As 2023 is coming to an end, it’s time to summarize the popular slang once again. What new vocabulary has emerged since the first half of the year? Are you still using those outdated catchphrases? Would you like to see what new trendy expressions the internet has to offer? Let’s quickly learn some of the latest vocabulary to bring you closer to your friends!
Dā zi
1. 搭 子 Buddy
“Dā zi (搭子)” originates from the term “dā dàng 搭档” (partner) and has become a prevalent social interaction among young people. It refers to a social relationship that is shallower than friendship but deeper than colleagueship.
“Dā zi (搭子)” is formed based on common interests, hobbies, or needs, particularly in a specific vertical field. For example, a “fàn dāzi 饭搭子” (food buddy) who eats together, a “yóuxì dāzi 游戏搭子” (gaming buddy) who plays games together, a “pái dāzi 牌搭子” (card buddy) who plays cards together, a “gòu wù dāzi 购物搭子” (shopping buddy) who shops together, or a “lǚyóu dāzi 旅游搭子” (travel buddy) who explores places together, and so on.
Examples:
Tā shì wǒ de fàn dāzi, wǒmen jīngcháng yīqǐ chīfàn.
他是我的饭搭子，我们经常一起吃饭。
He is my food buddy, and we often eat together.
Nǐ shì wǒ zuì bàng de yóuxì dāzi.
你是我最棒的游戏搭子。
You are my best gaming buddies.
I rén / e rén
2. i 人 / e 人 Introvert / Extrovert
“I rén (i人)” refers to introverts, while “e rén (e人)” refers to extroverts. These terms originated from the MBTI personality test and are commonly used to describe one’s personality.
Examples:
Wǒ shì gè “i rén”，zhōumò zhǐ xiǎng dāi zài jiā.
我是个i人，周末只想待在家。
I am an “introvert,” and prefer to stay at home on weekends.
Tā shì gè “e rén”，zhōu mò zǒng xǐhuān hé péngyǒu chūqù wán.
他是个e人，周末总喜欢和朋友出去玩。
He is an “extrovert,” and always like. going out with friends on weekends.
Hā jī mǐ
3. 哈 基 米 Adorable kitty
“Hā jī mǐ (哈基米)” originates from the Japanese word “はちみ” (hachimi), which initially referred to honey. However, this term has widely spread in cute pet videos, especially when paired with a catchy Japanese background music. It is now used to refer to adorable cats.
Examples:
Kuài kàn！Nà lǐ yǒu yī zhī “Hā jī mǐ”!
快看！那里有一只“哈基米“！
Look! There’s an adorable kitty.
Hǎo kě’ài de “hā jī mǐ” ya!
好可爱的“哈基米”呀！
How adorable kitty!
Qíng xù jià zhí
4. 情 绪 价 值 Emotional value
Emotional value refers to a person’s ability to influence others’ emotions, particularly their capacity to create a sense of comfort and happiness for others.
Examples:
Yīnwèi tā wúfǎ gěi wǒ tígōng qíngxù jiàzhí, suǒyǐ wǒmen fēnshǒule.
因为他无法给我提供情绪价值，所以我们分手了。
We broke up because he couldn’t provide me with emotional value.
Tā zǒng shì gǔlì wǒ, wèi wǒ tí gōng qíng xù jià zhí.
她总是鼓励我，为我提供情绪价值。
She always encourages me and provides me with emotional support.
Shuāng xiàng bēn fù
5. 双 向 奔 赴 Two-way love
“Shuāng xiàng bēn fù (双向奔赴)” is a Chinese phrase that means “two-way love” or “mutual love.” It combines the words “shuāng xiàng 双向” (two-way), which refers to two opposite directions or sides, and “bēn fù 奔赴” (run towards), which means to rush to or devote oneself wholeheartedly. Therefore, “shuāng xiàng bēn fù (双向奔赴)” can be understood as expressing a state of mutual love and joint effort.
Examples:
Shuāng xiàng bēn fù de àiqíng tài měihǎo le!
双向奔赴的爱情太美好了！
The two-way love is truly beautiful!
Wǒmen de àiqíng shì shuāng xiàng bēn fù.
我们的爱情是双向奔赴。
Our love is a two-way love.
The above is a summary of popular slang from the second half of 2023. If you have more topics you’d like to explore, feel free to leave a comment and let me know. Together, we can delve further into these subjects. I hope these insights help you express yourself better using trendy vocabulary. If you’re interested in the latest Chinese internet slang or want to enhance your language skills, click here to get a free trial session and join me in learning Mandarin, where you can discover more fascinating linguistic knowledge.
