Most popular mandarin chinese words (2011 edition)

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First Edition: December 2009

1

Table of Contents
Contents

C hapter One: Top Ten Popular Daily Chinese Words (2011 Edition)
(2011

第一章:汉语十大生活流行词汇 (2011 版)
第一章:
1. 我的神啊! (wŏ de shén a) My god!
2. 做东(zuòdōng) Act as a host
3. 低调(dīdiào) Keep a low profile
4. 抬杠(táigàng) To argue for the sake of arguing
5. 拍马屁(pāimǎpì) Kiss up to someone
6. 物质(wùzhì) Materialistic
7. 靠谱(kàopǔ) Reliable/ To be trusted
8. 涨(zhăng) Raise
9. 拼(pīn) To put together or to unite
10. 给力(gěilì) Cool/Great

C hapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Internet (2011 Edition)
(2011

第二章:汉语十大网络流行词汇 (2011 版)
第二章:
1. 雷(léi) To shock
2. 山寨(shānzhài) Shanzhai
3. 啃老族(kĕnlăozú) Parent-dependent adults
4. 草根(căogēn) Grass roots
5. 月光族(yuèguāngzú) Moonlight group
6. 宅(zhái) To stay at home all day
7. 房奴(fángnú) Mortgage slave
8. 闪(shăn) To act quickly
9. 秀(xiù) Show
10. 团购(tuángòu) Group purchasing

2

Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on School Campus (2011 Edition)
(2011

第三章:汉语十大校园流行词汇 (2011 版)
第三章:
1. 牛(niú) Excellent
2. 校花(xiàohuā) School beauty
3. 翘课(qiàokè) To skip school
4. 放鸽子(fàng gēzi) To fail to keep an appointment
5. 挂科(guàkē) To fail an exam
6. 兼职(jiānzhí) Part-time job
7. 重修(chóngxiū) To take a course again
8. 吹牛(chuīniú) Brag and boast
9. 忽悠 (hūyou) Hoodwink
10. 学妹(xuémèi) Younger female schoolmate or alumna

Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships (2011 Edition)
(2011

第四章:汉语十大约会流行词汇 (2011 版)
第四章:
1. 我爱你(wǒ ài nǐ) I love you
2. 红颜知己(hóngyánzhījǐ) Female soul mate
3. 热恋(rèliàn) Head over heels in love
4. 吃软饭(chīruǎnfàn) A male who lives on the earnings of a female
5. 早恋(zǎoliàn) Puppy Love/ Falling in Love at an early age
6. 第三者(dìsānzhě) Someone who is in an adulterous relationship with a married man or woman
7. 暗送秋波(ànsòngqiūbō) Secretly to cast flirtatious looks at somebody
8. 异地恋(yìdì liàn) Long-distance relationship
9. 来电(láidiàn) To click with someone/ Have sparks
10. 相思(xiāngsī) Miss each other

3

Chapter Five : Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment (2011 Edition)
Five: (2011

第五章:汉语十大娱乐流行词汇 (2011 版)
第五章:
1. 大片(dàpiānr) A high budget blockbuster movie
2. 新秀(xīnxiù) Up-and-coming youngster
3. 淡出(dànchū) To fade out
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 (2011 Edition)
(2011
第六章:汉语十大体育流行词汇 (2011 版)
第六章:
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. 菜鸟(càiniǎo) Newbie or novice
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
第一章:

5


第一章:

1. 我的神啊! (wŏ de shén a) My god!
! (wŏ shé
Origin
“ 我的神啊 (wŏ de shén a)” first became popular from a Chinese TV series “ 武林外传
(wŭlín wàizhuàn) My Own Swordsman” as a pet phrase of Tong Xiangyu, the owner of
Tongfu tavern. In fact, “我的神啊(wŏ de shén a)” is the assonance of Shaanxi dialect “额
滴神啊(é dī shén a).”
Usage
“我的神啊 (wŏ de shén a)” is usually used in informal circumstances and among familiar
people. You may not say it to someone whom you have never met before in business
settings.
Examples
After someone saw a great movie, she may say:
1. 我的神啊，这场电影太精彩了！
Wǒ de shén a, zhèchǎng diànyǐng tài jīngcǎi le!
Oh, my God, this film is so wonderful!
When a man and a woman got married, people around them were surprised and never
thought it would ever happen. They may say:
2. 我的神啊，他们结婚了!(表示惊讶)
Wŏ de shén a, tāmen jiéhūn le! (biăoshì jīngyà)
My god! They got married! (Express astonishment)

