zhège hǎo xiāoxi hòu, hóngguāngmǎnmiàn, xiào de hěn kāixīn.)

大红大紫 (dàhónɡ dàzǐ)

Officials in ancient China were ranked and wore clothes of different colors to indicate their position. The highest-ranking officials wore purple and red, so these colors were associated with success. Today, red and purple are often used to say that a celebrity is very popular.

e.g.

你不知道她？她最近红得发紫呢！You don’t know her? She is extremely popular these days!
(Nǐ bù zhīdào tā? tā zuìjìn hónɡ dé fā zǐ ne!)

他也曾大红大紫过。He was also a tremendous success in the past.
(Tā yě cénɡ dàhónɡ dàzǐ ɡuò.)

眼红 (yǎn hónɡ)

Furthermore, red is linked to blood, representing courage. For instance, a red heart implies someone is brave and devoted. However, red can have negative connotations as well. When we say our eyes turn red, it means we are jealous.

e.g.

其他同学都找到了好工作，还在找工作的小王有点眼红。While other classmates of his have found good jobs, Xiao Wang is still looking for a job. He is a little jealous.
(Qítā tónɡxué dōu zhǎo dào le hǎo ɡōnɡzuò, hái zài zhǎo ɡōnɡzuò de xiǎo wánɡ yóu diǎn yǎnhónɡ.)

#2 白色(bái sè) White

The Contrast Between Red & White

红白喜事（hónɡ bái xǐ shì）

Let’s talk about 红事 (red events) and 白事 (white events). These events are typically associated with celebrations and mourning, respectively, and this phrase is used to collectively describe significant occasions in a person’s life or in the community.

红事 (red events) refer to happy or celebratory occasions, such as weddings, birth celebrations, and other joyful events. The color red is traditionally associated with happiness, prosperity, and good fortune in Chinese culture. 白事 (white events) refer to funerals or mourning-related occasions. The color white is often associated with mourning and sorrow in Chinese culture.

e.g.

最近红白喜事好多。There have been many weddings and funerals recently.
(Zuìjìn hónɡ bái xǐ shì hǎo duō.)

他们家最近有红白喜事，既有婚礼也有丧事。Their family has had both happy and sad events recently, with a wedding and a funeral.
(Tā men jiā zuì jìn yǒu hóng bái xǐ shì, jì yǒu hūn lǐ yě yǒu sāng shì.)

红脸 / 白脸（hónɡliǎn / báiliǎn）

Actors at the Peking Opera use different colored face paint to show the personality of their characters. Red faces represent good characters, while white faces represent bad characters.

In everyday life, Chinese people refer to red and white faces to describe friendly or obnoxious people. At home, red and white faces are used to show whether parents are lenient or strict.

e.g.

A: 你爸爸比较严厉还是妈妈比较严厉？Is your father more strict or your mother?
(Nǐ bàbɑ bǐjiào yánlì háishì māmɑ bǐjiào yánlì?)

B: 我妈妈。他们俩一个唱红脸，一个唱白脸。My mother. One is good cop and the other is bad cop.
(Wǒ māmɑ. tāmen liǎnɡ yíɡè chànɡ hónɡliǎn, yíɡè chànɡ báiliǎn.)

Cultural Insight: Chinese wedding dresses

As China becomes more and more globalized, Chinese people have also come to accept the Western meaning of white as a symbol of purity and beauty. This is why many brides now choose to wear white wedding dresses. However, to honor tradition, they may also wear a red dress during the reception, where guests will bless them with good fortune.

白费劲（bái fèi jìn）

This expression means “to waste effort” or “to make a futile effort.” It is used to describe situations where someone has worked hard or put in a lot of effort, but their actions ultimately made no difference or were unnecessary.

e.g.

你怎么不早说？我白费了这么大劲！Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I wasted all my effort!
(Nǐ zěnme bù zǎo shuō? wǒ bái fèi le zhème dà jìn.)

他努力了那么久，结果白费劲，什么也没做到。He worked so hard for so long, but in the end, it was all in vain, and he didn’t accomplish anything.
(Tā nǔlì le nàme jiǔ, jiéguǒ bái fèijìn, shénme yě méi zuò dào.)

#3 绿色(lǜ sè) Green

Think of the color green, and what comes to mind? Trees, grass, and a healthy life, right? However, in Chinese culture, green can have a few different, slightly more negative connotations. Let’s explore them together.

绿帽子（lǜ màozi）

Wearing a green hat is considered bad luck in China. In ancient China, officials of low rank wore green, while high-ranking officials wore red or purple. Furthermore, during the Eastern Han Dynasty (BC25-BC220), men were required to wear green headscarves or hats if they sent female family members to work as prostitutes.

Today, wearing a green hat implies that one’s partner is unfaithful.

e.g.

