Most Popular Mandarin Chinese Words [PDF]

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First Published December 2009 Second Edition Published October 2010 Third Edition Published November 2012 Fourth Edition Published January 2014 Fifth Edition Published January 2016

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Table of Contents Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章:汉语十大生活流行词汇 1. 相亲(xiāngqīn) Blind date/to have a blind date 2. 裸婚(luǒhūn) Getting married with no car, no house, and no wedding ceremony 3. 低调(dīdiào) Keep a low profile 4. 你懂的(nǐdǒng de) You know. 5. 拍马屁(pāimǎpì) Kiss up to someone 6. 心塞(xīnsāi) Feel crushed 7. 靠谱(kàopǔ) Reliable/ To be trusted 8. 晒(shài) Show and share 9. 拼(pīn) To put together or to unite 10. 给力(gěilì) Cool/Great

Chapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Internet

第二章:汉语十大网络流行词汇 1.

正能量(zhèngnéngliàng) Positive energy

2.

暖男(nuǎnnán) A warm, nice guy

3.

秒杀(miǎoshā) Seckill

4.

亲(qīn) Dear

5.

人气(rénqì) Popularity

6.

宅(zhái) To stay at home all day

7.

吃货(chīhuò) Foodie

8.

闪(shăn) To act quickly

9.

秀(xiù) Show

10. 赞(zàn) Great or marvelous

2

Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Campus

第三章:汉语十大校园流行词汇 1.

纠结(jiūjié) Be entangled with

2.

牛(niú) Excellent

3.

校花(xiàohuā) School beauty

4.

翘课(qiàokè) To skip school

5.

放鸽子(fàng gēzi) To fail to keep an appointment

6.

挂科(guàkē) To fail an exam

7.

兼职(jiānzhí) Part-time job

8.

吹牛(chuīniú) Brag and boast

9.

忽悠(hūyou) Hoodwink

10. 学霸(xuébà) Curve wrecker

Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章:汉语十大约会流行词汇 1.

高富帅(gāo fù shuài) Tall, rich and handsome

2.

我爱你(wǒ ài nǐ) I love you

3.

红颜知己(hóngyánzhījǐ) Female soul mate

4.

热恋(rèliàn) Head over heels in love

5.

初恋(chūliàn) First love

6.

早恋(zǎoliàn) Puppy love/ Falling in love at an early age

7.

第三者(dìsānzhě) Someone who is in an adulterous relationship with a married man or woman

8.

暗送秋波(ànsòngqiūbō) Secretly to cast flirtatious looks at somebody

9.

异地恋(yìdì liàn) Long-distance relationship

10. 来电(láidiàn) To click with someone/ Have sparks

3

Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章:汉语十大娱乐流行词汇 1.

萌(méng) Young and innocent

2.

耍大牌(shuǎdàpái) To snub

3.

新秀(xīnxiù) Up-and-coming youngster

4.

八卦(bāguà) Gossip

5.

绯闻(fēiwén) Pink news/ Love affair

6.

狗仔队(gǒuzǎiduì) Paparazzi

7.

大腕(dàwànr) Big shot

8.

炒作(chǎozuò) To hype

9.

粉丝(fěnsī) Fans

10. 火(huǒ) Hot

Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章:汉语十大体育流行词汇 1.

大满贯(dàmǎnguàn) Grand slam

2.

蝉联(chánlián) To defend one’s title successfully

3.

拉拉队(lālāduì) Cheering squad

4.

黑哨(hēishào) Bad ref. calls

5.

乌龙球(wūlóngqiú) Own goal

6.

爆冷门(bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner

7.

翻盘(fānpán) To turn defeat into victory

8.

东道主(dōngdàozhǔ) Host

9.

黑马(hēimǎ) Dark horse

10. 力挺(lìtǐng) To support strongly

4

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

5

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

1. 相亲(xiāngqīn) Blind date/to have a blind date Origin

Caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life and striving to get ahead, many " 剩 男 (shèngnán) single men" and "剩女(shèngnǚ) women" find themselves alone as a result of their excessive devotion to work. It is under these circumstances that " 相 亲 (xiāngqīn) blind dating" has grown incredibly in popularity. TV programs based around the concept of the "相亲(xiāngqīn) Blind date" have sprung up to cater to this need. Some prominent TV programs like " 非 诚 勿 扰 (Fēichéngwùrǎo)" and websites like " 世 纪 佳 缘 (Shìjìjiāyuán)" and " 百 合 网 (Bǎihéwǎng)" have not only led the industry to a new prosperous era, but have also provided viewers with a much needed platform for socializing. The market dominance of such platforms reflects the prevalence of blind dating in today's society. In fact, the phenomenon of the blind date can be traced back to ancient China. At that time, through the work of matchmakers, two families who were previously unacquainted would meet and evaluate the other family's background and status. If both sides were satisfied, a marriage would be arranged. A major difference between this ancient practice and what we find today is that the decision making over partner choice and marriage has shifted from the parents into the hands of the couple themselves.

Example

Mary: 嗨，听说你昨天去相亲了，怎么样啊？ Hāi, tīngshuō nǐ zuótiān qù xiāngqīn le, zěnmeyàng a? Hi, I heard that you had a blind date yesterday. How was it? Tina: 别提了，我一点儿感觉都没有。 Biétí le, wǒ yìdiǎnr gǎnjué dōu méiyou. Don't remind me. I have no feelings for him at all.

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6

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

2. 裸婚(luǒhūn) Getting married with no car, no house, and no wedding ceremony Origin "裸婚(luǒhūn) getting married without having a car, a house, and an elaborate wedding ceremony" became a popular internet phrase recently. A vastly growing number of young people are putting less emphasis on the "traditional" marriage practice."

The typical person willing to "裸婚(luǒhūn)” or “get married without a car, a house, and an elaborate wedding" is in the 20-35 age group, and more open-minded and willing to accept new trends than the average person. Some are well educated, " 白 领 (báilǐng) white-collar workers" with high-level incomes. They believe that there is nothing wrong with two people living together with a marriage certificate and not having done any of the traditional customs.

Example

Lily: 你打算什么时候生宝宝？ Nǐ dǎsuan shénme shíhou shēng bǎobao? When do you plan to have a baby? Lucy: 我们是裸婚，等攒够了钱，再做打算吧。 Wǒmen shìluǒhūn, děng zǎn gòu le qián, zài zuò dǎsuàn ba. We got married without a car, a house, and a wedding ceremony. We plan to have children once we have saved enough money.

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7

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

3. 低调(dīdiào) Keep a low profile Origin

The word “低调(dīdiào)” means to keep a low profile. It comes from a sentence “高调做 事，低调做人(Gāodiào zuòshì, dīdiào zuòrén),” which means to work in a high profile and behave in a low profile. Another sentence shares the same meaning: “竖起桅杆做事，砍倒 桅杆做人 (Shùqǐ wéigǎn zuòshì, kǎndǎo wéigǎn zuòrén).” It means that when you try to catch fish on the sea, you can put up the mast to speed up your ship. And when you encounter the storm, you should cut the mast off to survive.

Usage

“低(dī)” means low. In the word “低调(dīdiào),” it also refers to something inconspicuous. And “ 调 (diào),” as a noun, can be used to refer to melody and tune of music. “ 低 调 (dīdiào)” means that one is modest and prudent toward people, and should not make a show of his ability in front of others. So when there are people who tend to flaunt themselves in public, we can say “you should 低调(dīdiào) keep a low profile.”

Examples

1. 我们在整个事件中必须保持低调。 Wǒmen zài zhěnggè shìjiàn zhōng bìxū bǎochí dīdiào. We must keep the whole thing in a low profile. 2. 他这人一直很低调。 Tā zhè rén yìzhí hěn dīdiào. He always keeps a low profile.

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Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

4. 你懂的(nǐdǒng de) You know.

The expression "你懂的 (nǐdǒng de)" was translated from the English expression "you know." Its popularization is due to a video “Old Boy,” made by the Chopsticks Brothers. It's a story about two middle-aged friends who combine their talents they learned in middle school to participate in a sort of "China's Got Talent" competition. In the video, the expression "你懂的 (nǐdǒng de)" expresses an acknowledgment of their shared nostalgia of youth. Ever since then, "你懂的 (nǐdǒng de)" has become a popular expression when two people share a mutual comprehension of a time or feeling. The phrase simply means, "you really do understand," mixed with the French mood of "c'est la vie!" Nowadays, the saying is frequently used to assure an understanding between two people in conversation. Next time you find yourself in a situation where details aren't convenient to say out loud, a simple " 你 懂 的 (nǐdǒng de)" conveys "you understand what I'm talking about."

Examples 1. Tom: Mike，你怎么和 Mary 在一起了？ Mike, nǐ zěnme hé Mary zài yìqǐ le? Mike, how come you are now with Mary? Mike: 小点儿声，你懂的… … Xiǎodiǎnr shēng, nǐ dǒng de… Keep it down, you know what's been going on… 2. Lily: 怎么了？愁眉苦脸的。 Zěnme le? Chóuméikǔliǎn de. What's wrong? Why such a long face? Lucy: 我忘记准备老板要的文件了，结果…你懂的。 Wǒ wàngjì zhǔnbèi lǎobǎn yào de wénjiàn le, jiéguǒ… Nǐ dǒng de. I forgot to prepare the documents for my boss, so now…well, you know what'll happen. Got Questions? Sign Up for a Live One-to-One FREE Trial lesson now!

