Gen Z Slang - Z代俚語

The Z generation in both China and Taiwan is at the forefront of the internet slang phenomenon. With internet penetration reaching 78% in China and similarly high in Taiwan, this tech-savvy generation is driving the widespread adoption of online slang. Influencers play a pivotal role in shaping the language, with China's influencer market growing by 94% in 2022 (CCN).

The booming gaming culture also contributes, as gamers create unique slang. Additionally, the Z generation's idol worship culture further fuels the use of slang, with young people adopting terms tied to popular figures and trends. Since Gen Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012) includes people in their late teens to mid-20s—the age group most influential in shaping and spreading cultural trends—they are driving the evolution of contemporary slang.

Gen Z's cultural grip on society is likely to continue its hold until 2035, when the linguistic identity of Gen Alpha will likely be well-established, marking a clear generational shift. However, crossovers between Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang will continue for a few more years, especially as younger Alphas embrace the linguistic heritage of their older siblings and influencers.

For 2024

已購買小孩愛吃

"已購買小孩愛吃" ("Bought what the kids love to eat") originated from the Chinese shopping platform Taobao and the short video platform Douyin. It started as buyers sharing their children's honest reactions to products in the review section. Later, the phrase was humorously twisted into a way to derail the focus of posts, regardless of whether they were about beauty products, sports, current events, or even expressing personal feelings. People began using the phrase "已購買，小孩愛吃" to disrupt the conversation, much like the "read but randomly reply" style. Many netizens have called it a perfect representation of the "calm craziness" often seen in young people.

硬控

"硬控" ("Hard control") is a term that originates from MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games. It refers to using forceful methods like knockbacks, petrification, freezing, etc., to completely prevent the opponent from controlling their character. In simple terms, it means being "hard-controlled" and unable to move.

On social media, people often say things like "I got hard-controlled by XX," "XX hard-controlled me for X seconds," or "Hard-controlled for 30 seconds." This is used to describe how something grabs your attention so completely that you can't stop. It's like when you're focused on something important, but then you see something familiar and immediately drop everything, losing control as you get caught up in it. It's like a powerful move in a game that traps you, making it impossible to escape. So, what's something that's ever "hard-controlled" you?

蛋雕

"蛋雕" (dàn diāo), "Egg sculpture" isn't some impressive work of art, but a trendy slang term from Taiwan, meaning "to throw away"! In Taiwanese, the word "丟" (to throw) is pronounced "tàn," so "丟掉" (to throw away) sounds like "tàn-tiāu," which is similar to "蛋雕" (dàn diāo). And just like that, it became the playful term "蛋雕"!

泉

The term "泉" (quán) actually evolved from the Taiwanese word "濺" (tsuānn, pronounced "ㄓㄨㄚˇ or ㄗㄨㄚˋ"). Because it's hard to express the pronunciation in writing, people started using the character "泉" as a substitute. In central and southern Taiwan, some people use this word to describe someone who exaggerates or brags, especially when their words are not truthful. Later, the rapper Mark released a song titled "泉," which further defined the term as meaning "to lie" or "to boast." Now, this term has become popular online, and people even use it in Mandarin, saying things like "你不要泉" ("Don't lie to me") or "你又在泉了" ("You're lying again").

虫合

"蛤!" ("Huh!") is basically one of the most common expressions used by Taiwanese people. Whether it's because you didn't hear something clearly or completely don't understand what someone is saying, the word "蛤" naturally pops out. Recently, this expression has evolved! The upgraded version "虫合" has appeared! By combining "虫" (bug) and "合" (together), "虫合" is used to express extreme confusion and a whole bunch of question marks, like saying, "虫合?? You should really listen to what you're saying!" Sometimes, it's also represented by the emoji "🐛🈴".

能蟲

"能蟲" (néng chóng) follows the same "read but randomly reply" approach as "已購買小孩愛吃". When an unknown insect appears in your home and you want to post a photo online to ask for help identifying it or determining if it's dangerous, you might see someone reply seriously with: "This is a Neng Chong. It belongs to the order Coleoptera, is an omnivore, and is very ferocious. It often carries many viruses. It has been around since the Tang Dynasty, when it was killed by the swordsman Li Bai. Historical records say, 'If a Neng Chong comes, I would choose Li Bai.'" At this point, you're probably confused, only to realize at the end that the whole story is just a prank.

Fun Fact:

能蟲 comes from a line in Li Ronghao's song "李白" ("Li Bai"), where the lyrics say, "要是能重來 我要選李白" ("If I could do it again, I would choose Li Bai"). Netizens humorously turned this into "能蟲" by playing with the sound of the words. "能蟲" is purely fictional, and you can make up your own, like "客蟲" or "萬蟲." The fun is in making it as ridiculous as possible!