A:你听说了吗？小王的女朋友给他戴了绿帽子！Did you hear? Xiao Wang’s girlfriend cheated on him!
(Nǐ tīnɡshuō le mɑ? xiǎowánɡ de nǚ pénɡyou ɡěi tā dài le lǜ màozi.)

B:不会吧！小王真可怜。No way! Poor Xiao Wang.
(Bú huì bɑ! xiǎo wánɡ zhēn kělián.)

脸绿了（liǎn lǜ le）

What color does your face turn when you get mad？You might say it’s red, but we would say green instead. Here is an example:

e.g.

他很没礼貌，把我脸都气绿了。He was extremely impolite, I was so angry that my face turned green.
(Tā hěn méi lǐmào, bǎ wǒ liǎn dōu qì lǜ le.)

Why is it that we say our face turns green when we’re upset? This is because some ancient Chinese people believed that the liver, which provides vitality like trees and grass, was green. They also thought that a person’s emotions were connected to their bodily organs, so if someone was angry, it would hurt their liver and show on their face.

#4 黑色 / 灰色(hēisè / huīsè) Black / Grey

We’ve discussed the relationship between colors and facial expressions before, like red, white, and green faces. Well, we also use black to describe emotions. Let’s take a look at a few different Chinese expressions including the color black.

黑脸（hēi liǎn）

Black is a dark color and is naturally associated with darkness. It can be used to describe a person’s bad mood, as if there is no sunshine on their face and so it appears dark.

e.g.

他一回家就黑着脸，不知道怎么了。When he came home, his face was black. I don’t know what happened.
(Tā yì huí jiā jiù hēi zhe liǎn, bù zhīdào zěnme le.)

印堂发黑（yìntánɡ fā hēi）

Having a black face is often an indication of being in a bad mood. To take things even further, if someone’s face is dark between the eyebrows, it may indicate a major health issue or bad luck. In ancient China, people believed that internal problems manifested in physical signs, such as lung problems being indicated on the forehead.

e.g.

看你印堂发黑，最近可能要倒霉。You may have had bad luck recently, judging by darkness on your forehead.
(Kàn nǐ yìntánɡ fā hēi, zuìjìn kěnénɡ yào dǎoméi.)

黑市（hēi shì）/ 黑心（hēixīn）              

Compared to a red heart, which is a symbol of courage and loyalty, if a person’s heart turns black, they are not a good person and might harm others for their own benefit.

e.g.

黑市里出现了买卖器官的现象。Organs are being bought and sold on the black market.
(Hēishì lǐ chūxiàn le mǎimɑi qìɡuān de xiànxiànɡ.)

这个黑心商贩卖的东西质量很差。The goods sold by this shady dealer are low quality.
(Zhèɡe hēixīn shānɡfàn mài de dōngxi zhìliànɡ hěn chà.)

灰色地带（huīsè dìdài）/ 灰色收入（huīsè shōurù）

White often represents light and justice, while black represents darkness and injustice. Grey is considered vague and unclear as it’s somewhere between black and white. For example, when it’s cloudy and sunless, people describe it as gray, meaning a bad day.

e.g.

今天天气不好，没有太阳，灰蒙蒙的。It’s a bad day today. It’s sunless and gray.
(Jīntiān tiānqì bù hǎo, méiyǒu tàiyánɡ, huīmēnɡmēnɡ de.)

Grey also suggests that something is unclear or possibly illegal.

e.g.

这个产业还处于灰色地带，法律没有禁止，也不支持。The industry is still in a grey area, neither prohibited nor permitted by the law.
(Zhèɡe chǎnyè hái chǔ yú huīsè dìdài, fǎlǜ méiyǒu jìnzhǐ, yě bù zhīchí.)

除了工资，他还有一些灰色收入。In addition to his salary, he has some grey income.
(Chú le ɡōnɡzī, tā háiyǒu yìxiē huīsè shōurù.)

Lastly, there’s a color that has both noble and vulgar connotations that I’d like to introduce.

#5 黄色(huánɡsè) Yellow

炎黄（yánhuánɡ）

If you have ever visited the Forbidden city or seen pictures of it, then you were likely impressed by the beautiful yellow and red colors. In the past, yellow was considered the exclusive color of the Chinese emperor, and it became a symbol of nobility. There are many interesting Chinese expressions related to this color.

e.g.

黄河是中国的母亲河。The Yellow River is the mother river of China.
(Huánɡhé shì zhōnɡɡuó de mǔqīn hé.)

我们是炎黄子孙。We are the descendants of Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang.
(Wǒmen shì yánhuánɡ zǐsūn.)

黄道吉日（huánɡdào jírì）

This is a Chinese term that refers to an auspicious day or lucky day. The term is commonly used in traditional Chinese culture and is based on the belief that certain days are more favorable for specific activities, such as weddings, moving into a new home, or starting a business. These days are selected based on the Chinese lunar calendar and astrology, specifically by considering the movement of celestial bodies and the “黄道” (Huáng dào), which refers to the ecliptic or the path the sun appears to take through the sky.

e.g.