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Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

5. 拍马屁(pāimǎpì) Kiss up to someone Origin

In Yuan Dynasty, herders took great pride in raising horses. When horse herders encountered one another, they would often pat the buttocks of the other’s horse and say, “What a good horse!” to fawn on the owner of the horse. At first, people only praised truly good horses, but soon people began to do so to flatter others, regardless of whether the herder's horse was good or bad, strong or weak. This action became known as “拍马 屁(pāimǎpì).”

Usage

Literally, “拍马屁(pāimǎpì)” refers to patting a horse’s buttocks: “拍(pāi)” means to pat, “马(mǎ)” is horse, and “屁(pì)” refers to fart or buttocks. But now “拍马屁(pāimǎpì)” is widely used as an analogy to ridicule blatant flattery that is meant to please others without regard for objective reality. Consequently, people who like to kiss up are called “马屁精 (mǎpìjīng).”

Examples

1. 这家伙是拍马屁的好手，总能让上司高兴！ Zhè jiāhuo shì pāimǎpì de hǎoshǒu, zǒng néng ràng shàngsī gāoxìng! This guy is an expert at kissing up, always pleasing his authorities! 2. 他善于拍马屁，所以升迁很快。 Tā shànyú pāimǎpì, suǒyǐ shēngqiān hěn kuài. He is good at kissing up, so he gets promoted very quickly.

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10

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

6. 心塞(xīnsāi) Feel crushed Meaning and Usage

“心塞(xīnsāi)” has become a popular buzzword these days. Here “心(xīn)” is “heart” and “ 塞(sāi)” means blocked or plugged, so put together, “ 心塞(xīnsāi)” is used to vividly describe a kind of emotion in which your heart seems to be suffocated or blocked up and uncomfortable. If something goes wrong and you are left feeling helpless or speechless, you can say that you feel “心塞(xīnsāi)”. For example, your mood could be described as “心塞(xīnsāi)” when the weekend finally comes and you have big, exciting plans, but it ends up pouring down rain and you’ve no choice but to cancel. Or you are all dressed up for your date but a car drives through a puddle and splashes mud all over you. Your feeling at that moment is “心塞(xīnsāi).” Or your boss remarks that your proposal, for which you have stayed up working on for several nights, is of no use, so your frustration can also be described as “心塞(xīnsāi)”.

Examples

1. 我男朋友说我做的饭很难吃，心塞！ Wǒ nánpéngyou shuō wǒ zuò de fàn hěn nán chī, xīnsāi! My boyfriend said my cooking is terrible, so I feel horrible! 2. 这个周末又要加班，好心塞啊！ Zhège zhōumò yòuyào jiābān, hǎo xīnsāi ā! It sucks! I have to work again this weekend!

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11

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

7. 靠谱(kàopǔ) Reliable/To be trusted Origin and Usage

“ 靠 谱 (kàopǔ)” originated from northern China and means reliable and to be trusted. When you pronounce it, you can add 儿 (ér) at the end of “ 谱(pǔ),” just like “靠谱儿 (kàopǔr).” If you say that something is “ 靠谱儿(kàopǔr),” that means it is feasible and possible. The opposite is “ 不 靠 谱 儿 (bú kàopǔr)” which means that something is digressing from the subject, straying from the point or is unpractical. “靠(kào)” means to rely on. “ 谱 (pǔ)” means music scores literally, but here it refers to feasibility and rationality.

Examples

1. 你这人真不靠谱儿！ Nǐ zhè rén zhēn bú kàopǔr! You're so unreliable! 2. 这件事一点都不靠谱儿，估计不好办。 Zhè jiàn shì yì diǎn dōu bú kàopǔr, gūjì bù hǎo bàn. This isn't feasible at all. I'm afraid that it will be difficult to do.

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12

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

8. 晒(shài) Show and share Meaning and Usage

Well, summer is here, the hottest time of the year. Do you feel burned by the sun? We do! But we always try to use sun protection. In Chinese, "晒 (shài)" means "to sun" or "to shine." "晒太阳 (shài tàiyang)" means "to bask in the sun." Most people who bask in the sun this year will use some sort of sun protection, which is called "防晒 (fángshài)." "防 (fáng)” means "to prevent" or "to guard against.” But "晒 (shài)" also has another more modern meaning; it can also mean "to show" or "to share." The internet is a great source of information, and it can also be a platform for creativity. One example is that people have now begun to add new meanings to words. Nowadays, people like to use "晒 (shài)" to mean "to demonstrate special skills" and "to share wonderful life experiences with others," or even "to flaunt something they are proud of." Just look at these examples of the most recent uses of "晒 (shài)" on the internet: "晒 工资 (shài gōngzī)" means "to divulge one's salary," "晒幸福 (shài xìngfú)" means "to show happiness," and "晒照片 (shài zhàopiàn)" means "to share pictures."

Examples

1. 大家都喜欢在网上晒照片。 Dàjiā dōu xǐhuan zài wǎngshàng shài zhàopiàn. We all like to share and show our pictures online. 2. 现在的明星都喜欢在微博上晒幸福。 Xiànzài de míngxīng dōu xǐhuan zài wēibó shàng shài xìngfú. These days, celebrities like to use micro-blogs to share and show their happiness.

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13

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

9. 拼 (Pīn) To Put Together or to Unite Meaning and Usage “拼 (pīn)” originally means to put together or to unite. Recently, “拼 (pīn)” means that people work together to accomplish certain objectives. For instance, some popular daily Chinese words starting with “拼 (pīn)” appeared. 拼车 (pīnchē) means “carpool,” where 车 means car. 拼游 (pīnyóu) means “to travel together, ” where 游 means to travel. 拼吃 (pīnchī) means “to eat together,” where 吃 means to eat. 拼住 (pīnzhù) means “share a room,” where 住 means to live.

Examples A: 嗨，你也在人民路上班吗？我经常见你 步行去那儿呢。 Hēi, nǐ yě zài Rénmínlù shàngbān ma? Wǒ jīngcháng jiàn nǐ bùxíng qù nàr ne. Hi, do you work on Renmin Road? I often saw you go there on foot. B: 是呀，我刚搬来这儿不久, 还没有找到合适拼车的人。 Shì ya, wǒ gāng bān lái zhèr bùjiǔ, hái méiyǒu zhǎo dào héshì pīnchē de rén. Yes, I just moved here recently, and I haven’t found the right person to carpool with. A: 那你愿意和我拼车吗？我也在人民路上班。 Nà nǐ yuànyìhé wǒ pīnchē ma? Wǒ yě zài Rénmínlù shàngbān. Are you willing to carpool with me? I also work on Renmin Road.

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14

Chapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words

第一章: 汉语十大生活流行词汇

10. 给力 (gěilì) Cool/Great Origin

"给力 (gěilì)" was probably one of the most "流行 (liúxíng) popular" new phrases in the Chinese language in 2010. It is an expression deriving from the Manlam dialect and it means "awesome" or "very good." It spread widely during the period of 2010 World Cup because it expresses excitement of the soccer fans. If we choose words from modern English to explain the expression, "awesome," "cool," and "exciting" are suitable choices. Foreign media sometimes translate it literally as "giving power." Interestingly, it was not " 给 力 " but it was the antonym "不给力 (bù gěilì)" that was popular on the Internet at first. In fact, "给力" is an ancient word in the Chinese language. It describes how government authorities used to pay for their officials with servants. More specifically, the royal government gave different officials different numbers of servants depending on the rank of the officials. These servants provided free household services or worked in the fields for the officials.

Example

1. A: 昨天晚上你看 NBA 比赛了吗？ Zuótiān wǎnshang nǐ kàn NBA bǐsài le ma? Did you watch the NBA game last night? B: 当然。湖人队太给力了。 Dāngrán. Húrén duì tài gěilì le. Of course. The L.A. Lakers was great! 2. 这个游戏一点儿都不给力。 Zhège yóuxì yìdiǎnr dōu bù gěilì. This game is not cool at all.

