Learn Chinese Slang
Expand your Chinese vocabulary and sound like a native by learning different Chinese slang words and phrases. Begin your journey here.
什么波 (shénme bō)
What wave
In Chinese, '什么波' (shénme bō) translates directly to 'what wave'. It is not a common phrase in Chinese but it can be used to ask 'what kind of wave?' In the context of a conversation, the speakers would be expected to understand the meaning based on the topic they are discussing. The usage could vary widely based on context.
你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma)
What's up?
你好吗 is a casual way to ask 'what's up?' in Chinese. It is generally used among friends to inquire about each other's wellbeing or to start a conversation. It does not require a literal answer about what is happening, but it instead invites the other person to share any important or interesting news about their lives.
哥们 (gē men)
Dude
In Chinese, '哥们' is a casual way to call a close male friend, similar to 'dude' in English. It connotes an intimate and informal relationship similar to brotherhood, often used among peers.
工作 (gōngzuò)
job
In Chinese, '工作' is commonly used to refer to one's occupation or employment. It could be used to express the action of performing duties for a job too. For example, '我正在工作' means 'I am working'. It is a noun that covers a broad range of work related concepts.
是的 (shì de)
yeah
'是的' is the Chinese word for 'yeah'. It is commonly used in conversations to agree with or affirm something, similar to how 'yeah' is used in English. However, formal Mandarin often requires more explicit agreement or disagreement, so '是的' is more commonly used in casual or colloquial speech.
看一看 (kàn yī kàn)
Check it out
The Chinese phrase '看一看' corresponds to 'check it out' in English. This phrase is commonly used when you want someone to look or pay attention to something. It's usually used in informal contexts and is appropriate to use with friends and peers.
腿 (tuǐ)
leg
The Chinese word for leg, '腿', is used much like the English 'leg', referring to the part of the body from the hip to the foot. This word can be used in variety of contexts, just like its English counterpart. For example, it can be used when talking about human anatomy, in various expressions or idioms, or when simply referring to the legs of a piece of furniture.
酷 (kù)
cool
The Chinese word '酷' is used to describe something or someone as cool, fascinating or awesome. It is pronounced as 'kù'. It is a very commonly used colloquial term, especially among the younger generation.