Five terms you should know to understand China’s young guns

Ben Kwok December 20, 2023 10:31

There is no better way to understand modern college students than actually teaching them.

Enjoyable is the word I would use to conclude my first semester at United International College in Zhuhai, one of the few mainland universities that adopt English as the main language.

Exhausted too I guess after marking seven news writing assignments from each of the 76 students I have since September. Luckily, I shall have a two-month winter break to rest after an intense period to relearn journalism that I started in Hong Kong Economic Journal nearly 30 years ago.

So much is changing in modern China, as best reflected in their daily language use in social media. Courtesy of Sinocism, a must-read subscribed letter for expatriates in China, I took the liberty to share the top five internet buzzwords I learnt from students this year.

1. Special forces-style tourism: it refers to the high-density traveling among youngsters who visited as many scenic spots as possible in as little time and for as little cost as possible during weekends or short national holiday breaks.

Life is short. Play hard. Similar usage of this military style travel is used in watching TV series or having marathon meetings. But only for the young and restless.

2. Da zi: literally means buddy, but it is a new type of relationship that is “lighter than a friendship but deeper than a colleague relationship.” Instead of looking for soulmates, one hangs out with different partners in eating, travel, sports? The word originates from the Shanghai dialect, which refers to someone you play card with. Well, who needs a lifelong bestie if you can divide your time among a dozen of buddies?

3. Question Wanyu, understand Wanyu, become Wanyu: stemming from a popular TV series “iPartment” back in 2009, the main character Lin Wanyu opts to pursue her career rather than marriage, which the audience first puzzles, but eventually buys in before identifying and supporting her decision. A popular phrase for youngsters to describe what they feel about their parents – from questioning to understanding and finally becoming one of them.

4. I am feeling great: damned right, it carries the exact opposite meaning. Those who used this phrase means they are far from a good mental state, but rather very unstable. It is a crazy way to relieve stress in the face of extreme competition, pressure and anxiety. Mental health among youngsters is not just an issue in Hong Kong, but also China, where consumer brands such as McDonald’s, KFC and others are catching this phrase to resonate with youngsters in need of emotional release and possibly some fun.

5. Way ahead: which is hotter – iPhone 15 or Huawei Mate 60 Pro? Well, in the wake of geopolitics, this becomes not just a technology question, but also a symbol of nationalism. Only a few youngsters could afford to trade in their iPhones for the latest model, based on my observation, but at least many could use the idiom to poke fun at Huawei product line to show one is leading the other by a wide margin. The term originated from Huawei executive Yu Chengdong who mentioned the term 14 times in the launch of Huawei Mate 40 back in 2020.

Let me wish you all can enjoy some special forces-style of tourism with your dazi over Christmas and other holidays and have a great, and way ahead year in 2024!

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Ben Kwok

EJ Insight writer