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15

Chapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Internet

第二章: 汉语十大网络流行词汇

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Chapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Internet

第二章: 汉语十大网络流行词汇

1. 正能量(zhèngnéngliàng) Positive energy Origin and Usage

“ 正 能 量 (zhèngnéngliàng),” or positive energy, is a physical term originating from the theory of Quantum Electrodynamics proposed by the British physicist Paul Dirac. Nowadays, the term is widely used in psychology and first became widely known thanks to Rip It Up written by the British psychologist Richard Wiseman. The book’s title is translated as “正能量(zhèngnéngliàng)” in Mandarin, which refers to a kind of healthy, optimistic and positive emotion and motivation. Anyone who is ambitious and positive, or anything that provides people with encouragement and hope can be labelled as “正能量 (zhèngnéngliàng).” “正能量(zhèngnéngliàng)” is used as a noun, and the term always collocates with “传递 (chuándì),” “ 充满(chōngmǎn),” etc. We usually say someone “ 充满正能量(chōngmǎn zhèngnéngliàng)” or “满满的都是正能量(mǎnmǎnde dōushì zhèngnéngliàng),” meaning that someone is full of positive energy. For example, if a person has an optimistic and confident outlook on his or her life and remains peaceful and happy in the face of hardship, we say that he or she “充满正能量(chōngmǎn zhèngnéngliàng).” Also, if there is something in your life that makes you keep hoping for the best and confident or feeling that life is meaningful and beautiful, you can also say that you“ 满 满 的 都 是 正 能 量 (mǎnmǎnde dōushì zhèngnéngliàng).”

Examples 1. 他是一个充满正能量的人! Tā shì yígè chōngmǎn zhèngnéngliàng de rén! He is a person who is full of positive energy!

2. 今天老板表扬我了，现在我全身都是正能量！ Jīntiān lǎobǎn biǎoyáng wǒ le, xiànzài wǒ quánshēn dōushì zhèngnéngliàng! Today my boss praised me, so now I am full of positive energy!

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17

Chapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Internet

第二章: 汉语十大网络流行词汇

2. 暖男(nuǎnnán) A warm, nice guy Meaning and Usage

“暖(nuǎn)” basically means “warm,” but in the case of “暖男(nuǎnnán),” the word is also used to modify a person. “暖男(nuǎnnán)” refers to guys who give off a sense of warmth to others, just like the sunshine. However, the word “warm” here refers to emotional warmth and an understanding of others’ feelings. “暖男(nuǎnnán)” is defined as a warm, nice guy who is tender, considerate and understanding. He always makes the people around him feel cared for and appreciated. He may remind you to put on more clothes when he knows the weather is going to change, or act as a patient listener when you just broke up with your boyfriend. When at home, especially as a husband, he knows how to take good care of his beloved family and always tries to spend as much time as possible with them. He might also be good at cooking. All of what he does contributes to a warm and comfortable family atmosphere. Last, but not least, a warm, nice guy is always meticulous, compassionate, and good at understanding others’ emotions or feelings.

Examples 1. 我希望我的男朋友是个暖男！ Wǒ xīwàng wǒde nánpéngyou shì gè nuǎnnán! I wish that my boyfriend were a warm, nice guy! 2. 李明又热情又体贴，真是个暖男！ Lǐ Míng yòu rèqíng yòu tǐtiē, zhēn shì gè nuǎnnán! Li Ming is enthusiastic and considerate. He’s a real sweet guy!

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3. 秒杀(miǎoshā) Seckil Origin and Usage

“秒(miǎo)” means “second,” as in the unit of time, and “杀(shā)” is a verb which means “to kill.” Combining them, “秒杀(miǎoshā)” is translated literally as “one-second kill.” The term originated from online, multi-player videogames, in which the term refers to a situation in which a player who doesn’t have any other option is killed or kills his opponent in an instantaneous attack. When it comes to shopping, “秒杀(miǎoshā)” means “seckill,” a new term that refers to a sales method with which online vendors sell an expensive product at an exorbitantly low price far below market value for a given time period. For example, they may sell an iPad for just one Yuan. With such a low price, a lot of Chinese netizens will flock to the website at the designated time, constantly refreshing their screen until the given moment arrives. For just one second, the price will plummet and the shopper whose index finger clicks the fastest will walk away with an incredible bargain. In addition, “ 秒 杀 (miǎoshā)” has another meaning, which is “out-sanding” or “to be better than someone in terms of a given aspect.”

Examples

1. 这是我在网上秒杀的相机，价格很便宜。 Zhè shì wǒ zài wǎngshàng miǎoshā de xiàngjī, jiàgé hěn piányi. This is the camera I got from seckilling. It was very cheap. 2. 她的美丽秒杀了在场的其他女孩儿。 Tā de měilì miǎoshā le zàichǎng de qítā nǚháir. Her beauty trumped that of the other girls at the party.

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4. 亲(qīn) Dear

"亲 (qīn) " is short for "亲爱的(qīn'ài de) dear." "亲 (qīn) Dear" originated from the online conversation between sellers and buyers on Taobao.com, which is the Chinese version of eBay.The word "亲 (qīn)" helps the sellers create a friendly image, and some customers maycall the sellers "亲 (qīn) dear" back. Now, you may hear people say "亲 (qīn) dear" in daily greetings. For example: "亲，能 帮我个忙吗？(Qīn, néngbāngwǒgemáng ma?) Dear, could you please do me a favor?"

Example Lisa: 亲，你觉得这条裙子怎么样？ Qīn, nǐ juéde zhè tiáo qúnzi zěnme yàng? Dear, how do you likethis dress? Anne: 我很喜欢，价钱也便宜。 Wǒ hěn xǐhuan, jiàqián yě piányi. I love it, and this dress is also very cheap.

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Chapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Internet

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5. 人气(rénqì) Popularity Origin

“ 人气 (rénqì)” literally means “human breathing,” but now it is widely used to refer to “the degree of popularity” of something. It can be used as a noun or in the following phrase structure: “人气(rénqì) + people/thing.”

Usage

When a person or thing enjoys extreme popularity, we can say its “人气很高/旺(rénqì hěn gāo/wàng).” For such popular online stores as Taobao (a Chinese website for online shopping), the first thing sellers want to do is “ 增 加 人 气 (zēngjiā rénqì) increase popularity” of their products. By doing so, they can get a higher position in product search results, which can bring them more potential buyers. Also, with social networks now being widely used, blog owners, like those on Weibo, also want their personal homepages to have “人气(rénqì)” to attract more attention.

Examples 1. Beyonce 是美国最具人气的歌手之一。 Beyonce shì měiguó zuì jù rénqì de gēshǒu zhī yī. Beyonce is one of the most popular singers in America. 2. 这家冰淇淋店人气很旺，我们去这家吧！ Zhè jiā bīngqílín diàn rénqì hěn wàng, wǒmen qù zhè jiā ba! This ice-cream shop is really famous. Let’s go to this one!

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6. 宅(zhái) To stay at home all day Origin and Usage

“ 宅(zhái)” means house or residence. Now people give “ 宅(zhái)” a new meaning and use it to describe those who seldom go out but stay at home all day. They usually rely on the Internet to connect with the outside world. They can stay at home for several weeks at a time. Later, people invented two additional popular words using “宅(zhái).” One word is “ 宅男 (zháinán),” which refers to a male who likes staying at home and hardly takes part in social activities. The other one is “ 宅 女(zháinǚ),” the female version of “ 宅 男 (zháinán).”

Examples

1. 他很宅。 Tā hěn zhái. He always stays at home all day. 2. 他是一个宅男。 Tā shì yīgè zháinán. He is always staying at home. 3. 他的老婆是个宅女。 Tā de lǎopó shì gè zháinǚ. His wife is always staying at home.

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7. 吃货(chīhuò) Foodie Origin and Usage

“ 货 (huò)” basically means “goods” or “commodities”, but people sometimes use it nowadays in a derogatory way to make jokes about or insult other people. Examples of this phrase in use include “蠢货(chǔnhuò) idiot” and “二货(èrhuò) stupid person”. “吃货(chīhuò)” actually refers to people who have a special love for food or who have great tastes when it comes to food. In most cases, this type of people can eat like a horse. “吃货(chīhuò)” was first used to insult people, meaning that they can’t do anything other than eat. However, with the popularity of social media and the broadcast of the Chinese documentary A Bite of China, use of the word “吃货(chīhuò)” spread. From that point on, the meaning of “吃货(chīhuò)” started to change while more and more Chinese started using this word to describe themselves and friends, as a way to show their great love for food. Now, this word is often used as a neutral word bearing a slightly positive connotation.

Examples Amy：晚上你想吃什么？ Wǎnshàng nǐ xiǎng chī shénme? What do you want to eat tonight? Tracy：我想吃北京烤鸭，宫保鸡丁，鱼香肉丝，还想吃牛排和比萨！ Wǒ xiǎng chī běijīng kǎoyā, gōngbǎojīdīng, yúxiāngròusī, hái xiǎng chī niúpái hé bǐsà! I want to eat Beijing duck, kung pao chicken,fish flavored pork, plus steak and pirzza! Amy: 你可真是一个十足的吃货呀！ Nǐ kě zhēn shì yígè shízú de chīhuò ya! Wow, you are a total foodie!

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8. 闪(shăn) To act quickly Origin

“闪(shăn)” originally means to sparkle or flash.

Usage

For instance, “闪耀(shănyào)” means glitter or shine. But it has a new meaning: describe those who act quickly. “ 闪 人 (shănrén)” means that somebody leaves quickly. “ 闪 婚 (shănhūn)” means getting married quickly (note: often means pre-maturely).

