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We’ve all been there…
Deep into a Chinese conversation.
Feeling confident.
Speaking fluently. (Or at least fluently-ish)
Understanding virtually everything.
And even feeling like we’re “thinking” in Chinese.
That’s when those years of learning Mandarin feel worth it. Like it wasn’t a massive waste of time and effort.
But then….
Deep into your flowing conversation…. The person you’re talking to drops a phrase you’ve never heard of.
You stop. You’re Stuck. And you’re confused.
Worse still, everyone else in the convo is laughing at what was just said.
That phrase you didn’t “get” just happens to be the one thing you need to know to understand the rest of the conversation.
You half laugh, and pretend you know what’s going on.
But you know it: you’re totally lost! And your fragile confidence in Chinese takes yet another hit.
That’s why this newsletter exists. To teach you that language you’ll never learn in a textbook. But you absolutely need if you want to confidently navigate conversations in the Chinese speaking world today.
One big roadblock for us language learners is newly invented phrases — called neologisms (still can’t pronounce that word!)
In Chinese these newly coined phrases are often “internet slang words” (网络用语).
They begin life on social media as a “geng” (梗), or a meme. Some go viral to become “hot” phrases (网络热词). And a small number of them go mainstream as “buzzwords” (流行语), representing bigger cultural shifts and trends in China.
These buzzwords are just the kind of thing which will trip you up in conversations if you don’t know them.
So, when we see lists of the “10 Top Chinese Buzzwords”(十大流行语) of 2025 dropping…
We are all over them!
And that’s what this penultimate episode of RealTime Mandarin in 2025 is all about.
We’re looking at three end-of year lists published in December, by:
Yaowen Jiaozi (咬文嚼字), a magazine covering the misuse and abuse of the Chinese language;
Language and Character Weekly (语言文字周报), an online magazine focussed on language trends;
And National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Center (国家语言资源监测与研究中心), a research institute affiliated with China’s Ministry of Education.
In addition, our favourite Mainland business publication, 36Kr, did an analysis of some of the top trending terms in these lists, linking them to wider social trends in China this year, and added some more phrases into the mix. So we picked the best ones from that article too.
The Yaowen Jiaozi list focusses more on official language and political propaganda. Its year-end list was widely covered in state media and seen as the “official” top ten. The Language and Character Weekly list looks more at genuine buzzwords. And the list by the National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Center, a state-run publication, seems to be largely out of touch with genuinely trending phrases.
So we’ve chosen the Language and Character Weekly list to feature in this issue. In the second part of the newsletter, we’ve listed another ten phrases from across the other two lists which have genuinely been trending phrases this year, giving you a total of 20 phrases to get stuck into.
There’s minimal overlap across the three lists. And only one phrase appears in all of them:
“If A is basic, then B is not basic” (…基础，…不基础 bù jī chǔ).
This started as way fashion influencers commented on outfit combinations, and has since expanded into a way to joke about spending habits or lifestyle choices.
Of these 20 phrases, we’ve covered 11 in the last year of RealTime Mandarin. I’ve linked to those stories where relevant.
One news story stands out from this year: the Chicken Cutlet Bother (鸡排哥), an internet sensation we covered in October: the street vendor whose viral fame created three phrases in this top 20 list.
Of course, all these phrases originate online behind the Great Firewall so are subject to censorship and media control. Meaning they might not always resonate in real life in China.
So for each phrase we’ve given it a star rating for how useful it really is. Three star phrases are “essential”, two stars are “very useful”, and one star is for phrases which had a viral moment but haven’t yet gone mainstream.
And that’s also why next week, we’ll continue with our annual tradition of sharing our own “unofficial” list of our favourite phrases of the year — an independent take on what people are really talking about in the Chinese-speaking world, the phrases they use to discuss them, and the lingo you really need to know to not trip up in your Chinese conversations.
So stay tuned for that!
China’s hottest Top Ten list of 2025
This is the top ten “hot” phrases of 2025 as Language and Character Weekly sees it.
1. “Brand curator”
主理人 zhǔ lǐ rén
最近，景德镇有个卖鸡排的大哥突然爆火，还被广大网友封为“鸡排主理人”。
Recently, a man selling fried chicken in Jingdezhen suddenly went viral and was even dubbed the “chicken chop curator” by netizens.
Background:
Meaning: Literally “chief operator”, the phrase originally referred to boutique brand owners or entrepreneurs who build strong personal online brands — polished influencers.
The concept emerged as a buzzword in 2024. It was one of the top internet buzzwords of that year, according to one list, but we only highlighted it as a minor phrase back then. The term exploded in 2025 when “Chicken Cutlet Brother”, a street vendor with no polish or script, went viral for his authentic, entertaining service, turning the polished “brand curator” concept on its head.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: Who is China’s “Chicken Cutlet Brother”?
2. “Black magic”
邪修 xié xiū
邪修的核心，是不按常理出牌，但能解决问题。
The essence of practicing “black magic” is doing things in a way that is unorthodox but effective.
Background:
Meaning: Originated from Chinese fantasy novels, meaning to achieve high levels of success through unorthodox means, and not following the normal path.
It’s now used to describe outrageous but highly effective ways for getting stuff done, by breaking conventional thinking or taking shortcuts. For example, “black-magic cooking” (邪修做饭), “black-magic food” (邪修美食).
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. “Demon Orb and Spirit Pearl”
魔丸&灵珠 mó wán & líng zhū
老板面前他是灵珠，背后吐槽时纯魔丸。
In front of the boss he’s all Spirit Pearl, but when complaining behind closed doors he’s pure Demon Orb.
