Exploring Chinese Internet Slang on TikTok and Kuaishou
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- Source：The Silk Road Echo
If you've ever scrolled through TikTok or Kuaishou and felt like everyone was speaking a different language—congrats, you're not alone. Chinese internet slang is fast, furious, and wildly creative. It's not just about shortcuts; it's a whole culture coded into phrases like zui (最), baile (摆烂), and neijuan (内卷). These platforms aren’t just for dance trends—they’re linguistic laboratories.
Why Chinese Slang Rules Social Media
TikTok (known as Douyin in China) and Kuaishou dominate mobile screens with over 700 million monthly active users combined. With attention spans shrinking, netizens pack meaning into syllables. A single word can carry sarcasm, pride, or existential dread.
Take neijuan—literally 'involution'—now used to roast cutthroat competition in school or work. Or baile, short for “I’m done, I give up,” often paired with a shrugging emoji. These aren’t just words; they’re emotional survival tools.
Top Slang & Their Real-World Impact
Here’s a quick cheat sheet of viral terms blowing up in 2024:
| Slang | Literal Meaning | Cultural Vibe | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| zui (绝) | extreme / amazing | “This is next-level good” | “这妆容太绝了！” = “This makeup is fire!” |
| baile (摆烂) | let it rot | giving up with flair | “项目太难，我选择摆烂” = “Project’s hard—imma quit gracefully.” |
| neijuan (内卷) | involution | burnout from over-effort | “天天加班？纯纯内卷。” = “Working late daily? That’s peak grind culture.” |
| yanzhi (颜值) | face value | looks-based worth | “他颜值超高” = “He’s got model energy.” |
| dashan (打赏) | to tip | supporting creators | “别忘了给我打赏哦~” = “Drop a coin if you vibe with me!” |
How Platforms Shape the Lingo
Douyin favors flashy, trend-driven slang—think zui and yanzhi—perfect for 15-second fame. Kuaishou, rooted in smaller cities, leans into authenticity. There, baile isn’t ironic—it’s real talk from users juggling life’s chaos.
Brands are catching on. When Pinduoduo used baile in an ad campaign (“We see you’re tired. Here’s a discount.”), engagement jumped 34%.
Speak the Language, Win the Feed
Want clout on these apps? Ditch textbook Mandarin. Jump into the meme-fueled chaos. Comment “太绝了！” under a cooking video. Say “我不卷了” when posting a lazy Sunday pic. Authenticity > perfection.
And remember: today’s joke slang might be tomorrow’s dictionary entry. Just ask the editors at Xinhua, who added neijuan in 2023.