Examples

1. 我先闪人了，你一会再过来找我吧。 Wŏ xiān shănrén le, nĭ yíhuì zài guòlái zhăo wŏ ba. Let me go first. You may come to see me later. 2. 没时间了，我们得闪了。 Méi shíjiān le, wǒmen děi shǎn le. Time is up. We have to go now. 3. 他俩才认识一个月就闪婚了。 Tā liă cái rènshi yígèyuè jiù shănhūn le. They got married so quickly since they knew each other only for a month.

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9. 秀(xiù) Show Origin

Literally, “ 秀 (xiù)” means beautiful or elegant. But now it is also used as a verb “to show.” It comes from the transliteration of the English word “show.”

Usage and examples

1. 他又在秀自己的新发明。 Tā yòu zài xiù zìjǐ de xīn fāmíng. He is showing off his new invention to us again. 2. 大家快来秀一秀自己的想法，看谁的最棒！ Dàjiā kuài lái xiù yi xiù zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ, kàn shuí de zuì bàng. Let’s all show our ideas and see which one is the best.

做秀(zuòxiù) Make a show

“做秀(zuòxiù)” originates from the entertainment industry in Hong Kong and means to perform. Now people usually use the phrase to describe someone who does something superficially in order to gain others’ approval. “做(zuò)” means to make.

Example 别做秀了, 你那点儿花花肠子我还不了解吗? Bié zuòxiù le, nǐ nà diǎnr huāhuā chángzi wǒ hái bù liáojiě ma? Don’t make a show. You think I don’t know what you’re plotting?

脱口秀(tuōkǒuxiù) Talk show

“脱口秀(tuōkǒuxiù)” is the transliteration of the English phrase “talk show.” “脱(tuō)” literally means to take off (clothes), but here it means to say something quickly and fluently. “口(kǒu)” refers to mouth, and “秀(xiù)” means to show.

时装秀(shízhuāngxiù) Fashion show

“时(shí)” literally refers to time, but here it means fashion. “装(zhuāng)” means costume and dress. Got Questions? Sign Up for a Live One-to-One FREE Trial lesson now!

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10. 赞(zàn) Great or marvelous Origin With more and more Chinese people becoming internet users, Chinese social networks are growing ever more popular. Everyday, millions of Chinese netizens post their thoughts, their photos or even share tidbits of their daily personal lives on social media sites such as Weibo or WeChat. Consequently, many of their followers will comment on those posts or click the button-“赞(zàn).” So what does the Chinese character “赞(zàn)” mean? Read on for the answer in today’s online Chinese lesson.

Usage “赞(zàn)” is basically used as a verb meaning “to praise” or “to laud.” However, it can also be used as an adjective to mean “something/someone is great or marvelous.” Nowadays, most Chinese social networks have a “赞(zàn)” button, with the word “赞 (zàn)” alongside a thumbs-up icon or a heart-shaped icon under every post, similar to the “Like” button on Facebook. “点(diǎn)” means “to click”, so, can you guess what “点赞 (diǎnzàn)” means? If you guessed “to click on the thumbs-up button” you are right! If you “点赞(diǎnzàn)” it means that you agree with or like what your friends posted. With the “点赞(diǎnzàn)” system becoming so popular, it has become a new part of Chinese people’s daily conversations, a way to show their favorable emotion or praise for other people. The commonly seen sentence structure is “给(为)…点(个)赞.”

Examples

1. J.K 罗琳的书太赞了！ J.K luólín de shū tài zàn le! J.K Rowling’s books are really great! 2. 我们要学会给自己点赞。 Wǒmen yào xuéhuì gěi zìjǐ diǎnzàn. We should learn to praise ourselves.

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Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Campus

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Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Campus

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1. 纠结(jiūjié) Be entangled with "纠结(jiūjié)" was first used by the animation Fansub group back in 2001. In one of the cartoons, a character shouted "纠结啊! (jiūjié a!)” Since then, the term transitioned from being popular among animation fans, to being a popular termed widely used by the masses. The phrase " 纠 结 (jiūjié)" literally means entangled ropes or vines. It has come to represent the various feelings that tug on our heartstrings and play with our emotions for better or worse. We’ve all felt those inextricable knots in our stomachs when confronted with moments of confusion, hesitance, or bewilderment. In daily life, the phrase "纠 结 (jiūjié)" is quite flexible in its usage; it can act as a verb, adjective or noun. For instance, " 纠结(jiūjié)" can be used when people find themselves in a dilemma that prevents them from moving forward. Also, when they are indecisive and confronted with a particular choice, "纠结(jiūjié)" can describe their state of mind. If you go on any Chinese language social network, it’s quite common to see someone change their status to "我很纠结(wǒ hěn jiūjié)" when they have no idea how to make a decision.

Examples

1. 最近的工作让我很纠结。 Zuìjìn de gōngzuò ràng wǒ hěn jiūjié. My recentwork’s got me in a tough spot lately. 2. 这个电影看起来特纠结。 Zhège diànyǐng kànqǐlái tè jiūjié. This movie makes everyone feel conflicted. 3. 我想吃蛋糕，但又害怕长胖，好纠结呀！ Wǒ xiǎng chī dàngāo, dàn yòu hàipà zhǎng pàng, hǎo jiūjié ya! I want to eat that cake, but I’m afraid of getting fat…so many choices!

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2. 牛(niú) Excellent Origin

The original meaning of “牛(niú)” is cow, but it now also means “cool” or “excellent.” It is said that this additional meaning has originated from the north-eastern Chinese dialect.

Usage You can say “你好牛啊 (nǐ hǎo niú a)” or “真牛(zhēn niú)” to express your praise to others. So there are many circumstances for which you can use this word. For example, if your friend has won the championship title in a competition, you can give him/her a thumbs up and say, “你好牛啊! (nǐ hǎo niú a)” or “真牛! (zhēn niú)” to express “You are really excellent!”

Examples

1. 你真牛啊，每次考试都是全班第一。 Nǐ zhēn niú a, měicì kǎoshì dōushì quánbān dìyī. You are really excellent! Every time you are the number one in examination in your class. 2. 真牛! 他一个月内就当了经理。 Zhēn niú! Tā yígèyuè nèi jiù dāng le jīnglǐ. Excellent! He became a manager within one month.

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3. 校花(xiàohuā) School beauty Origin and Usage

Flowers are usually beautiful, so a girl who is well-known for her beauty in school is called “ 校花(xiàohuā).” Meanwhile, the most handsome boy in school is called “ 校草 (xiàocǎo);” grass and flowers are silhouetted against each other. “校(xiào)” means school, “花(huā)” means flower and “草(cǎo)” refers to grass.

Examples

1. 那女孩真漂亮啊，真不愧是校花。 Nà nǚhái zhēn piàoliang a, zhēn búkuì shì xiàohuā. How beautiful the girl is! She is indeed the school beauty. 2. 他们一个是校花一个是校草，真是绝配啊！ Tāmen yígè shì xiàohuā yígè shì xiàocǎo, zhēn shì juépèi a! She is the school beauty and he is the most handsome boy in school; they are a perfect match.

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Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Campus

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4. 翘课(qiàokè) To skip school Origin and Usage

Generally, the phrase “ 翘 课 (qiàokè) to skip school” is also called “ 逃 课 (táokè)” in Chinese. It comes from the Chinese character “ 翘 (qiào)” which vividly describes the action of lifting one’s bottom and leaving the seat. Have you ever played “ 跷 跷 板 (qiāoqiāobǎn) seesaw?” One will go up while the other goes down. So“ 翘 课 (qiàokè)” describes that when a teacher comes, students leave. “翘(qiào)” here means skipping and “课(kè)” refers to classes.

Examples

1. 他老是翘课，期末考试肯定过不了。 Tā lǎoshì qiàokè, qīmò kǎoshì kěndìng guò bù liǎo. He always skips school. I think he will fail in the final exams. 2. 她上课很认真，而且从不翘课。 Tā shàngkè hěn rènzhēn, érqiě cóng bú qiàokè. She studies carefully and never skips school.

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5. 放鸽子(fànggēzi) To fail to keep an appointment Origin

The phrase “ 放 鸽 子 (fàng gēzi)” means that one doesn’t keep his promise. “ 放 (fàng)” means to release or let go. And “ 鸽子 (gēzi)” refers to a dove. In ancient times, people mailed letters by using doves. One time, two people agreed to write letters to each other, but one of them sent a dove without a letter. Then the other person asked: “why did you only send me back the dove? You didn’t keep your promise.”

Usage

When you make an appointment with your friend and he fails to make the appointment, you can say “我被朋友放鸽子了(wǒ bèi péngyou fàng gēzi le).”

Examples

1. 你又被她放鸽子了？那以后不要轻易相信她的话。 Nǐ yòu bèi tā fànggēzi le? Nà yǐhòu búyào qīngyì xiāngxìn tā de huà. Did she fail to keep the appointment again? Then don’t believe her words easily. 2. 快，没时间了，我们不能放他鸽子。 Kuài, méi shíjiān le, wǒmen bú néng fàng tā gēzi le. Hurry up, time is up. We can not fail to keep the appointment.