不是，哥們

"不是，哥們" (bù shì gē men), "No, bro" is often used to express surprise, confusion, or even a bit of helplessness toward someone's actions or statements. For example, "不是，哥們，別太離譜" ("No, bro, don't be so ridiculous") or "不是，哥們，都這麼久了，你居然還沒出門？" ("No, bro, it's been so long, and you still haven't left?"). This phrase is often paired with an image of a shrimp sitting in front of a computer, which makes people wonder, "What does this have to do with anything?"

This meme actually originated from the shooting game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, where players, frustrated with their teammates' performance, would say things like "不是，哥們，你怎麼打成這樣?" ("No, bro, how are you playing like this?") to mock them. Later, internet users got creative, combining this phrase with the "Why does my back hurt?" shrimp meme from abroad, capturing the frustration felt during gameplay.

急了 (jí le)

This phrase indicates that someone's emotions have become anxious, nervous, or urgent. For example, when things aren't going as expected or difficulties arise, someone might say "他急了" (tā jí le), meaning he has started to feel anxious or impatient. This expression is also commonly used in a joking or lighthearted context, where if someone is visibly agitated or uneasy about something, others might say "你急了哦!" (nǐ jí le ó!) to tease them about being too eager or stressed.

貼臉開打

Originally a term from video games, 貼臉開打 (tiē liǎn kāi dà) refers to players in close combat positioning their characters close to the opponent's face, then using powerful skills or ultimate moves (commonly called "開大" or "kaì dà") in the most rapid or destructive way to attack. In daily conversation, this expression is used to describe someone who takes a very direct and impactful approach in their words or actions, focusing on the other person's weaknesses and launching a series of attacks that leave the person feeling embarrassed or overwhelmed.

興奮 / 開心到模糊

"興奮到模糊" (xīng fèn dào mó hú) or "開心到模糊" (kāi xīn dào mó hú) This phrase describes a state where a person is so excited or happy that they feel a bit out of control, even to the point where their perception becomes blurry and they can't think clearly. It's an exaggerated expression of an extreme emotional state, conveying that someone feels so good or euphoric that it's almost difficult to put into words. The feeling is intense enough that it affects their ability to process things normally, like having a blurry vision or an overwhelming sense of joy.

破防 / 破防

Originally a gaming term, "破防" (pò fáng) refers to breaking through an opponent's defense, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. In everyday life and on social media, it is now used as a metaphor for someone having their emotional defenses breached—being triggered, upset, or deeply affected by something that hits a sensitive spot. For humor, people sometimes use the emoji "🏚️" or the homonym "破房" (pò fáng, meaning "broken house") to represent this concept.

尊嘟假嘟

"尊嘟假嘟" (zūn dū jiǎ dū) is a playful homophonic twist on "真的假的" (zhēn de jiǎ de), meaning "really or not?", or colloquially, "no... really?". When pronounced, it naturally causes the speaker's lips to pout, making it a cute and exaggerated way of asking, "Is that true?". It is most often associated with younger individuals, particularly in informal or casual settings like:

• Teenagers or young adults: They might use this phrase when chatting with friends or responding to surprising or unbelievable statements in a humorous and exaggerated manner. For example, A friend shares some unexpected gossip, and the response might be, "尊嘟假嘟!" to feign shock in a playful way.
• Content creators or influencers: They may use it to engage their audience in a cute or quirky manner, particularly on platforms where exaggerated expressions and trends are common.
• Couples or close friends: It can be used affectionately to tease or react to something surprising said by a partner or close friend.

卡皮巴拉

"卡皮巴拉" (kǎ pí bā lā) comes from the English name for "capybara", an animal known for its calm, endearing, and harmless demeanor. As slang, it describes someone who appears emotionally steady, adorably clueless, and soothing to be around—essentially the epitome of a "healing" or therapeutic personality.

我是什麼很賤的人嗎

"我是什麼很賤的人嗎" (Wǒ shì shénme hěn jiàn de rén ma) translates to "Am I some kind of pathetic person?". This is a self-deprecating complaint often used humorously when encountering bad luck or unfavorable situations. It can be interpreted as, "Why does bad stuff always happen to me? Am I just unlucky?" or "How miserable must I be to be treated like this?".

好解 / 很解

"好解" (hǎo jiě ) or "很解" (hěn jiě) refers to when someone's words or actions cause a sudden shift from expectation to dislike, even cooling down the atmosphere and killing the mood. The theory is that "很解" is related to the feeling drug users experience—extreme relaxation while high, followed by deep emotional lows once the effect wears off. In this sense, "解" (jiě) implies "release".

含金量

"含金量" (hán jīn liàng) is used to describe the value, quality, or significance of something. For example, when one says an award or achievement has a "含金量高" (hán jīn liàng gāo), it means that the award or achievement is "高" (highly) valuable, hard to attain, and carries deep meaning.

