jenny's blog

[Chinese Learning] What is 还有这种操作?

还有这种操作
hái yǒu zhè zhǒng cāozuò

This directly translates to: Never thought it could be like this!

This was first used in the field of online games, originating in China's e-sport circles. People playing online games often have some special skills and sometimes they would find some bug in the game and take advantage of it. So when they shared their experience, other “gamers” would be surprised. In a way, this phrase is used to criticize or praise something surprising.
However, the usage of the phrase has gone beyond gaming.

[Chinese Learning] What is 请开始你的表演?

请开始你的表演
Qǐng kāishǐ nǐ de biǎoyǎn

This directly translates to: Please begin your performance
It was first used in a talent show. Now people usually said this if they what to know more about another person.
This is commonly used in forums or discussion pages as a starting line. In a way, it is to allow the person to take a step back and truly listen and understand another person's story or whatever they are saying.

[Chinese Learning] What is 惊不惊喜意不意外?

惊不惊喜? 意不意外?
Jīng bù jīngxǐ yì bù yìwài

This translated to: Isn’t it surprising and unexpected?

This is a famous quote from the movie All’s Well, Ends Well (家有喜事1992).
Now it is used when things turned out to be out of your expectations.
However, it has a funny connotation to it. You may send it to your chinese friend and they would appreciate the link to their culture!

[Chinese Learning] What is 你的良心不会痛吗?

你的良心不会痛吗?
Nǐ de liángxīn bù huì tòng ma?

[Chinese Learning] What is 海螺人?

海螺人
Hǎiluó rén

海螺人 refers to those people look elegant, obedient and quiet, and they look just like ordinary people, but as long as you get close, try to listen to their voices, you can see that they are actually people with a great personality, has cultured opinions.

Interestingly,

海螺 actually means conch.
人 just means person.

[Chinese Learning] What is 懂事崩?

懂事崩
Dǒngshì bēng

This is a very interesting term that serves to describe many of the working young adults these days. As a young adult that is fresh in the workforce, they often find themselves in situations where their emotions and moods are in a mess yet they can't let these personal emotions and feelings affect their work. Therefore, they can only collapse after working and wake up again the next day as per normal.

[Chinese Learning] What is 靠脸吃饭?

靠脸吃饭
Kào liǎn chīfàn

Lets breakdown this phrase:
靠: refers to dependent or dependence
脸: refers to face
吃饭: refers to eating rice

Therefore, it refers to someone who relies on their face or appearances to earn a living. Generally, the chinese main staple is rice therefore they equate earning a living with being able to afford eating rice or a meal.

[Chinese Learning] What is 扎心了老铁?

扎心了老铁 or 扎心了! 老铁
(Zhā xīnle lǎo tiě)

First, let me explain the individual terms within this phrase.
老铁 (lao tie): It is a slang used usually by those from the Northern parts of China. It is used to refer to someone you know and is close to, and it signifies a sense of brotherhood. It is similar to the word 'Brother/Bro' in English.
However, for those from the previous generation in the past, it used to signify those illegitimate relationships such as mistresses but the meaning was more implicit.

[Chinese Learning] What is 吐槽?

吐槽 (tu cao)

The word actually originates from Japan, from the medium called Anime.
This is very interesting. The meaning is to find a loophole in one's words and purposely acting out against what they intended.
Another way to 吐槽 someone is also when your friend or family member is purposely bragging and then you come out and say the truth right in front of them.

However, this has a comedic intention.

吐 actually means spit/vomit.
槽 actually means to groove.
So in a way, it means that you groove by 'spiting' on other people (ie make fun of)

[Chinese Learning] What is 膜拜?

膜拜 (mo bai)

It means admiration and worship. It refers to the act of putting one's hands together in a flat manner and placing your hands above your head -- a form of prayer and worship.

However, on the internet, it can sometimes also be used in a manner that is ironic. For instance, this can be when someone did something incredibly naive or dumb, another person can say "哇,我膜拜你了” (wa, wo mo bai ni le) which means like "wow, I admire you" but of course this is meant in an ironic way.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - jenny's blog