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6. 挂科(guàkē) To fail an exam Origin and Usage

“挂科(guàkē) To fail an exam” came from a story. It is said that one year in a school, the school put up all the names of those who failed the exam on one paper and posted it on a public board on the wall. The character “挂(guà)” means to hang, and many young people (especially the teens) use the word to refer to a failure in life. You can say “我挂了(wǒ guà le)” to express that you failed in something. The character “科(kē)” means a subject in school. So the phrase “挂科(guàkē)” refers to fail in a subject in school/ to fail an exam. “又挂科了(yòu guàkē le)” means someone failed the exam again.

Examples

1. 我的数学课不能挂，要不然奖学金就泡汤了。 Wǒ de shùxuékè bùnéng guà, yàobùrán jiǎngxuéjīn jiù pàotāng le. I can’t fail in math, or my scholarship goes up in smoke. 2. 小明期末考试挂科了，妈妈狠狠批评了他。 Xiǎo míng qīmò kǎoshì guàkē le, māma hěnhěn pīpíng le tā. Xiǎo míng failed the final exam, and his mother criticized him severely.

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7. 兼职(jiānzhí) Part-time job Origin and Usage

The phrase “ 兼 职 (jiānzhí)” refers to a part-time job. The character “ 兼 (jiān)” means doing more than one thing. And in “ 兼 职 (jiānzhí),” “ 兼 (jiān)” describes that a person severing two or more positions, and “职(zhí)” means duty or job.

Examples 1. 我想这星期去找份兼职，给自己赚点生活费。 Wǒ xiǎng zhèxīngqī qù zhǎo fèn jiānzhí, gěi zìjǐ zhuàndiǎn shēnghuófèi. I plan to find a part-time job this weekend to make some extra money. 2. 你假期里应该找份兼职锻炼一下自己。 Nǐ jiàqī lǐ yīnggāi zhǎo fèn jiānzhí duànliàn yíxià zìjǐ. You should look for a part-time job to develop yourself during the vacations.

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8. 吹牛(chuīniú) Brag and boast Origin and Usage

It is said that the phrase “吹牛(chuīniú)” comes from the butcher shop. In some places, when a butcher butchers pigs and sheep, he will cut a small slit on the pig’s or sheep’s leg near the hoof. And after the blood has been completely drained, he will inflate them by blowing through the slit until the whole body expands, thus making the skin easy to peel. This is called inflating the pig. If this is done to a cow, it would be called “ 吹 牛 (chuīniú),” which literally means to inflate a cow. However, because a cow has such a huge body, it is very difficult for ordinary people to inflate it on their own. Thus, anyone who claims that he can inflate a cow is completely bragging or boasting. “ 吹 (chuī)” means to blow and “牛(niú)” means cow, and “吹牛(chuīniú)” is used to describe people who are bragging and boasting.

Examples

1. 别听他的，他很爱吹牛！ Bié tīng tā de, tā hěn ài chuīniú! Don't believe him, he loves to brag. 2. 他特别能吹牛，每天都说一些让人无法相信的事！ Tā tèbié néng chuīniú, měitiān dōu shuō yìxiē ràng rén wúfǎ xiāngxìn de shì! He is good at bragging and often says unbelievable things.

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9. 忽悠(hūyou) Hoodwink Origin

“忽悠(hūyou)” is a commonly used word in northern area of China and it originates from the word “胡诱(húyòu),” which means ‘recklessly misleading.’ It became popular from a witty skit “ 卖拐 (màiguăi) selling crutches,” created by comic stars Zhao Benshan, Fan Wei and Gao Xiumin in the Spring Festival Gala Evening in 2001. Since then, it has been widely used in daily life.

Usage

The word “ 忽 悠 (hūyou)” means flicker in its literal sense. Figuratively speaking, it means to hoodwink or bamboozle someone into doing something by using flattery or by boasting.

Examples

1. 你别忽悠我了。 Nǐbié hūyou wǒ le. Don’t trick me anymore. 2. 这个人可真能忽悠, 没事老忽悠人。 Zhè ge rén kĕ zhēn néng hūyou, méishì lăo hūyou rén. He is really a great talker and plays tricks now and then. 3. 我们去忽悠忽悠他。 Wŏ men qù hūyou hūyou tā. Let's persuade him.

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Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on Campus

第三章: 汉语十大校园流行词汇

10. 学霸(xuébà) Curve wrecker Meaning

Literally, “霸(bà)” means “to dominate, lord over, tyrannize over or rule by force.” “学霸(xué bà)” is a new buzzword that has recently been spread widely on the Internet, but we also use it in our daily lives. If we call someone a “学霸(xué bà),” we mean that he or she is a hard-working student, good at studying, and has extensive knowledge. Usually, a “ 学 霸 (xué bà)” gets excellent scores on exams. A “ 学 霸 (xué bà)” is approximately the equivalent to a “curve wrecker” or a “super scholar.”

Example 马冬昕和马冬晗是一对双胞胎，她们是清华大学的“学霸姐妹花”。 Mǎ Dōnɡxīn hé Mǎ Dōnɡhán shì yíduì shuānɡbāotāi, tāmen shì qīnɡhuádàxué de “xué bà jiěmèihuā.” Ma Dongxin and Ma Donghan are twins. They are “super scholar twins” at Tsinghua University.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

1. 高富帅(gāo fù shuài) Tall, rich and handsome Meaning and Usage

During the Euro 2012 games, time and time again fans cheered the fantastic goals made by Cristiano Ronaldo. His impeccable performance, combined with his good looks, attracted the attention of many girls' eyes in China. Ronaldo was dubbed the top "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" of Euro 2012. So what does "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" mean? It is composed of three adjectives: 高 (gāo) tall, 富 (fù) rich and 帅 (shuài) handsome, and refers to men who possess all three of these enviable qualities. Basically, "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" makes ideal candidates for dating and marriage! Although an old idea, "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" is a relatively new word. With the popularity of "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" came the corresponding phrase "白富美 (bái fù měi)." This refers to girls who have ivory complexion, and are rich, and beautiful. Three adjectives are: 白 (bái) ivory complexion, 富 (fù) rich and 美 (měi) beautiful. People believe that "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" and "白富美 (bái fù měi)" are a match made in heaven.

Example

Mary: 听说 Lucy 恋爱了。 Tīngshuō Lucy liàn'ài le. I heard that Lucy fell in love. Jenny: 是啊，她男朋友是高富帅呢。 Shì a, tā nán péngyou shì gāo fù shuài ne. Yes, her boyfriend is tall, rich and handsome.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

2. 我爱你(wǒ ài nǐ) I love you Origin and Usage

The character “ 我 (wǒ)” means I, “ 爱 (ài )” means love and “ 你 (nǐ)” means you. The character “爱(ài) love” consists of a character “爪(zhǎo) claw” on the top and a character “友(yǒu) friend” below. So, there is a saying that you will achieve love if you can grasp your friend. You can say “老婆/老公，我爱你！(lǎopo/lǎogōng, wǒ ài nǐ!)” to show your love to your wife or husband.

Examples 1. 他深情地对莉莉说：“我爱你，让我用一生来证明我对你的爱吧”！ Tā shēnqíng de duì lìlì shuō: “Wǒ ài nǐ, ràng wǒ yòng yīshēng lái zhèngmíng wǒ duì nǐ de ài ba!” He said to lily affectionately: “I love you, let me use my lifetime to prove my love for you.” 2. 我爱你，妈妈! 谢谢你为我所做的一切。 Wǒ ài nǐ, māma, xièxiè nǐ wèi wǒ suǒ zuò de yīqiè. I love you, Mom! Thanks for what you have done for me.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

3. 红颜知己(hóngyánzhījǐ) Female soul mate Origin and Usage

“ 红 颜 知 己 (hóngyánzhījǐ)” refers to a female soul mate for a male. The character “ 红 (hóng)” means red; the character “颜(yán)” means face or countenance; the character “知 (zhī)” means to know or to understand and the character “己(jǐ)” means oneself. The phrase “ 红 颜 (hóngyán)” literally refers to sanguine complexions, especially the females’rosy cheeks. But here “ 红 颜 (hóngyán)” refers to a beauty. The phrase “ 知 己 (zhījǐ) confidant” means people who have respect, deep understanding, adoration, and appreciation between each other. They also tolerate and care for each other.

Examples 1. 红颜知己是可遇而不可求的。 Hóngyánzhījǐ shì kě yù ér bù kě qiú de. One can only expect to meet a female soul mate by chance, rather than by searching. 2. 想成为别人的红颜知己是不容易的。 Xiǎng chéngwéi biérén de hóngyánzhījǐ shì bù róngyì de. It is difficult to become another’s confidante.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

4. 热恋(rèliàn) Head over heels in love Origin and Usage “ 热 (rè)” originally means hot, but it also means a strong emotion--passionate about certain things. “ 恋(liàn)” means love or love affair. When someone falls passionately in love and is intoxicated by the feeling we call him/her in the state of “热恋(rèliàn).” There are another two stages when people are in love: “初恋(chūliàn)” refers to “Fall in love for the time ” and “失恋(shīliàn) be crossed in love.”

