Chinese phrases

Colorful expressions and idioms with modern twists.

Phrases

纯路人chún lù rén

A supposedly neutral outsider in a fandom or online debate, often used ironically when the speaker clearly has an opinion.

Phrases

出圈chū quān

For a person, work, meme, or product to break beyond its original fan circle and become widely noticed.

Phrases

情绪价值qíng xù jià zhí

The comfort, validation, fun, and sense of being cared for that someone or something gives you emotionally.

Phrases

草台班子cǎotái bānzi

A slapdash, amateurish operation held together with duct tape — now used to say that every organization, however prestigious, is secretly improvising.