我要选个黄道吉日结婚。I will choose a lucky day to get married.
(Wǒ yào xuǎn ɡè huánɡdàojírì jiéhūn.)

祝你飞黄腾达，前程似锦。I wish you success and a bright future.
(Zhù nǐ fēihuánɡ ténɡdá, qiánchénɡ sìjǐn.)

那是个黄金时代，出现了很多有名的歌手。It was the golden age and there were many famous singers.
(Nà shì ɡè huánɡjīn shídài, chūxiàn le hěnduō yǒumínɡ de ɡēshǒu.)

These expressions associate yellow with positivity and good fortune. However, the meaning of the color yellow has evolved over time and is now used in expressions unrelated to royalty.

黄脸婆（huánɡliǎnpó）

In ancient times, Chinese people preferred pale skin because it showed that a person had servants and didn’t have to work hard. Darker skin was associated with working outdoors and having a tough life. Sick people or unattractive married women were sometimes called “yellow-faced,” as a derogatory term. This term may still come up in some couples’ arguments today.

e.g.

你怎么脸色发黄？最近生病了吗？Why is your face yellow? Have you been sick lately?
(Nǐ zěnme liǎnsè fā huánɡ ? zuì jìn shēnɡbìnɡ le mɑ?)

我现在人老珠黄，成了黄脸婆了。I’m old and yellow-faced now.
(Wǒ xiànzài rénlǎo zhūhuánɡ, chénɡ le huánɡliǎnpó le.)

事黄了（shì huánɡ le）

This term means “the situation is ruined” or “the plan has failed.” The phrase 黄了 (huáng le) literally translates to “turned yellow,” but it is used figuratively to indicate that something has gone wrong, become unsuccessful, or been canceled.

e.g.

别提了，这事儿黄了。Don’t bring it up. It’s screwed up.
(Bié tí le, zhè shìr huánɡ le.)

我们计划的旅行黄了，因为机票已经涨价了。Our trip plans are  ruined because the flight tickets have increased in price.
(Wǒmen jìhuà de lǚxíng huángle, yīnwèi jīpiào yǐjīng zhǎngjià le.)

黄色（huánɡ sè）

Yellow was once associated with the emperor, but its meaning has since evolved considerably. Yellow later became associated with pornography due to the rise of yellow journalism. This style of journalism focused on sensationalism, including pornography, crime, and scandals.

In the early years of the Republic of China, yellow journalism was seen as vulgar news. Over time, the term “yellow” extended beyond newspapers to all forms of media, such as yellow books, movies, and music. Today, “yellow” is often used to refer to pornographic and obscene content.

e.g.

不应该让青少年接触黄色电影和黄色书籍。Young people should not be exposed to pornographic films and books.
(Bù yīnɡɡāi rànɡ qīnɡshàonián jiēchù huánɡsè diànyǐnɡ hé huánɡsè shūjí.)

请不要对女性说黄色笑话，很不礼貌。Please don’t tell dirty jokes to women. It’s impolite.
(Qǐnɡ búyào duì nǚ xìnɡ shuō huánɡsè xiàohuɑ, hěn bù lǐmào.)

Closing Thoughts

Colors play a significant role in Chinese culture and are deeply rooted in history, tradition, and superstition. From the auspicious red to the noble yellow, each color has its unique meaning and symbolism. We hope that this article has given you new insights into the fascinating color scheme of China and taught you some new expressions that will help make your Chinese more rich and authentic. .

Now, we want to pass it off to you. What do different colors symbolize in your culture? Do you have any similar expressions in your native language? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Exercises

Exercise 1: 

Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase from the list.

1. 他的公司最近发展得非常好，生意________。(Tā de gōngsī zuìjìn fāzhǎn de fēicháng hǎo, shēng yì ________.)
   His company has been doing very well lately, with business ________.
2. 他听到这个好消息后，________，开心极了。(Tā tīngdào zhège hǎo xiāoxi hòu, liǎn shàng ________, kāixīn jíle.)
   After hearing the good news, ________, he was extremely happy.
3. 当他得知自己没有升职时，他的脸 ________。（Dāng tā dé zhī zìjǐ méiyǒu shēng zhí shí, tā de liǎn ________.）
   When he learned that he didn’t get promoted, his face turned ________.

Key：红红火火；红光满面；绿了；

Exercise 2: 

Match the Chinese phrase with the correct English translation.

1. 红光满面
2. 红白喜事
3. 白费劲
4. 黑市
5. 黄道吉日

a) An illicit market or black market.
b) A day considered lucky for important activities.
c) A futile effort or wasted effort.
d) A celebration involving happy or sad events.
e) Appearing radiant or healthy.

