“Working a 996” and Other Chinese Slang That Dominated 2019

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Keeping up with the local slang in our native tongue is already an arduous task, not to mention in Chinese! When your Chinese friend asks if you work a 996 job, do you even know what that means? Don’t feel left out. Learn them, love them, live them. May your 2020 be filled with local idioms and maybe even create a few of your own that are totally fetch.

It’s too difficult
我太南/难了 Wǒ tài nán/lán le

Originally from an online live stream show, this is an expression to describe the fact that life is difficult. Nán means difficult, but southerners often pronounce it lán. Often people use the character 南 nán meaning “south” a a joke.

Green with envy
柠檬精 Níngméngjīng 

 It means someone is jealous of others (literally “lemon spirit”). Now it is often used to express self-deprecating admiration of others’ material and/or emotional life.

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Be so high
好嗨哟 Hǎohāiyo

 This is from the online song of the same name, with a hilarious performance. Many netizens imitate this performance to express their happiness and excitement.

Someone is a badass
是个狼人 Shìgè làngrén

 This is from the word “狠人” (badass), which looks like “狼” (wolf), but “狼” has one more stroke. It is used to describe someone who does not follow common sense, but can unexpectedly achieve extraordinary results.

None of your business
雨女无瓜 Yǔnǚwúguā

It sounds like yǔnǐwúguān  (与你无关, none of your business), which is the standard Chinese. Yǔnǚwúguā is with a strong accent of the southern dialect. “None of your business” seems to be cold and mysterious, but the dialect version is more casual and funny, usually used to tease others.

Hardcore
硬核 Yìnghé

The word originally referred to one of form of rap music that is considered more powerful. Now, it can be used to say someone is tough or difficult to talk to.

The 996 work schedule
996工作制 Jiǔjiǔliù gōngzuòzhǐ

 It refers to working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week, representing the overtime culture prevalent in Chinese Internet companies.

Simplifying life
断舍离 Duànshélí

It’s a popular lifestyle nowadays, followed with zero waste and green life. It means to cut off all unnecessary things to live a simple life.

It’s up to me
我不要你觉得，我要我觉得。Wǒ búyào nǐjuéde, wǒ yào wǒ juéde.

 Originally from a reality show, this slang is used to describe people with dominant personality that generally like to be in control of a situation.

Teach someone a lesson 
盘他！Pántā

“盘” is a verb, which originally meant to rotate a pair of antique walnuts in one hand and make it shine. “盘他” appeared in a cross-talk comedy show performed by Meng Hetang and zhou Jiuliang. Now “盘” can be “like”, “control”, or “teach someone a lesson” based on different situations.

Photos: Weibo.com, unsplash
Source: moe.gov.cn

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