I 人 / E 人

"I 人" (I rén) refers to individuals who prefer solitude or interactions with a few close people and are not good at expressing themselves. "E 人" (E rén) refers to those who enjoy socializing and interacting with others. This classification comes from the popular MBTI (Myers–Briggs Type Indicator) personality test, which divides personality into 16 types, with each type defined by four opposing dimensions: Introversion (I) vs. Extraversion (E), Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N), Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F), Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P). When someone is referred to as "非常 E" (fēi cháng E)—you guessed it—that person is "extremely" outgoing.

舔狗

"舔狗" (tiǎn gǒu) describes someone who excessively flatters or sacrifices their self-respect to please others in romantic or interpersonal relationships, often to the point of being self-degrading.

M3

"M3", pronouned as "M sān" in Chinese, is an abbreviation of the phrase "You know what I am saying" in English, used to confirm whether someone understands your point of view. When said quickly, it sounds like "You know what I M3".

觸 / 觸爛

"觸爛" (chù làn) is derived from the English word "true" (meaning "really" or "truly"). "觸" used in the manner has nothing do do with it's literal meaning of "touch", rather it's used as a transliteration for it's phonetic sound. "觸爛" is used to express strong agreement with something. The term has varying degrees of intensity: 觸 → 觸爛 → 觸爆, which shows increasing levels of agreement.

下頭男 / 普信男

"下頭男" (xià tóu nán) refers to men whose behavior is unpleasant, such as being greasy, uninteresting, or overly self-centered. These traits make them off-putting or make people want to "jump ship". In contrast, "上頭" (shàng tóu) describes a state of being passionate or deeply interested in something. "普信男" (pǔ xìn nán) is short for "普通且自信的男人" (pǔ tōng qiě zì xìn de nán rén), referring to men who may be average in appearance, ability, or background but are overly confident.

嘻嘻 / 不嘻嘻

"嘻嘻" (xī xī) is used to express a lighthearted or playful mood, often with a hint of mischievousness. "不嘻嘻" (bù xī xī) is the opposite, used to express dissatisfaction, seriousness, or boredom, contrasting with the playful tone of "嘻嘻". In addition, it's similar to the English equivalent of "hee-hee" or "tee-hee". For example, "嘻嘻，我不小心説錯了!" means "Hee-hee, I accidentally said it wrong!"

很躁

"很躁" (hěn zào) is used to describe feelings of irritation, anxiety, or unease toward something or someone. For example, "台北又濕又熱的天氣，真的讓人很躁" means "The weather in Taipei, humid and hot, really makes me anxious".

笑死（鼠)

"笑死" (xiào sǐ / shǔ) or "笑鼠" (xiào shǔ) literally means "laugh to death", exaggerating how funny something is, but in practice, it is used like a rhetorical "end of sentence," often in a dismissive or sarcastic manner. Similar phrases include "笑爛" and "超好笑." Variations include "笑屎," "笑鼠," "笑🐭," and "笑 4."

For 2023

活網

"活網” can also be called "活網仔" (huó wǎng zǎi). This term originates from Facebook slang, used to describe someone who lives their life online, constantly using internet slang, scrolling through Facebook or participating in forums like PTT.

恐龍扛狼

"恐龍扛狼" (kǒng lóng káng láng) is used to humorously describe exaggerated or absurd actions, often in situations where things seem out of proportion or unexpected. It also serves as a viral meme in internet culture, used to join trends or highlight humorous mismatches. The phraise originates from a song by the Douyin creator "Yunnan Quan Mei" (雲南權妹), sung to the tune of a classic song by Sammi Cheng (鄭秀文). The song was interpreted using dialect from the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan region and includes exaggerated performances, sparking a trend of imitation on the Chinese internet. The lyrics have no special meaning but are designed to be repetitive and catchy, creating a viral effect.

山道猴

"山道猴" (shān dào hóu) refers to someone racing motorcycles on mountain roads and ignoring traffic laws and the safety of others. This term comes from a YouTube video by the creator "Eric Duan," describing a young man who works at a convenience store and has a hobby of riding heavy motorcycles on mountain roads. In pursuit of social media fame and his vanity, he accumulates debt and suffers betrayal, ultimately dying in a motorcycle accident.

要確欸

An abbreviation for "你要確定欸" (nǐ yào què dìng āi), meaning "Are you sure?" or "Are you certain?" It's often used when someone is surprised or finds something hard to believe.

吃瓜群眾

"吃瓜群衆" (chī guā qún zhòng) literally means "eating melon crowd," this term refers to internet users who watch gossip unfold online without participating. "瓜" (guā) represents a juicy or trending gossip topic. When someone is first to hear about gossip, they may use "前排吃瓜" (qián pái chī guā), meaning they are in the front row to witness the event.