Key：1e；2d；3c；4a; 5b

Exercise 3: 

Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence.

1. 他一直努力工作，但 ________，并没有得到任何回报。(Tā yīzhí nǔlì gōngzuò, dàn ________, bìng méiyǒu dédào rènhé huíbào.) He has been working hard, but ________, he hasn’t received any rewards.
   (A) 红白喜事
   (B) 白费劲
   (C) 红光满面

2. 他的情绪不太好，看到我时 ________，看起来很生气。(Tā de qíngxù bù tài hǎo, kàn dào wǒ shí ________, kàn qǐlái hěn shēngqì.) His mood wasn’t good when he saw me, his face turned ________, looking very angry.
   (A) 黑心
   (B) 黑脸
   (C) 红光满面
   
3. 他们计划了很长时间的婚礼，最后选择了一个 ________ 举行。(Tāmen jìhuàle hěn cháng shíjiān de hūnlǐ, zuìhòu xuǎnzéle yīgè ________ jǔxíng.) They planned the wedding for a long time and finally chose a ________ to hold it.
   (A) 黄道吉日
   (B) 红光满面
   (C) 黑市

Key: 1c; 2b; 3a

Exercise 4:

True or false.

1. “红光满面” means someone looks tired and unhappy.
2. “黑心” refers to someone with a kind heart.
3. “大红大紫” describes someone or something that is very successful and famous.
4. “黑心” can indicate that a company is known for unethical business practices.
5. “事黄了” can indicate a person’s plan work well after much effort.

Key: 1 ( False); 2 ( False); 3 (True); 4 (True); 5 (False)

The post Chinese Color Theory: The Cultural Significance and Meaning Behind Colors appeared first on .

1. 差点儿 and 几乎

(1) Close Calls

Big goals and achievements are often difficult to reach. Along the way, we may face failure and lose hope. Luckily, we can still make it and feel grateful for our good fortune. When expressing happiness and thankfulness for narrowly succeeding, we use 差点儿 (chà diǎnr) and 几乎 (jīhū) with a negative form. Both words mean ‘almost,’ and the sentence conveys the idea of ‘almost failing to succeed.’

For example:

他差点儿/几乎没考上北京大学。(Tā chà diǎnr/ jī hū méi kǎo shànɡ Běijīnɡ dà xué.)
He almost failed to enter Peking University.

我差点儿/几乎没赶上火车。(Wǒ chà diǎnr/ jī hū méi ɡǎn shànɡ huǒchē.)
I almost failed to catch the train.

(2) Missed Opportunities

Sometimes we succeed, but other times we come so close yet unfortunately fail. In these situations, we add 差点儿 (chà diǎnr) and 几乎 (jīhū) to make the sentence negative, expressing the idea that something almost happened but didn’t in the end. Such sentences often convey a sense of regret and disappointment. When describing something we wanted to happen, 差点儿 (chà diǎnr) is used more frequently.

For example:

我差点儿买到那个限量款手表。(Wǒ chà diǎnr mǎi dào nà ɡè xiànliànɡ kuǎn shóubiǎo.)
I almost bought that limited edition watch.

我们差点儿/几乎赢了足球比赛。(Wǒmen chà diǎnr yínɡ le zúqiú bǐsài.)
We almost won the football match.

事情差点儿/几乎没办成。(Shìqínɡ chà diǎn r / jīhū méi bàn chénɡ.)
The thing almost failed.

(3) Near Misses

At times, we only narrowly avoid disaster and fortunately come out unscathed. In this case, both the affirmative and negative forms have the same meaning. That means 差点儿 (chà diǎnr), 差点儿没 (chà diǎnr méi), 几乎 (jīhū), and 几乎没 (jīhū méi) all convey the same idea.

For example:

我差点儿/几乎(没)丢了钱包。(Wǒ chà diǎnr / jī hū méi diū le qiánbāo.)
I almost lost my wallet.

她差点儿/几乎迟到了。(Tā chà diǎnr / jī hū chídào le.)
She was almost late.

In summary, 差点儿 (chà diǎnr) and 几乎 (jīhū) can be used interchangeably to mean ‘almost.’ However, in everyday conversations, 差点儿 (chà diǎnr) is more commonly used.

2. 几乎 and 差不多

We can use 几乎 (jī hū) or 差不多 (chà bù duō) to talk about something that is very close to a certain amount or degree. They both mean ‘almost’ or ‘nearly,’ but there are subtle differences between them. Let’s explore their meanings and usage.

(1) Minor Differences

As adverbs, 几乎 (jī hū) and 差不多 (chà bù duō) indicate a small difference or something quite close. They can be combined with verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

For example:

我差不多/几乎睡了两个小时。(Wǒ chàbùduō / jīhū shuì le liǎnɡ ɡè xiǎoshí.)
I’ve slept for almost two hours.

i. Please note that when the quantity is small, the degree is low, or the time is short, use 差不多, not 几乎.

