Chinese slang quiz
Want to sound like a local? Let’s see if you know this essential Chinese slang (not found in your textbook).
Ten words you’ll hear in Beijing offices, on WeChat and all over Chinese social media. Each one comes in a real sentence. Pick what it means.
10 slang wordsbeginner to advancedabout 2 minutesno sign-up
你一个人做完了？太牛了！
What does it mean here? Tap an answer to start.
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Free pack
The Chinese slang pack
22 words locals really say and textbooks leave out. Each card comes with audio, an example and when it’s safe to say.
- 22 cards
- Beginner to advanced
Free · no card
What’s inside
22 words
- 牛niúMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 666liù liù liùMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 绝了jué leMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 社恐shèkǒngMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 摸鱼mōyúMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 破防pòfángMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 凡尔赛Fán’ěrsàiMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 下头xiàtóuMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 打工人dǎgōngrénMeaning hidden until you get the pack
- 种草zhòngcǎoMeaning hidden until you get the pack
Chinese slang quiz
The 10 slang words in this quiz
Here’s what each one means in mainland China, with the sentence it came in.
牛niú
BeginnerAwesome, impressive
你一个人做完了？太牛了！ You finished it on your own? That’s amazing!
With friends666liù liù liù
BeginnerNice one, slick
这操作，666！ That move was so slick!
With friends绝了jué le
BeginnerIncredible, unbeatable
这家火锅绝了！ This hotpot place is incredible!
With friends社恐shèkǒng
IntermediateSocially anxious
我是社恐，不想去聚会。 I get anxious around people, so I don’t want to go to the party.
With friends摸鱼mōyú
IntermediateTo slack off at work
他上班又在摸鱼。 He’s slacking off at work again.
Fine at work破防pòfáng
IntermediateHit right in the feelings
看到这条评论，我直接破防了。 That comment really got to me.
With friends凡尔赛Fán’ěrsài
IntermediateHumblebragging
别凡尔赛了，你明明很有钱。 Stop humblebragging, you’re clearly loaded.
With friends下头xiàtóu
AdvancedA total turn-off
他说的话真下头。 What he said was a total turn-off.
With friends打工人dǎgōngrén
AdvancedWage slave (said of yourself, jokingly)
打工人，加油！ Hang in there, fellow wage slaves!
Fine at work种草zhòngcǎo
AdvancedTo make someone want to buy something
她给我种草了这支口红。 She got me wanting this lipstick.
With friends
Questions
Is this slang still used?
Yes. Every word here is in everyday use, and each answer says where it’s safe: fine at work, with friends, or best avoided. A few sound younger than others, and the answer tells you which.
Why does the quiz show a sentence?
Slang changes meaning with context, so each word comes in a real sentence. Pick the translation that fits. The first three are common, the last three need more of an ear.
What do I get if I unlock the 12?
A free deck with all 22 words, added for you when you finish setting up: the 10 from the quiz (the ones you missed first, each with its example), then the 12 new ones. Every card has audio and comes back for review just before you’d forget it.
Is this Mandarin or Cantonese?
Mandarin, as used in mainland China, in simplified characters with pinyin. Some of it travels to Taiwan and Singapore, but most of it was born on mainland social media.
Why is 666 a word?
Six is liù, which sounds like 溜 (smooth, slick). Typing 666 in a game chat started as praise for a slick move and spread everywhere.