{"id":182197,"date":"2017-10-12T01:59:38","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T05:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/funny-chinese-phrases\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T05:32:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T09:32:11","slug":"funny-chinese-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/chinese\/funny-chinese-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"28 Funny Chinese Words and Phrases [With Audio]"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s important, as a learner, to learn a bit more about Chinese slang<\/a> and idioms<\/a>.\u00a0You’ll pick up new vocabulary<\/a> and understand the culture better, which is vital to communicating effectively with native Mandarin speakers.<\/p>\n

The 28 Chinese idioms and slang terms<\/strong> below range from painfully cheesy to actually pretty funny. Not all of them are necessarily in current, common use, but they’re all great for practice and giggles.<\/p>\n

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1. \u6c89\u9c7c\u843d\u96c1 (ch\u00e9n y\u00fa, lu\u00f2 y\u00e0n)<\/em><\/h2>\n

We’ve all heard the phrase “drop-dead gorgeous.” This term is typically used to describe incredibly beautiful women, though it can also be used to describe particularly handsome men. It’s an odd term (with odd, vague origins<\/a>) when you think about it: Describing people as so beautiful that they literally are murdering people with their looks is a strange compliment to give.<\/p>\n

However, it’s not quite as strange as the Mandarin version: \u6c89\u9c7c\u843d\u96c1, which means “sink fish, drop goose” or “beautiful enough to sink the fish and make geese fall from the sky.” This advanced Chinese phrase<\/a> originates from the ancient Taoist author \u838a\u5b50 (Zhu\u0101ng Z\u01d0), who, interestingly enough, has written a lot of stuff about fish<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, most young Chinese people don’t throw this term from a centuries-dead poet around in real life, but it’s still bizarre enough that you just have to know it.<\/p>\n

2. \u5403\u74dc\u7fa4\u4f17 (ch\u012b gu\u0101 q\u00fan zh\u00f2ng)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u5403\u74dc\u7fa4\u4f17 literally translates to “melon-eating masses.” It doesn\u2019t mean people who love melon a lot\u2014instead, it\u2019s about people who enjoy watching dramatic events unfold without getting personally involved.<\/p>\n

You can imagine them chomping on melon satisfyingly (instead of popcorn!) as they watch a scandal happen. \u00a0<\/p>\n

3. \u6253\u9171\u6cb9 (d\u01ce ji\u00e0ng y\u00f3u)<\/em><\/h2>\n

What about when you hear about the latest celebrity news or gossip\u2014and instead of being morbidly curious, you really don’t care? There’s a Chinese term for that: \u6253\u9171\u6cb9, or \u201cbuying soy sauce.\u201d This means that you\u2019re simply an indifferent bystander and you have better things to do.<\/p>\n

The term was started by a passerby who was being interviewed on TV\u2014he said he had no opinions on the matter and was just \u201cbuying soy sauce.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. \u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41 (p\u0101i m\u01ce p\u00ec)<\/em><\/h2>\n

You want to do what to my horse?! “Kiss-ass,” “suck-up” or “brown noser” are common terms used in the West to refer to someone who treats someone of authority with more kindness or generosity to fall into their good graces. Alternatively, the Chinese refer to the kiss-ass as one who \u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41, or beats a horse’s butt.<\/p>\n

5. \u64b8\u732b (l\u016b m\u0101o)<\/em><\/h2>\n

This is a very relatable Chinese phrase because pretty much everyone does it. For example, just how much time did you spend just idly browsing online or looking at social media recently? These are considered \u64b8\u732b, or doing something unproductive and wasting time.<\/p>\n

\u64b8\u732b literally means \u201cto stroke a cat,\u201d which is relaxing, leisurely and without any practical purpose (if you don\u2019t count making a cat happier).<\/p>\n

6. \u6b7b\u673a (s\u01d0 j\u012b)<\/em><\/h2>\n

This word translates to \u201ccomputer crash,\u201d but it has a funny alternative meaning. When a computer crashes, it stops working and either shuts down or freezes. Now imagine that happening to a person!<\/p>\n

Aside from describing computers, \u6b7b\u673a can also describe a person who\u2019s so dumbfounded or stunned that they can\u2019t respond at all.<\/p>\n

If you really want to get into computer terminology, another phrase is \u8111\u5b50\u77ed\u8def (n\u01ceo zi du\u01cen l\u00f9)<\/em> or \u201cshort circuit in the brain.\u201d This means someone is thinking or behaving illogically, as if their brain\u2019s not working properly. And yes, this is another one of those \u201cinsults\u201d that are more teasing and can be used with friends<\/a> (in the right context).<\/p>\n