For example:

飞机差不多要起飞了。(Fēijī chà bù duō yào qǐfēi le.)
The plane is about to take off.

ii. In addition, when indicating a quantity, 几乎 expresses subjective feelings, while 差不多 is more objective.

For example:

这次聚会差不多有三十个人。(Zhè cì jùhuì chà bù duō yǒu sān shí ɡè rén.) There were almost thirty people at the party.
-> This is an objective estimation.

他上大学的时候几乎30岁了。(Tā shànɡ dàxué de shíhou jīhū 30 suì le.) He was almost 30 when he was in college.
-> Here his age is a little bit old from a subjective perspective.

iii. When combined with adjectives or adjective phrases, 差不多 is more flexible than 几乎. 几乎 has more restrictions.

For example:

The two books are about the same thickness.
✔ 这两本书差不多厚。(Zhè liǎnɡ běn shū chà bù duō hòu.)
✘ 这两本书几乎厚。(Zhè liǎnɡ běn shū jī hū hòu.)
✔ 这两本书几乎一样厚。(Zhè liǎnɡ běn shū jī hū yíyànɡ hòu.)

iv. 差不多 can be a complete sentence by itself.

For example:

A: 你的作业写完了吗？(Nǐ de zuòyè xiě wán le mɑ?)
Have you finished your homework?

B: 差不多了。(Chà bù duō le.)
Almost.

To summarize, 几乎(jī hū) and 差不多(chà bù duō) can be used as adverbs with nouns as well as adjectives and verbs that contain quantifiers. But when the degree is low, the time is short or the number is small, we only use 差不多.

(2) 差不多 as an adjective

差不多(chà bù duō) can also be used as an adjective to indicate that the difference between two things is very small, but 几乎(jī hū) cannot.

For example:

今年的收入和去年差不多。(Jīnnián de shōurù hé qùnián chà bù duō.)
This year’s income is about the same as last year.

饭做得差不多了，可以洗手准备吃饭了。(Fàn zuò dé chà bù duō le, kě yǐ xǐshǒu zhǔnbèi chīfàn le.)
The meal is almost ready. Wash your hands and get ready to eat.

差不多(chà bù duō) also means ‘generally,’ ‘mostly,’ or ‘the majority.’ Simply add 的(de) to modify nouns.

For example:

差不多的广东菜他都会做。(Chàbùduō de ɡuǎnɡdōnɡ cài tā dōu huì zuò.)
He can cook most Cantonese dishes.

差不多的人都知道明天放假。(Chàbùduō de rén dōu zhīdào mínɡtiān fànɡjià.)
Most people know that there will be a holiday tomorrow.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the various translations of “almost” in Chinese is a valuable skill for any language learner. By understanding the distinctions between 差点儿(chà diǎnr), 几乎(jī hū), and 差不多(chà bù duō), you can effectively convey different nuances of “almost” in different contexts.

So, whether you’re expressing relief for narrowly avoiding a failure, expressing regret for a missed opportunity, or describing a close approximation, these three words will serve you well. Remember, 差点儿(chà diǎnr) and 几乎(jī hū) share similar meanings when expressing, while 差不多(chà bù duō) adds a touch of flexibility and can even be used as an adjective to describe similarities.

Now armed with this knowledge, go forth and keep practicing and refining your usage. Soon you’ll find yourself effortlessly incorporating these expressions into your everyday conversations.

The post “Almost” The Same – A Comparison of 差点儿, 几乎, and 差不多 appeared first on .

#1 牛(niú)-Ox

Traditionally, 牛 is a symbol of hard work in Chinese culture. Chinese people often compare those who are industrious, devoted to work, or bear hardship without complaint to an ox. Below are two phrases that use 牛.

> 吹牛(chūi niú) -Brag

In this example, the character吹 means “blow” and the character牛means “ox”, so 吹牛directly translates to “to blow an ox”. Actually, 吹牛 means to talk big or brag.

Why it is 牛 instead of another animal? It’s because after killing a lamb, they make a cut at the leg to drain the blood and then blow up the lamb to make it easier to remove the skin. So, the words 吹羊 or 吹猪 carry that meaning. However, since oxhide is hard and big, people think it’s impossible to blow up. Then if someone says they can 吹牛(blow up oxhide), people will suspect that this person is bragging.

e.g.

你看，她又在吹牛了。
(Nǐ kàn, tā yòu zài chuī niú le.)
Look, she is bragging again.

他天天吹牛说自己去过100个国家。
(Tā tiāntiān chuī niú shuō zìjǐ qùɡuo yìbǎi ɡe ɡuójiā.)
He is always bragging that he has gone to one hundred countries every day.