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6


第一章:

2. 做东(zu òdōng) Act as a host
(zu
(zuò
Origin
In ancient China, most houses are oriented north and south where a host usually seats
guests on the western seats before taking the other seats in the east. Also, it is often
customary for the guest to walk on the west side of the road and the host to walk on the
east side of the road. Thus, the host has become known as the “东道主(dōngdàozhǔ),” or
“东(dōng)” for short. And “to be a host” becomes “做东(zuòdōng).”
Usage
“ 做 (zuò)” means to do or to act as. “ 东 ” means the cardinal direction east, but in the
phrase “做东(zuòdōng),” “东” means host.
Examples
1. 今天我做东，明天轮到你了！
Jīntiān wǒ zuòdōng, míngtiān lúndào nǐ le!
Today, I'll host you for dinner and tomorrow it'll be your turn!
2. 今晚我做东，大家玩个尽兴。
Jīnwǎn wǒ zuòdōng, dàjiā wán gè jìnxìng.
It is my treat tonight. Please enjoy yourselves.



7


第一章:

3. 低调(dīdiào) Keep a low profile
(d dià
(dī
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.



8


第一章:

4. 抬杠(t áigàng) To argue for the sake of arguing
(t igà
(tá
Origin
In early times in Northern China, there existed a custom called “ 抬杠会 (táigànghuì),”
which was an argument meeting. On the day of the Lantern Festival, several strong men
carried “杠(gàng) a thick stick ” on which there was a sedan. A clown with a ready tongue
sat inside the sedan. These strong men carried the sedan in the crowd and the crowd
would have quarreling competitions with the clown. This kind of meeting is the origin of
“抬杠(táigàng) to argue for the sake of arguing.”
Usage
The word “抬(tái)” means to lift something heavy such as a big stone, or a sedan. And the
word “杠(gàng)” refers to a thick stick.
Examples
1. 我受不了他了，他总是跟我抬杠。
Wǒ shòu bù liăo ta le, ta zǒngshì gēn wǒ táigàng.
I cannot stand him, because he always argues with me.
2. 我们一见面就抬杠。
Wǒmen yī jiànmiàn jiù táigàng.
We argue with each other whenever we meet.



9

Words

第一章:

5. 拍马屁(pāimǎpì) Kiss up to someone
(p imǎ
(pā
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.



10


第一章:

6. 物质(w ùzhì) Materialistic
(w zhì
(wù
Origin
The phrase “ 物质 (wùzhì)” means materialistic, and comes from a poem during the Jin
Dynasty. It originally is a noun and refers to substance and materials. With many people
paying more attention to materialistic things, now the phrase, as an adjective, is used to
describe someone who is more concerned about material life such as money and clothes.
Usage
“物(wù)” refers to matters or objects and “质(zhì)” refers to quality.
Examples
1. 你也太物质了吧。
Nǐ yě tài wùzhì le ba.
You are so materialistic.
2. 不要太物质了，精神生活也是很必要的。
Búyào tài wùzhì le, jīngshen shēnghuó yě shì hěn bìyào de.
You shouldn't be so materialistic, for spiritual life is necessary too.



11


第一章:

7. 靠谱(kàopǔ) Reliable/To be trusted
(k opǔ
(kà
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.