7. \u5355\u8eab\u8d35\u65cf (d\u0101n sh\u0113n gu\u00ec z\u00fa)<\/em><\/h2>\n

The literal translation of \u5355\u8eab\u8d35\u65cf is “unmarried nobility,” and it\u2019s a modern term for people who are single and proud of it. In traditional Chinese culture, there’s a great deal of pressure to marry<\/a>, and this term eventually popped up to challenge these social norms and expectations.<\/p>\n

\u5355\u8eab\u8d35\u65cf implies that being single isn\u2019t negative but rather something to be celebrated. When you\u2019re single, you have more freedom to stay up late, spend your free time on your hobbies and skip cleaning your place\u2014in other words, it comes with a lot of independence, similar to the privileges of nobility.<\/p>\n

8. \u4f60\u76ae\u5b50\u75d2! (n\u01d0 p\u00ed zi y\u01ceng!)<\/em><\/h2>\n

This common term is still often used. Out of context (and within context as well), it’s nothing short of hilarious.<\/p>\n

If you bump into a tough character on the street or insult somebody, they might say \u4f60\u76ae\u5b50\u75d2,\u00a0or “your skin looks itchy.” This expression is used when expressing a desire to beat someone up.<\/p>\n

9. \u8111\u888b\u8fdb\u6c34 (n\u01ceo d\u00e0i j\u00ecn shu\u01d0)<\/em><\/h2>\n

If you want to say someone\u2019s making a silly mistake or they\u2019re not thinking clearly, this is the phrase that you\u2019re looking for: \u8111\u888b\u8fdb\u6c34, or \u201cwater enters the head.\u201d<\/p>\n

It might sound critical in English, but it\u2019s usually meant lightheartedly in Chinese. For example, you can say it if a close friend keeps forgetting important appointments or deadlines or misunderstands a really simple instruction.<\/p>\n

10. \u753b\u86c7\u6dfb\u8db3 (hu\u00e0 sh\u00e9 ti\u0101n z\u00fa)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u753b\u86c7\u6dfb\u8db3\u00a0is a proverbial phrase that means \u201cdrawing legs on a snake.\u201d Yes, there\u2019s an ancient Chinese story behind this. A skilled painter was asked to paint a snake, but mistakenly thinking it was incomplete, he added legs to the painting.<\/p>\n

The point of the story is that unnecessary flourishes or additions can overcomplicate something that\u2019s already working fine. After all, a snake doesn\u2019t need legs to crawl.<\/p>\n

11. \u843d\u6c64\u9e21 (lu\u00f2 t\u0101ng j\u012b)<\/em><\/h2>\n

What a damper. \u843d\u6c64\u9e21, meaning “drop soup chicken” or “a chicken who falls into soup,” is used to describe somebody who trips and falls into water or gets caught in the rain.<\/p>\n

12. \u6bd2\u9e21\u6c64 (d\u00fa j\u012b t\u0101ng)<\/em><\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s another chicken-related phrase! \u6bd2\u9e21\u6c64 or \u201cpoisonous chicken soup\u201d pokes fun at motivational or inspirational messages and quotes that are lacking in substance. These might seem comforting (similar to chicken soup), but they\u2019re actually shallow and even harmful\u2014and you can find them all over the internet today.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a sarcastic twist on the English expression “chicken soup for the soul,\u201d which is about uplifting and comforting stories or advice.<\/p>\n

13. \u5f00\u6302 (k\u0101i gu\u00e0)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u5f00\u6302 or \u201ccheat code\u201d was originally a gaming term in China. To gain unfair advantages in a game, such as unlimited lives, extra resources, or enhanced abilities, you can use cheat codes or hacks (\u5f00\u6302).<\/p>\n

Eventually, this term branched out beyond gaming, and it can be used now to describe real-life people too. A \u5f00\u6302 can also mean a person who excels or achieves exceptional results effortlessly, as if they have access to magical powers. For example, if someone seems to breeze through exams with really high grades or they can play several musical instruments well, you can say with an admiring tone that they\u2019re \u5f00\u6302. \u00a0<\/p>\n

14. \u6709\u94b1\u5c31\u662f\u4efb\u6027! (y\u01d2u qi\u00e1n ji\u00f9 sh\u00ec r\u00e8n x\u00ecng!)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u6709\u94b1\u5c31\u662f\u4efb\u6027! or “Got cash, can do what I want!” is an expression used by wealthy Chinese people, or the average Joe who just got their paycheck and begins to behave recklessly or act immature.<\/p>\n

