I’ve been noticing some newer Chinese slang lately, especially from social media and videos. Here are a few words/expressions I came across recently that I thought were interesting:
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内卷 (nèi juǎn)
This one is really common online. It refers to “involution,” meaning intense competition where everyone keeps working harder but nobody really benefits. People often use it to talk about school or work environments where the pressure is extreme. -
躺平 (tǎng píng)
Literally “to lie flat.”
It describes choosing a low-pressure lifestyle and rejecting the idea of constantly competing or chasing success. Kind of like opting out of the rat race. -
YYDS (永远的神)
An internet abbreviation that means “forever the god,” basically used to say something or someone is amazing or the best ever. I’ve seen it used a lot in gaming and fan communities.
I find Chinese internet slang really fun because it changes so fast and often reflects social trends or humor online.
Have you come across any new Chinese slang recently? I’d love to learn more expressions people are hearing these days.