> 牛逼(niú bī) – Impressive

牛逼 was used as slang in northeastern China at first, then gradually became popular all over, especially among young people. The character牛 is “ox”, while 逼 means “force, compel”, so literally 牛逼 translates to “an ox forces or compels”. Actually, Chinese people use 牛逼 to express heartfelt appreciation towards their opponent. Sometimes people use it in a sarcastic sense.

E.g.

牛逼啊，这么难的问题，你都解决了。
(Niú bī’ā, zhème nánde wèntí, nǐ dōu jiějué le.)
Impressive! these questions are so hard, but you solved them.

牛逼牛逼，我比不上。
(Niú bī niú bī, wǒ bǐ bu shànɡ.)
So impressive, I cannot compete with you.

Note: This term is widely used and has almost become a semi-commendatory word, but in fact, it’s still not very polite. Some people might feel offended if you say 牛逼 to them. So please use it carefully.

#2 马(mǎ)- Horse

Even though in traditional Chinese culture, a horse is usually a symbol of strength, liberty, fortune, health, never giving up, ability, and talent, the two phrases below are usually used in negative situations.

> 马后炮(mǎ hòu pào)- Too Little, Too Late

马 means “horse”,后 means “after” and炮 means “cannon”, so 马后炮 is literally “a cannon after a horse”. Chinese people use it to express that it doesn’t help to take measures after a fact. It’s similar to making a belated effort /being a Monday morning quarterback in English.

E.g.

人已经死了，不要在这里放马后炮。
(Rén yǐjīnɡ sǐ le, bú yào zài zhèlǐ fànɡ mǎhòupào.)
It’s too little, too late, since the person was already dead.

马后炮，你昨天为什么不说？
(Mǎhòupào, nǐ zuótiān wèishénme bù shuō?)
You’re being a Monday morning quarterback, why didn’t you say anything yesterday?

> 拍马屁(pāi mǎpì)- Sucking up to someone

拍 means “to pat or beat”, while 马屁 means “crupper” (a strap on a saddle that prevents it from slipping), so literally 拍马屁 directly translates to “to pat or beat a crupper”. It is said that拍马屁 comes from a part of Mongolian culture. In the Yuan Dynasty, when Mongolian people rode their horses alongside someone else, they always patted the crupper of the other’s horse and said “Good horse!” to show respect and politeness. Later on, there were some people who just complimented the horse whether it was good or not. So拍马屁 gradually evolved into a negative phrase meaning someone who sucks up to others.

E.g.

他一天到晚只知道拍领导的马屁。
(Tā yì tiān dào wǎn zhǐ zhīdào pāi línɡdǎo de mǎpì.)
He only knows how to suck up to the leader all day long.

除了拍马屁，你还有什么真本事？
(Chúle pāi mǎpì, nǐ háiyǒu shénme zhēn běnshi?)
Besides sucking up to others, what other real skills do you have?

#3 鱼(yǘ)-fish

鱼, or fish, is often tied to Chinese culture and daily life. It symbolizes Chinese people’s desire for a good harvest, a prosperous life, a better marriage, freedom etc. Here we’ll go over three slang expressions that include 鱼.

> 锦鲤(jǐnlǐ)- everything related to good luck

锦鲤(cyprinus carpio) originally referred to koi fish. They have a long lifespan, and it’s said that 锦鲤 can bring good luck. In traditional Chinese culture, 锦鲤 symbolize longevity and good luck. Nowadays, 锦鲤 represents everything related to good luck.

How did 锦鲤 become so popular, especially on the internet? It’s actually because of an online campaign. On China National Day in 2018, Alipay’s official Weibo page hosted a giveaway. The lucky winner was drawn from those who reposted their post on Weibo. The winner was called the “Chinese Jinli” and won a “Global Free-Gift Package”. There were more than 3 million reposts. Afterwards, 锦鲤 instantly became popular and there was an upsurge of people forwarding pictures of 锦鲤 with captions such as “Jinli prayer” and “Jinli blessing”. Later on, as its popularity grew, 锦鲤 also began to mean people who are lucky with things like the lottery and gambling.

E.g.

转发锦鲤，希望我考试能过。
(Zhuǎnfā jǐnlǐ, xīwànɡ wǒ kǎoshì nénɡ ɡuò.)
I’ll forward Jinli and hope I can pass the exam.

转发这个锦鲤会有好运。
(Zhuǎnfā zhèɡe jǐnlǐ huì yǒu hǎoyùn.)
Forwarding this Jinli will bring good luck.

你是锦鲤吗？就你一个人中奖了！
(Nǐ shì jǐnlǐ ma? Jiù nǐ yíɡè rén zhònɡ jiǎnɡ le!)
Are you a Jinli? Only you will win the lottery!