12


第一章:

8. 涨 (zhǎng) Rise
(zhǎ
Components and Usage
Chinese character "涨 (zhǎng)" is made up of the radical "氵 " relating to water and the
remaining part "张 (zhāng)," which is a character usually used for a surname.
"涨 (zhǎng)" has two basic meanings in Mandarin language. First, it means the river rises
and is related to water, such as "涨水 (zhǎngshuǐ) freshet" and "涨潮 (zhǎngcháo) rising
tide." Second, it means a price rises, such as "涨价(zhǎngjià) price raise" and "物价上涨
(wùjià shàng zhǎng) price hike."
Examples
1. 几天暴雨，小河开始涨水，连小桥都淹没了。
Jǐ tiān bàoyǔ, xiǎohé kāishǐ zhǎngshuǐ, lián xiǎoqiáo dōu yānmò le.
The creek rose and flooded the small bridge.
2. A: 鸡蛋又涨价了。
Jīdàn yòu zhǎngjià le.
The price of eggs has risen again.
B: 是啊，白菜都涨了呢。
Shì a, báicài dōu zhǎng le ne.
Yes, so has the price of cabbage.



13


第一章:

9. 拼 (Pīn) To Put Together or to Unite
(Pī
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.



14


第一章:

10. 给力 (gěilì) Cool/Great
(gě ilì
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.



15

Chapter Two: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Internet

第二章: 汉语十大网络流行词汇
第二章:

16


第二章:

1. 雷(léi) To shock
(l
(lé
Origin
It has been one of the most popular Internet words since 2008. With the original meaning
of thunder, the word “雷(Léi)” has been given another meaning on the web. Now it means
that one is shocked by bold or strange, or even embarrassing actions. It is originated from
the word “雷倒(léi dǎo),” which is the dialect of “浙江(zhèjiāng)” province of China.
Usage
You can say “我被雷到了(wǒ bèi léi dào le)” or “好雷人啊” (hǎo léi rén a) to express “I
am shocked.” For instance, after watching a video in which a bear dances like a ballet
dancer, you can say “我被雷到了 (wǒ bèi léi dào le)” to express “I am shocked by this
bear.”
Examples
1. 他竟然是 Lily 的男朋友，好雷人啊。
Tā jìngrán shì Lily de nánpéngyou, hǎo léi rén a..
He turned out to be Lily’s boyfriend. I am shocked.
2. 我被雷倒了，这件事这么轻易就被他解决了。
Wǒ bèi léi dǎo le, zhè jiànshì zhème qīngyì jiù bèitā jiějué le.
I was shocked; this problem was resolved by him so easily.



17


第二章:

2. 山寨(shānzh ài) Shanzhai
(sh nzhà
(shā
Origin
The Chinese word “ 山寨 (shānzhài)” literally refers to remote mountain villages that are
mostly beyond the reach of administrative control. Recently, the word has been used to
describe people who imitate celebrities, or describe products that have borrowed ideas
from famous brands products. “ 山寨 (shānzhài)” has become a culture of its own,
symbolizing anything that imitates something famous.
Usage
Besides “ 山寨(shānzhài)” electronic products, of which there are many, there are “ 山寨
(shānzhài)” movies, “山寨(shānzhài)” stars, and even a “山寨 (shānzhài)” Spring Festival
Gala--a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar
New Year’s Eve.
Examples
1. 这款山寨手机性能不错啊。
Zhèkuǎn shānzhài shǒujī xìngnéng búcuò a!
The functions of this Shanzhai cell phone are not bad.
2. 这个山寨明星模仿太像了，我都分辨不清真假了。
Zhège shānzhài míngxīng mófǎng tài xiàng le, wǒ dōu fēnbiàn bùqīng zhēnjiǎ le.
This Shanzhai star imitates so well that I can’t distinguish between him and the real
star.