炎上

From Japanese, "炎上" (yán shàng) originally referred to a fire burning intensely. On the Taiwanese internet, it means when a person's words or actions online spark controversy or criticism, causing them to be heavily attacked or "flamed" by others. However 炎上 is not always justified, and in other cases, is more akin to "being canceled" or "getting roasted".

哇酷哇酷

This term is derived from the character "Anya" from the popular Netflix series *SPYxFAMILY* (間諜家家酒). The original Japanese word "わくわく" for "exciting" (wakuwaku) was adapted into the playful expression "哇酷哇酷" (wā kù wā kù). Just like it's Japanese loanword, the phrase expresses enthusiasm, more specifically, a type of excitement that is light, joyful, and filled with anticipation.

芭比 Q 了

Pronounced "bā bǐ Q le", it's a play on the sound of "BBQ" (barbecue), used to mean "It's over" or "I'm doomed". This phrase became popular after a Chinese esports streamer exclaimed, "完了, 芭比Q啦!" (wán le, bā bǐ Q la!) when he was about to lose a game.

都幾

"都幾" (dōu jǐ) comes from the Japanese word "docchi" (どっち), meaning "which one?" or "which is better?" It's commonly used on PTT (a Taiwanese forum) to ask people to choose between two options, often when comparing two attractive individuals or difficult choices.

注意看，這個男人太狠了

"zhù yì kàn, zhè ge nán rén tài hěn le" is from a viral Chinese bootleg commentary video. It became popular on social media platforms as a catchy phrase used to describe intense or shocking actions of a character in a video or story.

不可能...吧

"Bù kě néng... ba" is used in contexts of surprise or sarcasm, similar to "How is that possible?" It can be used in various situations like "不可能這麼便宜吧?" (bù kě néng zhè me pián yí ba?) meaning "It’s not possible that it’s so cheap!" or "不可能不知道叫車吧這麼優質吧!" (bù kě néng bù zhī dào jiào chē ba zhè me yōu zhì ba!) meaning "There’s no way you didn’t know how to book a taxi this good!"

我沒了 / WML

Originally from "啊我死了" (ā wǒ sǐ le), meaning "Ah, I'm dead", 我沒了 (wǒ méi le) expresses overwhelming emotion when one can’t contain their excitement or reaction to something impressive. "WML" is an abbreviation for this term, often used online to express similar feelings.

有料

"Yǒu liào" refers to someone or something genuine, capable, or substantial, implying depth and real value. Swapping "有" with "無" to form "無料" (wú liào) suggests the opposite—a superficial person lacking those qualities, equivalent to calling someone "basic".

4ni

This is a quick internet slang abbreviation for "是你" (shì nǐ), meaning "it's you". It's often used when trying to sound cute or playful in online conversations.

wwwww

Represents laughter, with more "w"s indicating louder or more intense laughter. The "w" comes from the Japanese word "warau" (笑う), meaning "to laugh."

你很地

The "地" in "你很地" (nǐ hěn dì) refers to "地精" (dì jīng), meaning "goblin". Free of the negative connotation of its Western counterpart, goblin is used to describe someone as amazing, cool, or highly skilled. If someone says "你很地!" (nǐ hěn dì!), it means you're really awesome.

UCCU

This blunt rebus for "You see see you" has a coherent Chinese translation: "你看看你" (nǐ kàn kàn nǐ), meaning "Look at you" or "Look at yourself". It is used to reprimand someone for their shocking behavior, demanding self-criticism and introspection.

好 Chill

"Hǎo chill" has evolved to realign with its American origins. Originally meaning to cool something down (e.g., letting soup cool), it now unsurprisingly describes a relaxed, laid-back attitude or lifestyle.

新警察

"xīn jǐng chá" refers to a "rookie" or someone who doesn't understand popular culture, often used to mock people who don't get internet memes or slang.

ㄎ一ㄤ

This bopomofo is pronouned "kiāng". Derived from the sound of a drug-induced stupor or a drunk person, it describes someone who is disoriented, intoxicated, or not in control.

咖啡話

"kā fēi huà", originally referring to nonsense spoken by someone high on drugs, it now means "nonsense" or "rubbish talk."

xsn

Used between boyfriends and girlfriends to avoid awkwardness in text, meaning "What are you thinking?" It conveys the idea of caring about the other person’s thoughts and indicates a more serious or intimate relationship.

歸剛欸

From a Douyin video about jellyfish being lifted by humans, causing their bodies to detach. "歸剛欸" (guī gāng āi) in Taiwanese means "all day" or "forever," often used to scold someone for wasting time or causing trouble unnecessarily.

YYDS

Abbreviation for "永遠滴神" (yǒng yuǎn dī shén), meaning "forever god." It’s used to describe someone or something that is the best or most awesome. For example, "OOO yyds!" means "OOO is the best!"