Chinese slang phrases are always evolving

Think about about many Chinese slang phrases you know. Maybe a lot? Maybe a few? No matter how long you’ve been learning Chinese, there’s always something new to learn!

In this week’s video, Chen Laoshi shares 5 cool Chinese slang phrases – so that next time you talk to your Chinese friends, you can surprise them! 👇

Don’t forget to check out why learning Chinese online could be your best friend and have a look at our free trial lesson!

1. 山寨 (shānzhài): FAKE

你的苹果12手机1000块钱？肯定是山寨的！
Nǐ de píngguǒ shí’èr shǒujī yīqiān kuài qián? Kěndìng shì shānzhài de!
Your iPhone cost you 1000RMB? It’s surely fake!

山寨手机的价格是非常便宜的
Shānzhài shǒujī de jiàgé shì fēicháng piányi de
Fake phones are cheap

2. 羡慕嫉妒恨 (xiànmù jídù hèn): to envy

他上周去瑞士度假了，我真是羡慕嫉妒恨！
Tā shàngzhōu qù Ruìshì dùjià le, wǒ zhēnshi xiànmù jídù hèn!
He went to Switzerland on holiday last week, I’m really jealous of him!

学霸这一次又考了99分，真让人羡慕嫉妒恨
Xuébà zhè yīcì yòu kǎole jiǔshíjiǔ fēn, zhēn ràng rén xiànmù jídù hèn
The top student got 99 points for the test again, which really makes everyone envy him

3. 抓狂 (zhuākuáng): to be driven mad

飞机晚点8个小时了，我要抓狂啦！
Fēijī wǎndiǎn bā gè xiǎoshí le, wǒ yào zhuākuáng la!
The plane was delayed for 8 hours, I’m going to go crazy (here)!

我只问了一个问题，这就足以让他抓狂了
Wǒ zhǐ wènle yī gè wèntí, zhè jiù zúayǐ ràng tā zhuākuáng le
I only asked one question, but it was enough to drive him crazy

4. 宅 (zhái): to stay in (at home)

我不想出家门，我就喜欢在家宅着
Wǒ bùxiǎng chū jiāmén, wǒ jiù xǐhuan zài jiā zháizhe
I don’t want to go out, I like to stay at home

我们并不能时常见到他，因为他通常都宅在家里
Wǒmen bìng bùnéng shíchánjiàndào tā, yīnwèi tā tōngcháng dōu zhái zài jiā lǐ
We don’t see him very often, because he usually stays at home

5. 来电 (láidiàn): to have chemistry with sb

我跟小王不来电，我们以后就做朋友了
Wǒ gēn Xiǎo Wáng bù láidiàn, wǒmen yǐhòu jiù zuò péngyou le
We don’t have a spark with Xiao Wang. We’re going to be friends

你喜欢一个女你们交往了半天,到底来不来电?
Nǐmen jiāowǎng le bàntiān, dàodǐ lái bu láidiàn?
You two have been hanging out together all day. Do you think you have chemistry?