Example 他俩正处在热恋阶断，每天形影不离。 Tā liǎng zhèng chù zài rèliàn jiēduàn, měitiān xíngyǐngbùlí. They are together with each other every day, because they are passionately in love.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

5. 初恋(chūliàn) First love Meaning

What’s the meaning of 初恋 (chūliàn)? 初 (chū) in Chinese means "first," and 恋 (liàn) means "to fall in love." So 初恋 (chūliàn) means "first love." 初恋 (chūliàn) can be used to describe the first time you fell in love as well as the first person you fell in love with. Let’s look at the following sentences. Can you guess which of the two uses is being used?

Examples 1. 你能讲讲你的初恋吗? Nǐ néng jiǎngjiang nǐ de chūliàn ma? 2. 他是我的初恋。 Tā shì wǒ de chūliàn. In the first sentence, 初 恋 (chūliàn) means your first love affair. The whole sentence means "Could you please talk about your first love affair?" In the second sentence, 初恋 (chūliàn) refers to the first person you fell in love with. The whole sentence means "He is my first love." Most 初恋 (chūliàn) happens during school time when people are young. Some people say that the feeling of 初恋 (chūliàn) is like eating an unripe apple: bittersweet.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

6. 早恋(zǎoliàn) Puppy Love/Falling in Love at an Early Age Origin and Usage

“早恋(zǎoliàn) puppy love” is also called puberty love. “ 早(zǎo)” literally means early, such as in the word “早晨(zǎochén)” and “早上(zǎoshàng)” which both mean morning. But here “早(zǎo)”means at a young age. “恋(liàn)” means love or have a love affair. In China, puppy love refers to the relationship where people involved are less than 18 years old, especially the students in secondary schools. According to a recent report, for the past twenty-years in China, most people had the experience of 早 恋 (zǎoliàn) in their secondary schools, including “暗恋(ànliàn) unrequited love. ” “暗(àn)” literally means dim such as in the word “黑暗(hēiàn) dark.” And in “暗恋(ànliàn) unrequited love” the character “暗(àn)” means secretly.

Examples 1.

家长需要正确引导孩子的早恋。 Jiāzhǎng xūyào zhèngquè yǐndǎo háizi de zǎoliàn. The parents need to guide their children’s puppy love properly.

2.

老师们都把早恋看作一个棘手的问题。 Lǎoshī men dōu bǎ zǎoliàn kànzuò yígè jíshǒu de wèntí. The so-called “puppy love” problem is a thorny issue for all teachers.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

7. 第三者(dìsānzhě) Someone who is in an adulterous relationship with a married man or woman Origin and Usage “第三者(dìsānzhě)” literally means third party. The character “第(dì)” is a prefix before a number, “三( sān)” means three and “者(zhě)” means person. “第三者(dìsānzhě)” is also called “小三(xiǎosān),” where “小(xiǎo)” means little.

Examples

1. 因为她充当了不光彩的第三者，目前处境十分尴尬。 Yīnwèi tā chōngdāng le bù guāngcǎi de dìsānzhě, mùqián chǔjìng shífēn gāngà. She is in an embarrassing situation because she is in an adulterous relationship with a married man. 2. 电视剧《蜗居》中,郭海藻就是一个不折不扣的第三者！ Diànshìjù wōjū zhōng, Guō Hǎizǎo jiùshì yígè bùzhébúkòu de dìsānzhě. In TV series “Dwelling Narrowness,” Guo Haizao is a fully-fledged third party.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

8. 暗送秋波(ànsòngqiūbō) Secretly to cast flirtatious looks at somebody Origin

The idiom “暗送秋波(ànsòngqiūbō) make eyes at somebody” came from a story about Lü Bu and Diao Chan in the great Chinese classic novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Situ Wangyun wanted to kill Dong Zhuo who was autocratic. He had a good idea. He asked a beautiful girl named Diao Chan, who is good at both singing and dancing, to seduce both Dong Zhuo and his adopted son Lü Bu. Diao Chan secretly made eyes at them so they would both fall in love with her. And when Lü Bu found out that Dong Zhuo liked Diao Chan, he became very angry and killed Dong Zhuo.

Usage

The idiom “暗送秋波(ànsòngqiūbō) make eyes at somebody” is for men and women who secretly express their love between each other. “暗(àn)” means secretly and “ 送(song)” means to send. “秋(qiū)” refers to autumn and “波(bō)” refers to water waves.

Examples 1. 我看到你对那个女孩暗送秋波了。 Wǒ kàndào nǐ duì nàgè nǚhái ànsòngqiūbō le. I saw you secretly making eyes at that girl. 2. 恋爱往往是从暗送秋波开始的。 Liàn’ài wángwǎng shì cóng ànsòngqiūbō kāishǐ de. Love is often started from making eyes at each other.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

9. 异地恋(yìdì liàn) Long-distance relationship Origin and Usage

The phrase “ 异地 恋(yìdìliàn)” refers to Long-distance Relationship. The character “ 异 (yì)” means different, and “地(dì)” means place. “恋(liàn)” means love.

Examples

1. 选择异地恋是需要很大的勇气的。 Xuǎnzé yìdìliàn shì xūyào hěn dà de yǒngqì de. Choosing a long-distance relationship requires a lot of courage. 2. 相互信任是维持异地恋的关键。 Xiānghù xìnrèn shì wéichí yìdì liàn de guānjiàn. Mutual trust is the key to a long-distance relationship.

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Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇

10. 来电(láidiàn) To click with someone/have sparks Origin

“ 来 电 (láidiàn)” originally refers to the restoration of electricity supply after a power failure. Now it is used to vividly describe the feeling between a man and a woman when they first meet each other--just like an electric shock.

Usage The phrase “来电(láidiàn)” means to click with someone or have sparks. “来(lái)” means to come and “ 电 (diàn)” originally refers to electricity, but here, it refers to a kind of lightning emotional feeling.

Examples

1. 两个人一旦来电，脑子里就全是对方。 Liǎnggè rén yídàn láidiàn, nǎozi lǐ jiù quán shì duìfāng. Once two people click with each other, each person’s mind is full of the other person. 2. 任凭我怎样撮合，他俩就是不来电。 Rènpíng wǒ zěnyàng cuōhe, tāliǎ jiùshì bù láidiàn. No matter what I do, they still don’t click with each other.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

1. 萌(méng) young and innocent "萌 (méng)" literarily means to sprout and is the symbol of spring. From this, the meaning of "萌 (méng)" has been extended to describe girls who are young and innocent. The term originated from the animation industry and was used as a lingua franca to refer to young, innocent and beautiful little girls. Another popular phrase is "卖萌 (màiméng)" which is a verb and means to "pretend to be cute" to attract the audience. The word "卖 (mài)" literally means to sell, but here it is the short form of "卖弄 (màīnong)" meaning to show off.

Examples 1. 他在这个电影 里演 的角色 好萌啊，我们都很喜欢！ Tā zài zhège diànyǐng lǐ yǎn de juésè hǎo méng a, wǒmen dōu hěn xǐhuan. The role he played in the movie was really young and innocent; we all liked it! 2. 妹妹总是在我面前卖萌好让我给她买糖吃！ Mèimei zǒng shì zài wǒ miànqián màiméng hǎo ràng wǒ gěi tā mǎi táng chī! My little sister always pretends to be innocentin front of me in order to get candy from me! 3. 五岁的女儿穿着粉色的裙子，一上台就萌翻全场。 Wǔsuì de nǚ'ér chuānzhe fěnsè de qúnzi, yí shàng tái jiù méng fān quánchǎng. My 5-year-old daughter is so innocentand cute when she wears her pink skirt. The entire audience cannot help applauding her when she comes out on the stage.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

2. 耍大牌(shuǎdàpái) To snub Meaning and Usage “耍大牌(shuǎdàpái)” basically means “to snub” and is always used to describe self-important or arrogant stars. We can remark that a star “耍大牌(shuǎdàpái)” if he or she looks down upon others and treats them as inferior, often attends activities late whether intentionally or not, turns down an invitation to an event which he or she has already promised to attend without any notice, rejects interviews in a rude manner, etc.

Examples 1. 那个女明星经常耍大牌，参加活动的时候常常迟到！ Nàgè nǚmíngxīng jīngcháng shuǎdàpái, cānjiā huódòng de shíhou chángcháng chídào! That female star is such a snob, because she often arrives late when attending events! 2. 刘德华是大明星，但是他很少耍大牌。 Liú Déhuá shì dàmíngxīng, dànshì tā hěnshǎo shuǎdàpái. Lau Andy is a big star, but he is seldom arrogant.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

3. 新秀(xīnxiù) Up-and-coming youngster Origin and Usage

The phrase “新秀(xīnxiù)” means up-and-coming youngster. It was originated from the word “秀(xiù)” which means to show. Here the word refers to a new comer and “新(xīn)” means new.