18


第二章:

3. 啃老族(kĕnlăozú) Parent-dependent adults
(k nlă ozú
(kĕ
Origin and Usage
“啃老族(kĕnlăozú)” refers to a group of adults who have a common feature: They stay at
home instead of search for jobs. This group is also called “NEET (Not in Education,
Employment or Training)” in the U.K. “啃(kĕn)” means to gnaw. Here it is used to vividly
describe the group’s reliance on their parents. “老” means the old, the aged. Overall, “啃
老族(kĕnlăozú) refers to those people who don't work and totally live off their parents.
Who are they?
“ 啃老族 (kĕnlăozú)” is mainly made up of the following groups: “ 大学毕业生 (dàxué
bìyèshēng) university graduates” who don't want to work or are too picky with the job
choices, people who often “跳槽(tiàocáo) change jobs,” and people who are “失业(shīyè)
jobless.”
Examples
1. 越来越多的青年加入到不上学又不工作的啃老族。
Yuèláiyuèduō de qīngnián jiārù dào bú shàngxué yòu bù gōngzuò de kĕnlăozú.
More and more young people have joined the group of parent-dependent adults, who
.
neither go to school nor work.
2. 成为啃老族不是件光荣的事，我们要自己奋斗。
Chéngwéi kěnlǎozú búshì jiàn guāngróng de shì, wǒmen yào zìjǐ fèndòu.
Being a parent-dependent adult is not something we should be proud of ; we have to
fight for our own life.



19


第二章:

4. 草根(căogēn) Grass roots
(c ogē
(că
Origin and Usage
“草根(căogēn)” literally means grass roots. But nowadays, it became a symbol of culture.
“ 草根 (căogēn)” is used to define people coming from “ 基层 (jīcéng) the basic level
group” and “大众(dàzhòng) the masses,” “草根(căogēn)” is the opposite to “主流文化
(zhŭliú wénhuà) the mainstream culture” and “精英文化(jīngyīng wénhuà) elite culture.”
“草根(căogēn)” can also be used along with words such as “草根明星(căogēn míngxīng)
a star from the masses,” or “ 草根总统 (căogēn zóngtŏng) a president with a common
background.”
Examples
1. 那个草根作家很受人们欢迎。
Nàgè căogēn zuòjiā hĕn shòu rénmen huānyíng.
The grass-root writer is very popular.
2. 这个草根总统的节俭给我留下了很深的印象。
Zhège cǎogēn zóngtǒng de jiéjiǎn gěi wǒ liúxià le hěn shēn de yìnxiàng.
The frugality of this grass-root president really impresses me.



20


第二章:

5. 月光族(yuèguāngzú) Moonlight group
(yu guā ngzú
(yuè
Origin and Usage
“月(yuè)” literally means moon, “光(guāng)” means light and “族(zú)” means group. “月
光(yuèguāng)” means moonlight. But in this phrase it has a totally different meaning. “光
(guāng)” means "running out" rather than “light.” “ 月光族 (yuèguāngzú)” refers to the
following group of people: They are young, eager to follow the trend, and like to buy
fashionable items. They always run out of their salaries at the end of month and hold the
following principle: “How much earned how much spent.”
Examples
Examples
1. 他很早就成为了月光族的一员。
Tā hěn zăo jiù chéngwéi le yuèguāngzú de yīyuán.
He joined the moonlight group at an early age.
2. 她一直是月光族，所以她买不起这么昂贵的房子。
Tā yīzhí shì yuèguāngzú, suóyǐ tā mǎibùqǐ zhème ángguì de fángzi.
She has been a member of moonlight group. Thus, she can not afford such an
expensive house.



21


第二章:

6. 宅(zhái) To stay at home all day
(zh
(zhá
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
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.



22


第二章:

7. 房奴(f ángnú) Mortgage slave
(f ngnú
(fá
Origin
In Shenzhen, a southern city in China, it’s always very costly for common workers to buy
an apartment or a house. A 32 -year-old Shenzhener surnamed Zhou from Futian
complained that over half of his monthly salary went to pay his mortgage. Zhou felt he
had become oppressed like serfs who couldn’t leave the land on which they worked. He
was the first person to use “ 房奴 (fángnú)” to describe his miserable situation as a
mortgage slave. “房奴(fángnú)” became popular very soon.
Usage
“ 房奴 (fángnú)” describes those who have to pay a significant portion of their monthly
salary towards a mortgage payment. In order to pay off the mortgage, they dare not
change their jobs. They spend little money on entertainment, and cannot afford to travel,
let alone enjoy life. Meanwhile, they worry about being sick and losing their jobs.
Example s
Examples
1. 那个女孩很会享受生活，不愿意将自己变成房奴。
Nàgè nǚhái hěnhuì xiǎngshòu shēnghuó, bú yuànyì jiāng zìjǐ biànchéng fángnú.
That girl really knows how to enjoy life, not willing to turn herself into a mortgage
slave.
2. 越来越多的年轻人一毕业就成为房奴了。
Yuèláiyuèduō de niánqīngrén yī bìyè jiù chéngwéi fángnú le.
More and more newly graduated young people have become mortgage slaves.



23


第二章:

8. 闪(shăn) To act quickly
(sh
(shă
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.



24


第二章:

9. 秀(xi ù) Show
(xi
(xiù
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(zu òxiù) Make a show
(zu xiù
(zuò
“ 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
(tu
(tuō uxiù 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
(sh zhuā ngxiù
(shí
“时(shí)” literally refers to time, but here it means fashion. “装(zhuāng)” means costume
and dress.



25


第二章:

10. 团购 (tuángòu) group purchasing
(tuángò
Origin
With rising prices these days, "团购 (tuángòu) group purchasing" is becoming a big part
of people's daily lives. This is especially true for young consumers thronging to "捏团
(niētuán) form a group" for shopping and calling themselves "捏友 (niēyǒu) friends
made from group purchasing." People participating in this can get great prices on a wide
variety of goods from snacks and cigarettes to building materials and houses. Group
purchasing has become an exciting new trend. The main method for group purchase is
through the Internet. "团宝网(tuánbǎowǎng) Groupon.cn" is one of the pioneers and
leaders in China.
Usage
"团购 (tuángòu) group purchasing" is the abbreviated combination of the Chinese words
"团体 (tuántǐ) group" and "购物 (gòuwù) shopping."
捏 (niē)" literally means to pinch, but its usage in this context means to look for
individual consumers to form a group for buying something. Those who form a group are
called "捏友 (niēyǒu)."
Example
1. A: 你说这物价涨的，我都买不起东西了。
Nǐ shuō zhè wùjià zhǎng de, wǒ dōu mǎi bù qǐ dōngxi le.
With the rising prices, I cannot afford to buy things.
B: 团购呀，挺便的。
Tuángòu ya, tǐng piányi de.
Group purchasing. It is so cheap.
2. A: 现在都流行捏团购物了，而且大家都互称捏友呢。
Xiànzài dōu liúxíng niētuán gòuwù le, érqiě dàjiā dōu hù chēng niēyǒu ne.
Nowadays, it is fashionable to shop by forming a group where people call
each other friends.
B: 看来我也要赶赶潮流了。
Kàn lái wǒ yě yào gǎn gǎn cháoliú le.
It seems I've got to go with the trend too.


Reserved

26

Chapter Three : Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on School Campus
hree:

第三章: 汉语十大校园流行词汇
第三章:

27

Chapter Three : Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on School Campus
hree:

第三章:

1. 牛(niú) Excellent
(ni
(niú
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.


Reserved

28

Chapter Three: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words on School Campus

第三章:

2. 校花(xiàohuā) School beauty
(xi ohuā
(xià
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.



29


第三章:

3. 翘课(qiàokè) To skip school
(qi okè
(qià
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.



30


第三章:

4. 放鸽子(fànggēzi) To fail to keep an appointment
(f nggē
(fà
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.



31


第三章:

5. 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.



32


第三章:

6. 兼职(jiānzhí) Part-time job
(ji nzhí
(jiā
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.



