Common Chinese slang and internet language
Published: April 29, 2026
Short Answer
Chinese internet culture has produced a rich vocabulary of slang, number codes, and memes that you will encounter constantly on WeChat, Douyin (TikTok), and Weibo. Learning the most common ones -- like 666 (awesome), 520 (I love you), and 躺平 (lying flat, i.e., giving up on the rat race) -- will help you understand casual conversations and connect with younger Chinese speakers on a deeper level.
Neon signs in a Chinese city at night showing modern digital culture
Deep Dive
Number Slang: When Numbers Mean Words
Chinese is full of homophones, and internet users have exploited this to create a numeric shorthand language. These are everywhere -- in texts, prices, dates, and even license plates.
| Number | Sounds Like | Meaning | Usage |
|-----|---|---|----|
| 666 | 溜溜溜 (liù liù liù) | Awesome, smooth, well played | The most common compliment in Chinese gaming and social media |
| 888 | 发发发 (fā fā fā) | Prosperity, getting rich | Lucky number, used in prices, phone numbers, dates |
| 520 | 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) | I love you | Used as a romantic confession, May 20th is basically Valentine's Day in China |
| 1314 | 一生一世 (yī shēng yī shì) | Forever, whole life | Often paired with 520: "5201314" = "I love you forever" |
| 88 | 拜拜 (bài bài) | Bye bye | Universal Chinese internet farewell |
| 555 | 呜呜呜 (wū wū wū) | Crying sound | Expressing sadness or frustration |
| 233 | From Maopu forum emoji #233 | Laughing hard | Similar to "LOL" in English |
| 996 | 9am-9pm, 6 days/week | Overwork culture | A controversial work schedule common in Chinese tech companies |
Slang From Social Movements
Some of the most important recent Chinese slang comes from social commentary:
躺平 (tǎng píng) -- Lying flat: Refusing to participate in the rat race. Not buying a house, not working overtime, not getting married. A response to extreme competition and high costs of living. Became a viral movement in 2021.
内卷 (nèi juǎn) -- Involution: Hyper-competition that leads nowhere. When everyone works harder but nobody actually gets ahead. Used to describe everything from education pressure to office culture. Example: "My company is so 内卷 -- everyone stays until 10pm but nobody actually has work to do."
佛系 (fó xì) -- Buddha-like: Being laid-back, not caring about outcomes, going with the flow. "I'm very 佛系 about my exam results" means you are not stressing about it.
摆烂 (bǎi làn) -- Let it rot: A more extreme version of lying flat. Actively giving up on trying. Used humorously when things go wrong.
Classic Internet Slang
| Term | Pinyin | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning |
|---|-----|----|----|
| 土豪 | tǔ háo | Local bully | Nouveau riche, someone who is rich but tasteless |
| 吃瓜群众 | chī guā qún zhòng | Melon-eating crowd | Bystanders watching drama, "the peanut gallery" |
| 点赞 | diǎn zàn | Click praise | To like (a post), to approve of something |
| 种草 | zhòng cǎo | Plant grass | To be influenced to want something (from a recommendation) |
| 拔草 | bá cǎo | Pull grass | To finally buy something you have been wanting |
| 人设 | rén shè | Character setup | Public image or persona (often used when someone's image collapses) |
| 社死 | shè sǐ | Social death | Dying of embarrassment, a mortifying social moment |
| YYDS | -- | 永远的神 (forever god) | The GOAT, the greatest of all time |
How to Use Slang Naturally
A few tips for non-native speakers:
- Listen first, use later. Spend time reading Weibo comments, Douyin captions, and WeChat group chats before trying to use slang yourself.
- Context matters. Most slang is casual and belongs in texts and social media, not in business emails or formal conversations.
- Slang changes fast. A term that is trendy today might feel dated in two years. Keep consuming Chinese social media to stay current.
- Do not overuse it. Sprinkling in one or two slang terms per conversation sounds natural. Using five in one sentence sounds like you are trying too hard.