Examples

1. 在 NBA 中, 我们把第一年进球队打比赛的人叫“新秀”。 Zài NBA zhōng, wǒmen bǎ dìyīnián jìn qiúduì dǎ bǐsài de rén jiào “xīnixù.” The one playing in the NBA in his first year is called a rookie. 2. 现在娱乐界的新秀层出不穷。 Xiànzài yúlèjiè de xīnxiù céngchūbùqióng. Now up-and-coming youngsters in showbiz emerge one after another.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

4. 八卦(bāguà) Gossip Origin The phrase “八卦(bāguà) the Eight diagram” originates from the ancient thinking of the origin of the universe. It relates to the relationship among the earth, the sun, the moon, and various aspects of the society and human life. “ 八 卦 (bāguà) The Eight diagram” represents the philosophical thinking of ancient China, which had influences on traditional Chinese medicine, kung fu, music and so on. In the entertainment world, however, “八卦(bāguà)” means gossip, often referring to the private lives of celebrities as reported by entertainment news or paparazzi.

Usage The character “八(bā)” refers to eight and the character “卦(guà)” means trigram. “八卦 (bāguà)” means to tell tales everywhere.

Examples 1. 无论是没有通讯的时代还是今天的网络社会，八卦从未消失。 Wúlùn shì méiyǒu tōngxùn de shídài háishì jīntiān de wǎngluò shèhuì, bāguà cóng wèi xiāoshī. Gossip has never disappeared, whether in an era without communication technology or in today’s the networked society. 2. 最新调查表明,男人比女人还爱八卦。 Zuì xīn diàochá biǎomíng, nánren bǐ nǚren hái ài bāguà. The latest research has shown that men gossip more than women do.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

5. 绯闻(fēiwén) Pink news/ Love affair Origin and Usage

“ 绯 闻 (fēiwén)” means pink news, or love affair. The character “ 绯(fēi)” means red or pink. The character “闻(wén)” means news. “绯闻(fēiwén)” was once only used to refer to the love affair between men and women in the entertainment business. However, it is now also used between common people as well. When people talk about “绯闻(fēiwén),” they may not know the truthfulness of the news, but they can’t help spreading and enjoying the process of circling it.

Examples

1. 李磊和韩梅梅之间的绯闻是真的吗？ Lǐ lěi hé Hán Méiméi zhījiān de fēiwén shì zhēn de ma? Is the pink news between Li Lei and Han meimei true? 2. 娱乐圈的绯闻大多数都是假的。 Yúlèquān de fēiwén dàduōshù dōushì jiǎ de. Most of the pink news from the entertainment world is not true.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

6. 狗仔队(gǒuzǎiduì) Paparazzi Origin

“狗仔队(gǒuzǎiduì)” originally came from the word paparazzi, which was the last name of an actor who acted as a journalist taking private photos of public figures in an Italian movie. Since the spelling and the pronunciation of paparazzi is similar to that of “ 狗仔 (gǒuzǎi) puppy,” and the paparazzi normally work as a “队(duì) team,” people in Hong Kong first coined this Chinese phrase “狗仔队(gǒuzǎiduì).”

Usage

“ 狗 (gǒu)” means dog and “ 仔 (zǎi)” means young animal, so “ 狗 仔 (gǒuzǎi)” means puppy. “狗(gǒu)” also implies that paparazzi are acting like dogs chasing after something. “队(duì)” means group or team.

Examples

1. 大部分名人都讨厌狗仔队，因为狗仔队报出的新闻多是负面的。 Dàbùfen míngrén dōu tǎoyàn gǒuzǎiduì, yīnwèi gǒuzǎiduì bào chū de xīnwén duō shì fùmiàn de. Most of the celebrities dislike the paparazzi, because news reported by paparazzi is mostly negative. 2. 狗仔队的工作并不是很好干。 Gǒuzǎiduì de gōngzuò bìng búshì hěn hǎo gàn. The job of Paparazzi is not easy to do.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

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7. 大腕(dàwànr) Big shot Origin

“大腕(dàwànr) big shot” was originated from the phrase “大拿” which came from “拿摩 温 ,” the transliteration of the English phrase “number one.” It was used to describe foremen in the factories in Shanghai in the early twenty century. With the release of a blockbuster movie Big Shot directed by Feng Xiaogang in the late 90s, the phrase became popular.

Usage

The phrase “大腕(dàwànr) big shot” is generally used as a noun. “大(dà)” means big and “腕(wàn)” literally means wrist, but here it means popularity. “大腕(dàwànr) big shot” is used to describe a person who has a great reputation and a good standing in a certain area. We also use this phrase in other situations to describe high-status, or those who have made great contributions.

Examples

1. 现在的大腕就爱耍大牌。 Xiànzài de dàwànr jiù ài shuǎdàpái. The big shots nowadays are fond of putting on airs. 2. 追星族们疯狂地追捧他们喜欢的明星大腕。 Zhuīxīngzú men fēngkuáng de zhuīpěng tāmen xǐhuan de míngxīng dàwànr. Fans crazily follow those celebrity big shots wherever they appear.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

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8. 炒作(chǎozuò) To hype Origin and Usage

“炒作(chǎozuò) to hype” refers to the promotion of a particular matter with exaggeration. The literary meaning of “炒(chǎo)” is to stir-fry and the literary meaning of “作(zuò)” is to do.

Examples

1. 有的明星为了提高名气，就故意用假结婚的新闻炒作自己。 Yǒude míngxīng wèile tígāo míngqì, jiù gùyì yòng jiǎ jiéhūn de xīnwén chǎozuò zìjǐ. In order to enhance their reputations, some stars hype themselves deliberately with the false marriage news. 2. 媒体的炒作越来越常见了。 Méitǐ de chǎozuò yuèláiyuè chángjiàn le. The media hype has been more and more widespread.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

9. 粉丝(fěnsī) Fans Origin and Usage

Original “粉丝(fěnsī)” refers to bean vermicelli. Since the pronunciation of English word “fans” is very similar to that of Chinese word “粉丝(fěnsī)”, thus people call fans “粉丝 (fěnsī)” in China. So “粉丝(fěnsī)” is transliterated from “fans.” “粉(fěn)” means powder and “丝(sī)” means thread.

Examples

1. 很多明星都有一群力挺他们的粉丝。 Hěnduō míngxīng dōu yǒu yìqún lìtǐng tāmen de fěnsī. Many stars have a group of fans who support them. 2. 他是 NBA 的忠实粉丝，每场比赛都会观看。 Tā shì NBA de zhōngshí fěnsī, měi chǎng bǐsài dōu huì guānkàn. He is a loyal NBA fans and watches every game.

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Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇

10. 火(huǒ) Hot Origin and Usage

The original meaning of “火(huǒ)” is fire. Since “火(huǒ) fire” is very hot and its color is red, the extended meaning of “火(huǒ)” is to be popular or a hit. So we can say: “这部电 影太火了(zhèbù diànyǐng tài huǒ le) this film is so hot.” “火(huǒ)” here means popular or hot.

Examples

1. 这部电影最近很火。 Zhèbù diànyǐng zuìjìn hěn huǒ. Recently, this movie became very hot. 2. 近几年来，各种电视选秀节目都很火。 Jìnjǐnián lái, gèzhǒng diànshì xuǎnxiù jiémù dōu hěn huǒ. In the past a few years, various TV talent shows are very hot.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

1. 大满贯(dàmǎnguàn) Grand slam Origin and Usage “ 大 满 贯 (dàmǎnguàn)” was originally a bridge term, which means winning all tricks during the play of one hand. Now, the word is usually used in the sports world. “大满贯 (dàmǎnguàn)” generally refers to an athlete or a sports team that has won championships of several key competitions such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, and the World Cup. “大(dà)” means big, “满(mǎn)” means complete, and “贯(guàn)” means to pass through. “满贯”(mǎnguàn) means slam.

Examples

1. 在中国乒乓球史上，刘国梁是第一位获得大满贯的选手。 Zài Zhōngguó pīngpāngqiú shǐ shàng, Liú Guóliáng shì dì yī wèi huòdé dàmǎnguàn de xuǎnshǒu. In the history of Chinese table tennis, Liu Guoliang was the first grand slam winner. 2. 自从 1968 年网球成为职业运动以来，世界一号选手辛吉斯成为最年轻的大满贯 单打冠军。 Zìcóng yījiǔliùbā nián wǎngqiú chéngwéi zhíyè yùndòng yǐ lái, shìjiè yī hào xuǎnshǒu Xīnjísī chéngwéi zuì niánqīng de dàmǎnguàn dān dǎ guànjūn. Hingis, who ranked number one in the world, had been the youngest grand slam champion since tennis was opened to professional players in 1968.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

2. 蝉联(chánlián) To defend one’s title successfully Origin and Usage

The phrase “蝉联(chánlián)” means to defend one’s title successfully. “蝉(chán) cicada” is a kind of insect. And the character “联(lián)” means continuous or 连续的(liánxù de). For example, “蝉联亚军(chánlián yàjūn)” means to maintain the second place two years in a row.