33


第三章:

7. 重修(chóngxi ū) To take a course again
(ch ngxiū
(chó
Origin and Usage
In college, if a student failed to pass a required course, he or she must take the course all
over again in the following academic year, and take the exam again. This is called “重修
(chóngxiū).” The character “ 重 (chóng)” means to repeat or duplicate and “ 修 (xiū)”
means study.
Examples
1.这次考试争取一次通过，下学期就不用重修了。
Zhècì kǎoshì zhēngqǔ yícì tōngguò, xiàxuéqī jiù búyòng chóngxiū le.
I must study hard to pass this exam on my first time. So I don’t have to take the course
again next term.
2.太倒霉了，我这次考试英语没过，下学年还得重修。
Tài dǎoméi le, wǒ zhècì kǎoshì yīngyǔ méiguò, xiàxuénián háiděi chóngxiū.
Bad luck! I failed the exam in English, so I have to take it again next year.



34


第三章:

8. 吹牛(chuīniú) Brag and boast
(chu niú
(chuī
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.



35


第三章:

9. 忽悠(hūyou) Hoodwink
(h
(hū
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.
Example s
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.



36


第三章:

10. 学妹(xuémèi) Younger female schoolmate or alumna
(xu
(xué
Origin and Usage
The character “学(xué)” means school and the character “妹(mèi)” means younger sister.
“ 学妹 (xuémèi) Younger female schoolmate or alumna” is said to be originated from
Taiwan. But now it is often heard in mainland China, especially in college. People often
use “小(xiǎo) little” to modify sister, showing affection. “学妹(xuémèi)” is often used by
senior students to express their fondness towards their younger female schoolmates.
Example
英语系的学妹们都很可爱。
Yīngyǔxì de xuémèi men dōu hěn kě’ài.
The younger female students in the English department are all lovely.



37

Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationship s
Relationships

第四章: 汉语十大约会流行词汇
第四章:

38

Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationship s
Relationships

第四章:

1. 我爱你(wǒ ài nǐ) I love you
(w
(wǒ
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 zhèngm íng
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.



39

Chapter Four: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Relationships

第四章:

2. 红颜知己 (hóngyánzhījǐ) Female soul mate
(hó ngyá nzhī
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.



40


第四章:

3. 热恋(rèliàn) Head over heels in love
(r lià
(rè
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.



41


第四章:

4. 吃软饭(chīruǎnfàn) A male who lives on the earnings of a female
(ch ruǎ nfà
(chī
Origin
A long time ago, there was an old rich widow housing and feeding a young lover, and one
day they went out to eat lotus leaf rice. The waiter asked them: “你们是吃硬的还是吃软
的(nǐmen shì chī yìng de háishì chī ruǎn de) Would you like to eat the hard part of the rice
or the soft part?” The young man knew the old widow had bad teeth. Therefore, in order
to flatter the old widow, he quickly replied: “ 吃软的 (chī ruǎn de) the soft part.” After
listening to this, the waiter laughed and asked: “The old lady eats soft because of her bad
teeth. You are a big guy, but you also like to eat the soft part?”
Usage
“ 吃软饭 (chīruǎnfàn)” describes how a man to survives by relying on his wife. The
character “吃(chī)” means to eat; “软(ruǎn)” means soft and “饭(fàn)” means food. From
the view of Chinese traditional culture, if someone describes a man by using the word “软
(ruǎn) soft,” it means that the man lacks strength.
Examples
1. 吃软饭的男人是让人看不起的。
Chīruǎnfàn de nánren shì ràng rén kànbùqǐ de.
The man, who depends on his wife to survive, is usually looked down upon by
others.
2. 靠吃软饭才有今天，我真不知道你得意什么？
Kào chīruǎnfàn cái yǒu jīntiān, wǒ zhēn bùzhīdào nǐ déyì shénme?
By relying on your wife, you have become what you are like today; I really don’t
know what you are proud of?



42


第四章:

5. 早恋(zǎoliàn) Puppy Love/Falling in Love at an Early Age
(z olià
(zǎ
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.



43


第四章:

6. 第三者(dìsānzhě) Someone who is in an adulterous relationship with a
(d nzhě
(dì
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.