This expression comes from a real event that became a meme a few years ago in which a rich man was being scammed by a pharmaceutical company. The man kept going with the charade long after he discovered it was a scam, just because he wanted to see how far they’d go; he was so incredibly rich that it didn’t matter.<\/p>\n

15. \u8349\u8393\u65cf (c\u01ceo m\u00e9i z\u00fa)<\/em><\/h2>\n

You might hear older Chinese people complaining about \u8349\u8393\u65cf. \u65cf (z\u00fa)<\/em> means a group of people, while \u8349\u8393 is strawberry. \u8349\u8393\u65cf (c\u01ceo m\u00e9i z\u00fa)<\/em> is often used for talking about the younger generation, especially those born after the 1980s.<\/p>\n

This is because like strawberries, they\u2019re considered youthful, attractive and fashionable, and their lives tend to be easier than before because of all the modern comforts. But there\u2019s a downside to this. They\u2019re also easily bruised or delicate, without much resilience or ability to withstand pressure.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, it\u2019s a trendy word for calling the younger generation overly sheltered (from the perspective of older people, anyway!).<\/p>\n

16. \u6930\u5b50\u65cf <\/strong>(y\u0113 zi z\u00fa)<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

Going beyond stereotypes, not all younger people are really like strawberries. Instead, they might be described as \u6930\u5b50\u65cf or \u201ccoconut clan\u201d which is the opposite.<\/p>\n

Unlike strawberries, which are crushed easily, coconuts have a tough husk that can better withstand getting knocked around. In the same way, young people who are part of \u6930\u5b50\u65cf are hardworking, and they\u2019re willing to “eat bitterness” or \u5403\u82e6\u00a0(ch\u012b k\u01d4)\u00a0<\/em>to get what they want. Both of these traits are admired in Chinese culture, so being described as \u6930\u5b50\u65cf is a compliment.<\/p>\n

17. \u50bb\u86cb (sh\u01ce d\u00e0n)<\/em><\/h2>\n

A very common and lowkey hilarious insult in Mandarin is \u50bb\u86cb\u00a0or “stupid egg.” Depending on the situation, this can either be a playful insult when a friend does something dumb or straight up fightin’ words if said to a stranger.<\/p>\n

18. \u6eda\u86cb! <\/strong>(g\u01d4n d\u00e0n!)<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

\u86cb (d\u00e0n) <\/em>or “egg” is a versatile term in Chinese! \u6eda\u86cb\u00a0is a common expression that means \u201cRoll away, egg\u201d\u2014and it\u2019s used for telling someone to \u201cget lost\u201d or go away. While the expression may sound cute, it\u2019s considered quite strong and direct, so be careful with using this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While you can say it to friends in a light, exasperated tone, people can shout this too when they\u2019re intensely angry, so it can be offensive depending on the situation.<\/p>\n

19. \u9ea6\u82bd\u7cd6\u5973\u4eba (m\u00e0i y\u00e1 t\u00e1ng n\u01da r\u00e9n)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u9ea6\u82bd\u7cd6 means \u201cmalt syrup,\u201d which is sticky and pretty hard to remove from clothes (or even your skin) if you\u2019ve had the misfortune of getting it there. Similarly, \u9ea6\u82bd\u7cd6\u5973\u4eba (\u201cmalt sugar woman\u201d) refers to possessive women who are clingy and demand constant attention from their partners. Like malt sugar, these women are sweet, but they can be overwhelming and suffocating because of their neediness.<\/p>\n

For describing clingy people in general, no matter what their gender, you can say \u9ecf\u4eba\u00a0(ni\u00e1n r\u00e9n) or “sticky person” instead.<\/p>\n

20. \u4e8c\u767e\u4e94 (\u00e8r b\u01cei w\u01d4)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u4e8c\u767e\u4e94, or\u00a0“250,” is a popular Mandarin Chinese slang<\/a> insult with a pretty hefty history behind it.<\/p>\n

The meaning behind the simple insult is an old tale about a king. The king’s dear friend was assassinated in the night and he wished to find who the killer was. The king posted a widely-publicized request to hire an assassin to kill the (already dead) friend in question. Soon after, four men showed up to claim 250 coins each. Naturally, the men had outed themselves as the ones who already killed the king’s friend and they were given the cash and then killed.<\/p>\n

“250” refers to someone who does something dumb or ill-advised.<\/p>\n

21. \u89c1\u5149\u6b7b (ji\u00e0n gu\u0101ng s\u01d0)<\/em><\/h2>\n
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\u89c1\u5149\u6b7b describes an all too common incident: you hit it off romantically with someone online, but then when you finally meet, the chemistry just isn\u2019t there. It\u2019s an especially funny term because its literal meaning is \u201ckilled by exposure to light.\u201d Once a seemingly amazing connection is exposed to the \u201clight\u201d of reality, it falls apart. \u00a0<\/p>\n

