Can You Pass The Chinese Vocabulary Test? | Take The Vocab Challenge!

In Chinese Slang, Practical Chinese Phrases by Angel Huang

Do you know these casual Chinese words and expressions? 

If you’ve been following my Mandarin slang series, you’ve probably learnt some of them already!

If not, here’s a great opportunity to build your vocab and boost your spoken Chinese.

Answer Key & More Examples

  1. 1
    装逼 zhuāng bī:To pretend to be something you're not. (e.g. cool, rich or capable)
  2. 2
    二货 èr huò: an idiot/ a fool/ a stupid person 
  3. 3
    牛 niúawesome/ amazing / really cool (literal meaning: cow)
  4. 4
    作  zuō: dramatic (and troublesome)
  5. 5
    萌 méng: cute
  6. 6
    神 nán shén & 女神 nǚ shén: An ideal man/ the epitome of a man & An ideal woman/ the epitome of a woman
  7. 7
    靠谱 kào pǔ: reliable/ reasonable 
  8. 8
    小鲜肉 xiǎo xiān ròu & 老腊肉 lǎo là ròu: A young and handsome guy  & An old, handsome, and experienced man (literal meaning: small fresh meat)  & (literal meaning: tough cured meat)
  9. 9
    吐槽 tù cáo: to complain/ to roast/ to criticize
  10. 10
    吃土 chī tǔ: To be dirt poor (literal meaning: eat dirt)
  11. 11
    套路 tào lù: to deceive / to play tricks / trickery
  12. 12
    键盘侠 jiàn pán xiá: Keyboard Warrior / Keyboard Man / Internet Troll
  13. 13
    开撕 kāi sī:to have a beef with somebody / to be irritated with somebody / / to have a row(literal meaning: to open + to tear)
  14. 14
    心灵鸡汤 xīn líng jī tāng: "chicken soup for the soul" /a soul soother/ a motivational speech(literal meaning: soul + chicken soup) 
  15. 15
    为...打call wèi... dǎ call: to show one's support / to cheer for someone
  16. 16
    补刀 bǔ dāo: to attack someone who’s already under fire/ to rub salt in the wound(literal meaning: Add knife)
  17. 17
    戏精 xì jīng: a drama queen / a person who is good at acting(literal meaning: drama + an expert)
  18. 18
    宅 zhái: to hang out at home / to prefer to stay at home rather than go out /a bit anti-social or "homebodyish"(literal meaning: house / to reside)
  19. 19
    单身狗 dān shēn gǒu: a single woman / a single man(literal meaning: single dog)
  20. 20
    吃货 chī huò: foodie
  21. 21
    富二代 fù èr dài: A (spoiled) person who got their wealth from their parents
    lit. "rich second generation"
  22. 22
    比心 bǐ xīn: a finger heart sign for showing your positive feelings, like love or happiness. lit. "make your fingers look like a heart shape" 
  23. 23
    巨 jù: super / really / extremely. lit. "very large / huge / tremendous"
  24. 24
    耍 shuǎ: kid / tease / play a trick on
  25. 25
    亲 qīn: darling /dear
  26. 26
    干货 gān huò: great stuff. lit. "dry goods / dried fruit, nuts etc"
  27. 27
    毒舌 dú shé: a sharp tongue  (The characteristic of speaking to others in a harsh, critical, or insulting manner). lit. "poison tongue"
  28. 28
    佛系 fó xì: buddha-like being kind-hearted / having an "anything will do" attitude. lit. "buddha department"
  29. 29
    砍价 kǎn jià: bargain
  30. 30
    尬聊 gà liáo: have an awkward conversation