44


第四章:

7. 暗送秋波(àns òngqiūbō) Secretly to cast flirtatious looks at somebody
( nsòngqiū
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.



45


第四章:

8. 异地恋(yìdì liàn) Long-distance Relationship
(y lià
(yì
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.



46


第四章:

9. 来电(láidiàn) To click with someone/have sparks
(l idià
(lá
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.



47


第四章:

10. 相思(xiāngsī) Miss each other
(xi ngsī
(xiā
Origin
Here is an ancient poem named “相思(xiāngsī) Miss each other. ”
相思
Xiāngsī
Lovesickness

作者：王维（唐）
Zuòzhě: Wáng Wéi(táng)
Author: Wang Wei(Tang Dynasty)

红豆生南国，
Hóngd òu shēng nán gu ó,
Ormosia plant s grow in the southern area ,
春来发几枝？
Chūn lái fā jǐ zhī?
How many branches will they bud in the spring ?
愿君多采撷，
Yuàn jūn duō cǎixié,
I wish you would pick as many of them as possible,
此物最相思。
Cǐ wù zuì xiāngsī.
Because they can best arouse yearning between lovers.

“ 红豆 (hóngdòu) ormosia ” shows lovesickness in Chinese culture. Thus, people
often used “ 红豆 (hóngdòu) ormosia ” to express the emotion of lovesickness
between lovers.
Usage
The character “ 相 (xiāng)” means each other and the character “ 思 (sī)” means to miss.
Chinese also say “相思病(xiāngsībìng),” where “病(bìng)” means sickness, and “相思病
(xiāngsībìng)” literally means lovesickness.



48


第四章:

Examples
1. 汤姆寄给他女朋友一条用红豆穿成的项链，以此来表达他深深的相思之情。
Tāng mǔ jì gěi tā nǚpéngyou yìtiáo yòng hóngdòu chuān chéng de xiàngliàn, yǐ cǐ lái
biǎo dá tā shēnshēn de xiāngsī zhī qíng.
Tom sent his girlfriend a necklace that was made of ormosia as a gift, in order to
express his deep lovesickness.
2. 这对情侣因工作分隔两地，很难见面，饱受相思之苦。
Zhè duì qínglǚ yīn gōngzuò fēngé liǎng dì, hěn nán jiànmiàn, bǎoshòu xiāngsī zhī kǔ.
The lovers separated due to work. It became difficult for them to get together, making
them miss each other very much.



49

Chapter F ive : Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment
ive:

第五章: 汉语十大娱乐流行词汇
第五章:

50

ive:

第五章:

1. 大片(dàpiānr) A high budget blockbuster movie
(d piā
(dà
Origin
Since the first Hollywood movie “《亡命天涯》(wángmìngtiānyá) The Fugitive ” was
brought in China in 1993, the Chinese government has introduced about ten high
budget Hollywood movies such as “Titanic” every year. We call these kinds of large
budget movies “大片(dàpiānr).”
Usage
“大片(dàpiānr)” refers to high budget movies, especially directed by famous directors.
The character “大(dà)” means big or large and “片(piān)” means movie.
Examples
1. 最近新出了一部大片，我们这周末一起去看吧。
Zuìjìn xīn chū le yíbù dàpiānr, wǒmen zhè zhōumò yìqǐ qù kàn ba.
A high budget movie made by a famous director has been released recently; shall
we see it together this weekend?
2. 《泰坦尼克号》是一部经典大片，很多人都看了好几遍，还想再看。
Tàitǎnníkèhào shì yíbù jīngdiǎn dàpiānr, hěnduō rén dōu kàn le hǎo jǐ biàn, hái
xiǎng zài kàn.
Titanic is a high budget blockbuster movie made by a famous director. Many people
have watched it several times, but would also like to watch it again.



51

ive:

第五章:

2. 新秀(xīnxiù) Up-and-coming youngster
(x nxiù
(xī
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.