> 摸鱼(mō yú)- mess around

摸 means “touch”, so 摸鱼 literally means “touch a fish”. 摸鱼 actually comes from the idiom 浑水摸鱼(hún shuǐ mō yú), which means groping for fish in turbid water. Chinese people often use it to refer to those who fish in troubled waters. And now people use摸鱼 to talk about those who don’t really work and just mess around.

E.g.

他上班就是在摸鱼。
(Tā shànɡ bān jiùshì zài mō yú.)
He’s messing around at work.

你想摸鱼就不要来公司，你可以回去。
(Nǐ xiǎnɡ mō yú jiù bú yào lái ɡōnɡsī, nǐ kěyǐ huíqù.)
Don’t come here if you want to mess around at the firm, just go back home.

> 炒鱿鱼(chǎo yóuyú)- get fired

炒 means “stir-fry” and 鱿鱼 is “squid”, so 炒鱿鱼 directly translates to “stir-fry a squid”. Chinese people use 炒鱿鱼 to refer to getting fired. 炒鱿鱼 is very close to 卷铺盖(juǎn pūɡɑi). A long time ago, workers would bring sleeping bags with them, so they had to roll up their sleeping bag when they were fired. Gradually 卷铺盖 came to mean getting fired. For 鱿鱼, people saw that when cooked, 鱿鱼 would roll up, which was similar to the shape of a rolled up sleeping bag. As a result, people started to associate 炒鱿鱼 and 卷铺盖. Later on, 炒鱿鱼 became the most popular way to talk about getting fired..

E.g.

他们今天被炒鱿鱼了。
(Tāmen jīntiān bèi chǎo yóuyú le.)
They were fired today.

你小心点儿，不要被炒鱿鱼了。 
(Nǐ xiǎoxīn diǎn’r, bú yào bèi chǎo yóuyú le.)
Be careful, don’t get fired.

#4 狗(ɡǒu)-dog

Unfortunately in Chinese slang, 狗 are often deprecated, even though now most people think of 狗 as our faithful friends. Here are two idioms that include the word 狗.

> 单身狗(dānshēn ɡǒu) – single

The word 单身 means “single”, so 单身狗 literally means “a single dog”. 单身狗 now is widely used  to emphasize that someone is  single. This phrasecomes from the memorable quote “He looks like a dog.” from the wedding ceremony scene in the film A Chinese Odyssey. It was originally only used for self-deprecation. But now, it’s also used to address others with a slightly derogatory tone.

E.g.

我是单身狗，不过情人节。
(Wǒ shì dānshēn ɡǒu, bú ɡuò Qínɡrén jié.)
I’m single and don’t do anything Valentine’s Day.

不要在我这个单身狗面前秀恩爱。
(Bú yào zài wǒ zhèɡe dānshēn ɡǒu miànqián xiù ēn’ài.)
I’m single, so don’t do any PDA in front of me.

> 狗血(ɡǒu xiě)- campy/cliché

血 means “blood”, so 狗血 actually means “dog’s blood”. It’s said that during the heyday of the film and television industry in Hong Kong in the 1990s, there were many of TV dramas about ghost hunting. The idea that dog blood can be used to drive away evil often came up in those shows. So, the term dog blood referred to outdated elements in film or TV. Nowadays, Chinese people use 狗血 to describe exaggerated or outdated elements in media or even real life. So 狗血 is really similar to campy/cliché in English.

E.g.

你这件事太狗血了。
(Nǐ zhè jiàn shì tài ɡǒuxiě le.)
That is so campy of you.

我昨天看了一部很狗血的电视剧。
(Wǒ zuótiān kànle yí bù hěn ɡǒuxiě de diànshìjù.)
I watched a very campy drama yesterday.

#5 鸡(jī)-chicken

鸡 symbolizes good luck, fighting and brightness in Chinese culture. Here are two expressions that include 鸡.

> 打鸡血(dǎ jīxiě)- so excited/ energetic

Literally 打鸡血 means “inject chicken blood”. It’s said that 打鸡血 originates from a medical technique from the 1980s where they would draw blood from a year-old rooster and inject it. It was once popular among the veteran cadres at that time. Supposedly, the person who was injected with chicken blood would become energetic, but it was actually unscientific, and that trend quickly faded. Now, Chinese people use 打鸡血 to talk about someone who is full of energy or mock someone’s sudden excitement towards  something.

E.g.

看了这本书后，他整个人就像打鸡血一样。
(Kànle zhè běn shū hòu，tā zhěnɡɡè rén jiù xiànɡ dǎ jīxiě yíyànɡ.)
After reading this book, he became so excited.

昨晚他打了一晚的游戏，今天还这么有精神，就像打了鸡血一样。
(Zuówǎn tā dale yì wǎn de yóuxì, jīntiān hái zhème yǒu jīnɡshen, jiù xiànɡ dale jīxiě yíyànɡ.)
He played games all night, but he is still energetic today, like he injected chicken blood.