On a more extreme level, where the other person actually lies about themselves, the Chinese have an English-inspired term for that too: \u7f51\u7edc\u732b\u9c7c (w\u01ceng lu\u00f2 m\u0101o y\u00fa)<\/em>, or “online catfish.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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22. \u9e21\u540c\u9e2d\u8bb2(j\u012b t\u00f3ng y\u0101 ji\u01ceng)<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u9e21\u540c\u9e2d\u8bb2\u00a0gives a humorous image of a chicken talking to a duck. This phrase is about people being able to understand each other because of a significant language barrier or different perspectives. They might talk, but ultimately, nothing happens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

23. \u957f\u820c\u5987 (ch\u00e1ng sh\u00e9 f\u00f9)<\/em><\/h2>\n

“Sharp-tongued woman,” “busybody” or “buttinsky” are Western terms for a woman who enjoys gossiping about others’ business and personal lives. In Mandarin, such a woman would be \u957f\u820c\u5987,\u00a0or “long tongue woman.” Sounds more like a creepy monster<\/a> from China’s cousins to the east, Japan.<\/p>\n

24. \u62d4\u82d7\u52a9\u957f (b\u00e1 mi\u00e1o zh\u00f9 zh\u01ceng)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u62d4\u82d7\u52a9\u957f means \u201cpulling the seedlings to help them grow.\u201d Of course, common sense says that this won’t work at all (although it’s a good strategy for getting rid of weeds!).\u00a0<\/p>\n

This idiomatic expression is about being so impatient to get results that you try to rush a process and then end up worse off. Sometimes we really don\u2019t have a choice but to let things develop at their own pace\u2014both for plants and plenty of other situations in life.<\/p>\n

25. \u5403\u5e72\u996d (ch\u012b g\u0101n f\u00e0n)<\/em><\/h2>\n

\u5403\u5e72\u996d or \u201ceating dry rice\u201d might seem undesirable, but this is actually a positive phrase. Rice is seen as a daily essential in Chinese culture, so \u5403\u5e72\u996d means having a steady job that gives you a predictable income, allowing you to live comfortably. Aside from your income, it can also describe having stability in your career or in your life as a whole.<\/p>\n

26. Du\u0101ng!<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n

How can one simple word have so many different obscure meanings? Duang!<\/em>\u00a0can translate as something like\u00a0“ta-da!” and is a Mandarin internet slang word with no official \u6c49\u5b57\u00a0(h\u00e0nz\u00ec)<\/em> or Chinese character to identify it. The term can refer to a positive exclamation, something that’s boring or the sound one makes when tripping and falling.<\/p>\n

This word is all over the place in China, but the origins are a bit obscure. Many people believe that it comes from a shampoo commercial<\/a> that Jackie Chan did a while back in which he uses the expression to express how awesome the hair care product is. After the commercial aired, the neologism became a viral sensation and a staple in Chinese internet slang<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Be aware that this one might not be considered exactly “funny” in actual use\u2014it’s more of an interjection, but admit it, you’re already laughing.<\/p>\n

27. \u7334\u5b50\u635e\u6708<\/strong>(h\u00f3u zi l\u0101o yu\u00e8)<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

\u7334\u5b50\u635e\u6708 gives a funny literal image: a \u201cmonkey fishing for the moon,\u201d or trying to scoop up the moon\u2019s reflection from a lake. This expression refers to tasks that are futile or impossible, to the point of being absurd.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a practical message behind this\u2014if a goal is too unrealistic anyway, then it’s wiser to stop wasting time on it and go after something more achievable instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n

28. \u753b\u997c\u5145\u9965 <\/strong>(hu\u00e0 b\u01d0ng ch\u014dng j\u012b)<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

\u753b\u997c\u5145\u9965 is a Chinese idiom that translates to “drawing cakes to satisfy hunger.” When you\u2019re hungry, there\u2019s not really much of a point to drawing cakes (unless you want to masochistically make yourself hungrier). This phrase describes making empty promises or having fantasies that temporarily satisfy your desires but aren’t genuine solutions.<\/p>\n

Some common examples of this include politicians promising impressive reforms just to win votes but without following through, or people with financial struggles who pin all their hopes on winning the lottery.<\/p>\n

Why Learn These Humorous Chinese Phrases?<\/h2>\n