52

ive:

第五章:

3. 淡出(dànchū) To fade out
(d nchū
(dà
Origin
The phrase “淡出(dànchū) to fade out” can be used in three ways. First, people use it to
describe someone fading out from a certain field. Secondly, it describes a gradual
disappearance of an image or a sound (e.g., in cinema or on television). Finally, it refers
to a kind of painting technique in traditional Chinese painting where the colors become
gradually faint till disappearing in the end. The technique is often used for painting
mountains, water, cloud or fog.
Usage
In China, people usually use the phrase “淡出(dànchū) To fade out” to describe someone
becoming inactive in the entertainment business. The character“淡(dàn)” means light and
the character“出(chū)” means to go out.
Examples
1. 由于年龄的限制，她淡出了演艺圈。
Yóuyú niánlíng de xiànzhì, tā dànchū le yǎnyìquān.
She faded out from the entertainment business because of her age.
2. 歌星淡出歌坛也不是一件坏事，这样他们可以充分享受.私人生活。
Gēxīng dànchū gētán yě búshì yíjiàn huàishì, zhèyàng tāmen kéyǐ chōngfēn
xiǎngshòu sīrén shēnghuó.
It’s not a bad thing for singers fading out from the music circle, for they can enjoy
their private lives.



53

Chapter Five: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Entertainment

第五章:

4. 八卦(bāguà) Gossip
(b guà
(bā
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.



54


第五章:

5. 绯闻(f ēiw én) Pink news/ Love affair
(f iwé
(fē
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.



55


第五章:

6. 狗仔队(gǒuz ǎidu ì) Paparazzi
( uzǎiduì
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
.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.



56


第五章:

7. 大腕(dàwànr) Big shot
(d
(dà
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.



57


第五章:

8. 炒作(chǎozuò) To hype
(ch ozuò
(chǎ
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.



58


第五章:

9. 粉丝(f ěns ī) Fans
(f nsī
(fě
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.



59


第五章:

10. 火(hu ǒ) Hot
(hu
(huǒ
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.



60

Chapter Six: Top Ten Popular Chinese Words for Sports
Six:

第六章: 汉语十大体育流行词汇
第六章:

61

Six:

第六章:

1. 大满贯(dàmǎnguàn) Grand slam
(d
(dà nguà
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.



62

Six:

第六章:

2. 蝉联(chánlián) To defend one’s title successfully
(ch nliá
(chá one’
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.



63

Six:

第六章:

3. 拉拉队(lālāduì) Cheering squad
(l duì
(lā
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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4. 菜鸟(càiniǎo) Newbie or novice
(c iniǎ
(cà
Origin
“菜鸟(càiniǎo)” originates from the Taiwan dialect. “菜鸟 (càiniǎo)” describes a kind of
birds which often fall to the ground when they start to learn to fly. Now people call
someone “菜鸟(càiniǎo)” if he/she is a novice in a certain field.
Usage
“菜鸟 (càiniǎo) newbie” can also be used to describe someone who is weak in a certain
field such as computer or sports. The character “菜(cài)” originally means vegetable, and
“鸟(niǎo)” means bird.
Examples
1. 在房地产领域里，他还是个菜鸟。
Zài fángdìchǎn lǐngyù lǐ, tā hái shì gè càiniǎo.
In the real estate field, he is still a newbie.
2. 他在大学成绩很好，可是实际操作中他还是个菜鸟。
Tā zài dàxué chéngjì hěnhǎo, kěshì shíjì cāozuò zhōng tā háishì gè càiniǎo.
He did very well in the university, but he is still a newbie in the real-world
execution.



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5. 乌龙球(wūlóngqiú) Own goal
(w
(wū qiú
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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6. 爆冷门(bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner
(b olě ngmé
(bà
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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7. 翻盘(f ā np á n ) To turn defeat into victory
(f npá
(fā
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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8. 东道主(dōngdàozhǔ) Host
(d
(dō ozhǔ
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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9. 黑马(hēimǎ) Dark horse
(h imǎ
(hē
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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10. 力挺(lìtǐng) To support strongly
(l
(lì
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.



71

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