> 铁公鸡(tiě ɡōnɡjī)- stingy person

铁公鸡 literally means “irony rooster”. Chinese people use 铁公鸡 to refer to a stingy person. 铁公鸡 comes from an ancient text which described a rich man who was so stingy that people all called him铁公鸡.

E.g.

我们都叫那个人“铁公鸡”。
(Wǒmen dōu jiào nàɡe rén “tiě ɡōnɡjī”.)
We all call that person “stingy man”.

他就是个铁公鸡，一分钱也不会给你。
(Tā jiù shì ɡè tiě ɡōnɡjī, yì fēn qián yě bú huì ɡěi nǐ.)
He is stingy, so he won’t give you a penny.

#6 猪(zhū)-pig

猪 is a symbol of being lazy, stupid, greedy, dirty and even salacious, which are almost all negative things in Chinese culture. Here are two slang expressions that use 猪.

> 咸猪手(xián zhūshǒu) – groper or wandering hands

The character 咸 means “salty”, while 猪手 is “pork knuckle”, so literally 咸猪手 means “salty pork knuckle”. As a matter of fact, 咸猪手 is used to refer to the action of molesting someone, such as grabbing their chest or touching their buttocks. It’s similar to groping or having wandering hands in English.

  E.g.

放开你的咸猪手。
(Fànɡkāi nǐ de xián zhūshǒu.)
Get your wandering hands off of me.

我昨天在地铁上碰到咸猪手了。
(Wǒ zuótiān zài dìtiě shanɡ pènɡdào xián zhūshǒu le.)
There was a groper on the subway yesterday.

> 扮猪吃老虎(bàn zhū chī lǎohǔ) – looking foolish in the short-term to win in the long-term

扮 means “to disguise” and 老虎 is “tiger”, so 扮猪吃老虎 means “disguising as a pig to eat a tiger”. It’s said that when hunters couldn’t catch a tiger, they would pretend to be a pig and draw the tiger out. When the tiger approached, then they would suddenly attack it. Chinese people use this expression to talk about people who like to look foolish or downplay themselves in the short-term to win in the long-term.

E.g.

有些人很会扮猪吃老虎。
(Yǒu xiē rén hěn huì bàn zhū chī lǎohǔ.)
Some people are good at looking foolish in the short-term to win in thelong-term.

他看起来很好，其实是在扮猪吃老虎，你小心点儿。
(Tā kàn qǐlái hěn hǎo, qíshí shì zài bàn zhū chī lǎohǔ, nǐ xiǎoxīn diǎnr.)
Be careful. He looks nice, but in fact he is looking foolish short-term to win in the long-term.

#7 Other Animals

> 放鸽子(fànɡ ɡēzi)- standing someone up

放鸽子 directly translates to “release a pigeon”. It later came to mean standing someone up. It’s said that 放鸽子 originated from the lottery in old Shanghai, commonly known as a “white pigeon ticket” with an extremely low chance of winning.

E.g.

他经常放我鸽子。
(Tā jīnɡchánɡ fànɡ wǒ ɡēzi.)
He often stands me up.

我被放鸽子了，她没有来。
(Wǒ bèi fànɡ ɡēzi le, tā méiyǒu lái.)
She didn’t come, and I was stood up.

> 乌鸦嘴(wūyā zuǐ)- jinx

乌鸦嘴 is literally “crow’s mouth”. 乌鸦 are black, omnivorous and addicted to rotten meat, so when it comes to it, Chinese people usually associate it with the idea of being unlucky and gloomy. So now, Chinese people often use乌鸦嘴to refer to a jinx.

E.g.

闭嘴，你这个乌鸦嘴！
(Bìzuǐ, nǐ zhèɡe wūyā zuǐ!)
Shut up, you jinx!

你是乌鸦嘴吗，每次不好的事都会被你说中。
(Nǐ shì wūyā zuǐ ma, měicì bù hǎo de shì dōu huì bèi nǐ shuōzhònɡ.)
Are you a jinx? Because bad things are always said right by you.

> 老狐狸(lǎo húli)- old fox

In Chinese people’s minds, 狐狸 are sharp, smart, and sly. 老狐狸 literally means old fox, and Chinese people use it to refer to people who are highly cunning, scheming and cruel.

E.g.

这个人是只老狐狸。
(Zhèɡe rén shì zhǐ lǎo húli.)
This man is an old fox.

他是我们公司里知名的老狐狸。
(Tā shì wǒmen ɡōnɡsī lǐ zhīmínɡ de lǎo húli.)
He is a famous old fox at our company.

Those are some of the most common and important animal-related Chinese slang expressions. We hope that this list can help you improve your fluency and your understanding of Chinese culture.

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