Examples

1. 飞人博尔特蝉联本年度田径最佳运动员榜首。 Fēirén Bóěrtè chánlián běn niándù tiánjìng zuì jiā yùndòngyuán bǎngshǒu. Bolt won “The best track and field athlete” award two years in a row. 2. 她在世锦赛中蝉联了三届 400 米跑冠军。 Tā zài shìjǐnsài zhōng chánlián le sān jiè sìbǎi mǐ pǎo guànjūn. She has won 400 meters World Championship three times in a row.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

3. 拉拉队(lālāduì) Cheering squad Origin and Usage

“拉(lā)” originally means to pull. Here in “拉拉队(lālāduì),” it describes that everyone holds together hand by hand to make joint efforts. You can say “我拉你一把(wǒ lā nǐ yì bǎ) I can help you.” And “ 队 (duì)” means team. So a team gathered together to boost athletes’ morale is called “拉拉队(lālāduì) Cheering squad.”

Examples

1. 一场球赛中，拉拉队的呐喊是必不可少的。 Yìchǎng qiúsài zhōng, lālāduì de nàhǎn shì bìbùkěshǎo de. A cheering squad’s performance is important for a sports game. 2. 昨天的篮球比赛好激烈啊，整个比赛中拉拉队的叫喊声一直没停过。 Zuótiān de lánqiú bǐsài hǎo jīliè a, zhěnggè bǐsài zhōng lālāduì de jiàohǎnshēng yìzhí méi tíng guò. Yesterday’s basketball game was so intense, the cheering squad’s hurrah continued till the end of the match.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

4. 黑哨(Hēishào) Bad ref. calls Meaning

“黑(hēi)” means “black,” and “哨(shào)” means “whistle,” together they make the word, “黑哨(hēishào),” which literally means “black whistle.” But, what does it really mean? In fact, “ 黑 哨(hēishào)” means that the referees are corrupt. If a referee “ 吹 黑 哨(chuī hēishào)” in a game, it means that he is being unfair in his judgment. A referee is supposed to be transparent and objective in his manner and should serve as an unbiased judge during the match. However, in reality, we can often see unfair judgment calls on the part of the referee. During the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, the Japanese referee Nishimura Yuichi was considered to “ 吹黑哨(chuī hēishào).” This is due to the penalty awarded by him to Brazil when Brazil striker Fred appeared to be tugged inside the penalty area by Lovren. However the slow-motion playback showed that Fred wasn’t touched.

Example 球员们集体罢赛，抗议裁判的黑哨。 Qiúyuán men jítǐ bàsài, kàngyì cáipàn de hēishào. The players refused to play to protest against the bias of the referees.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

5. 乌龙球(wūlóngqiú) Own goal Origin and Usage

“ 乌 龙 球 (wūlóngqiú)” originates from the English word “own goal.” From the 1960s, journalists in Hong Kong began to translate “own goal” into “ 乌 龙 球 (wūlóngqiú),” because the two have similar sound in Cantonese. The character “乌(wū)” means black or dark, “龙(lóng)” means dragon, and “球(qiú)” means ball. There is a folklore about “乌龙 (wūlóng)” in Guangdong Province. It is said that in ancient China, people prayed to the Green Dragon, which is the lucky symbol for rain during a long drought. However, when Black or Dark Dragon appeared instead of the Green Dragon, disasters came one after another. Later on, people used Black or Dark Dragon to describe misfortune. “ 乌 龙 球 (wūlóngqiú) own goal” is a frequently used word in conversations related to soccer. “乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú)” stands for bad luck for the team just as the Dark Dragon stood for misfortune for ancient Chinese people.

Examples

1. 杨程本场的两记乌龙球注定了球队的败局。 Yáng Chéng běnchǎng de liǎngjì wūlóngqiú zhùdìng le qiúduì de bàijú. Two own goals by Yang Cheng led to the failure of his team in the game. 2. 乌龙球是球迷们津津乐道的话题。 Wūlóngqiú shì qiúmí men jīnjīnlèdào de huàtí. Soccer fans are never tired of talking about own goals.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

6. 爆冷门(bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner Origin

“爆冷门(bàolěngmén)” appeared first in the casino. Most people put their stakes on the popular side, thus the hot side emerged. The opposite of the popular side was the unpopular side, which received little attention to gamblers. This unpopular side was called “ 冷门(lěngmén).” “ 爆(bào)” means to produce an unexpected result. “ 冷(lěng)” means cold literally, but here it means unpopular. “门(mén)” means door.

Examples

1. 昨天足球比赛爆冷门，有一匹黑马赢球了，是一个名不见经传的新球队。 Zuótiān zúqiú bǐsài bàolěngmén, yǒu yìpǐ hēimǎ yíng qiú le, shì yígè míngbújiànjīngzhuàn de xīn qiúduì. A dark horse bobbed up in yesterday’s football game. An unknown team won. 2. 今年的金马奖爆了个大冷门。 Jīnnián de jīnmǎ jiǎng bào le gè dà lěngmén. This year’s Gold Horse Award had a big unexpected winner.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

7. 翻盘(fānpán) To turn defeat into victory Origin and Usage

The phrase “翻盘(fānpán) to turn defeat into victory” was originated from a sentence “这 个还没有说好，那个又翻盘了，就这样耍尖狡(Zhègè hái méiyǒu shuō hǎo, nàgè yòu fānpán le, jiù zhèyàng shuǎjiānjiǎo) This doesn’t come to an agreement and that promise is already broken. He is such a slippery fellow” from the movie The Gold Rush directed and acted by Charles Chaplin, where “ 翻 盘 (fānpán)” means to break the promise. But now “ 翻 盘 (fānpán)” is widely used in sports meaning to turn defeat into victory. “ 翻 (fān)” means to overthrow and “盘(pán)” literally means tray.

Examples

1. 2009 年 12 月 22 日，国王创造了 NBA 历史上新的翻盘纪录。 Èrlínglíngjiǔ nián shíèr yuè èrshíèr rì, Guówáng chuàngzào le NBA lìshǐ shàng xīn de fānpán jìlù. Sacremento Kings broke NBA’s new record for turning defeat into victory on December 22, 2009. 2. 领先一球的阿森纳队在五分钟内被对手翻盘。 Lǐngxiān yì qiú de Āsēnnàduì zài wǔ fēnzhōng nèi bèi duìshǒu fānpán. While Arsenal was one goal ahead toward the end of the game, it was defeated by its opponent within the last five minutes.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

8. 东道主(dōngdàozhǔ) Host Origin and Usage

The phrase “ 东 道 主 (dōngdàozhǔ) host” was originated from 左 传 (zuǒzhuàn) (a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals). At that time, the State of Zheng on the east side of the State of Qin welcomed Qin’s ambassador, so Zheng is called “ 东 道 主 (dōngdàozhǔ) host.” “东(dōng)” means east, “道(dào)” means road, and “主(zhǔ)” means host. Later, “ 东 道 主 (dōngdàozhǔ)” refers to anybody who offers a treat to others in general. Now it also refers to any hosts such as host countries, host cities, and so on.

Examples

1. 东道主队在 6 局中的击球打得十分出色。 Dōngdàozhǔ duì zài liù jú zhōng de jīqiú dǎ de shífēn chūsè. The host team was very good at the bat for six innings. 2. 我们学校担任这次学术会议的东道主。 Wǒmen xuéxiào dānrèn zhè cì xuéshù huìyì de dōngdàozhǔ. Our school will be the host of this academic conference.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

9. 黑马(hēimǎ) Dark horse Origin and Usage

The word “黑马 (hēimǎ) dark horse” came from a horse racing scene in a novel called Young Duke by British statesman Benjamin Disileisi in the 19th century. The character “黑(hēi)” means dark and “马(mǎ)” means horse. “黑马(hēimǎ) dark horse” refers to an unexpected winner.

Examples

1. 彭帅被称为网球界的一匹黑马。 Péng Shuài bèi chēngwéi wǎngqiújiè de yìpǐ hēimǎ. Peng Shuai is referred as a dark horse in the tennis world. 2. 你真是黑马啊！没想到你竟然在这次 3000 米长跑比赛中拿第一。 Nǐ zhēn shì hēimǎ a! Méi xiǎngdào nǐ jìngrán zài zhècì sānqiān mǐ chángpǎo bǐsài zhōng ná dìyī. You're really a dark horse! Unexpectedly, you have won the champion in the 3,000 meter long-distance race.

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Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇

10. 力挺(lìtǐng) To support strongly Origin and usage

The word “ 力 挺 (lìtǐng)” is believed to have been introduced by politicians in Taiwan. Now it is used in different fields, such as entertainment and sports. The character “力(lì)” means strength and “挺(tǐng)” means to hold out.

Examples 1. 全班同学力挺你参加这次选秀活动。 Quánbān tóngxué lìtǐng nǐ cānjiā zhècì xuǎnxiù huódòng. The whole class will support you strongly to participate in this talent show. 2. 深圳市政府力挺深航渡过难关。 Shēnzhèn shìzhèngfǔ lìtǐng shēnháng dùguò nánguān. The government of Shengzheng gives Shengzheng Aviation Company strong support to ride out the storm.

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