Background:
Meaning: Originally from the 2019 animated film, Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child (哪吒之魔童降世). It exploded as a “hot” phrase in 2025 following the release of the sequel, Nezha: The Devil Child Wreaks Havoc in the Sea (哪吒之魔童闹海). It represents opposing yet unified forces.
“Demon orb and spirit pearl” are now a way to describe contrasting personal traits: “Demon Orb” (魔丸) is rebellious, unconventional, or defiant characteristics, while “Spirit Pearl” (灵珠) means obedient, gentle, and rational qualities.
Rating: ⭐️
Related RTM content: Ne Zha is no longer the audience favourite
4. “Upper class vibes”
高雅人士 gāo yǎ rén shì
内心已经崩了但表面还得优雅，标准高雅人士。
I’m screaming inside but have to maintain professional grace—that’s upper class vibes right there.
Background:
Meaning: As the phrase suggests, it refers to elegant, sophisticated people with refined taste. The term’s viral popularity began with an animation of a penguin by a Chinese blogger. The penguin has extravagant dance moves to thumping music, with the text: “refined person on inspection tour” (高雅人士视察中).
The ironic contrast made it an immediate internet sensation. As an internet slang, it now means “having external composure while emotionally on the verge of collapse”.
Rating: ⭐️
5. “I’ve got this”
做完你的做你的 zuò wán nǐ de zuò nǐ de
做完你的做你的……这种场面我还是在控制。
You first and you next... I’ve got this under control.
Background:
Meaning: This is another phrase which started with the a viral moment of “Chicken Cutlet Brother” (鸡排哥). In the original video, he tells queuing customers: “You first and you next... I’ve got this under control.” Cooking intensely, he maintains composure while frantically taking orders, preparing chicken cutlets, and cracking jokes all at once.
The phrase has evolved into a humorous way to describe high-pressure situations. It’s used self-mockingly to acknowledge being overwhelmed but still in control at work, school, or daily life.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: Who is China’s “Chicken Cutlet Brother”?
6. “Out of my depth”
误闯天家 wù chuǎng tiān jiā
刚入职就被拉去参加董事会，全是CEO和投资人，我全程不敢说话，纯属误闯天家。
I got pulled into a board meeting full of CEOs and investors on my first day. I didn’t dare to say a word the whole time. Felt totally out of my depth.
Background:
Meaning: Originally popularised through lyrics in a traditional Chinese song, the phrase went viral through short video remixes. Directly translated as “accidentally crashing the palace”, it describes stumbling into intimidating high-stakes settings and the awkwardness of being in a situation where you don’t belong.
It’s commonly used for self-deprecating jokes about the gap between expectations and reality, like landing a dream job only to realise you’re completely under-qualified and unprepared.
Rating: ⭐️
7. “If A is basic, then B is not basic”
... 基础 ，... 不基础 jī chǔ, bù jī chǔ
机票基础，酒店就不基础。
If I booked cheap flights, then I’d treat myself to luxury hotels.
Background:
Meaning: This phrase started out as a fashion influencer formula describing outfit coordination: “if the top is basic, the the bottom is not basic” (上身基础，下身就不基础) to explain mixing simple (“basic”) and statement (”not basic”) pieces.
It quickly evolved beyond fashion into a meme about life’s contradictions and survival strategies, describing the contrast between what people economise on versus what they splurge on. For example: “if savings are basic, then spending is not basic” or “if my income is basic, then my lifestyle is not basic.”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
8. “Calm and composed vs. rushed and scrambling”
从从容容、游刃有余，匆匆忙忙、连滚带爬 cóng cóng róng róng, yóu rèn yǒu yú, cōng cōng máng máng, lián gǔn dài pá
本来应该从从容容游刃有余，现在是匆匆忙忙连滚带爬。
This was supposed to be smooth sailing, a walk in the park, but now it has turned into a mad scramble.
Background:
Meaning: This phrase originated from a Taiwanese legislator’s dramatic critique during a parliamentary inquiry. The phrase went viral in China after a mainland Chinese musician remixed it with the song, “Loser” (没出息).
It’s become a humorous way to acknowledge when things don’t go according to plan — the gap between ideal expectations and messy reality.
Rating: ⭐️
9. “Take it seriously”
当个事儿办 dāng ge shì’r bàn
这关乎本人“社恐脱敏”的进度，必须当个事儿办！
This is all about getting over my social anxiety, so I’ve got to take it seriously!
Background:
Meaning: This evolved from a Northern Chinese dialect. It gained traction through short video parodies on social media playing on generational differences, and then became a popular way to jokingly make a solemn commitment to do trivial things.
More recently, it became a positive motivational term for genuinely important personal goals.
Rating: ⭐️
10. “Group…”
拼好... pīn hǎo…
外卖平台上有一项”拼好饭”功能，即和附近的2-4人一起拼单，价格诱人。
A food delivery platform offers a “group takeout” feature where users can order together with 2-4 people nearby at enticing prices.
Background:
Meaning: Became popular this year as a group-buying model, “group takeout” (拼好饭), on Meituan, where customers in the same area ordered food in the same order to cut delivery costs.
It’s evolved into the formula “group buy…” (拼好...), for cost-effective or efficient solutions in daily life, such as “group tickets” (拼好票), or “group work” (拼好班) — sharing work responsibilities.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: Meituan “group take-out” boom signals shifting consumer habits
Other important phrases
Here are another ten picked from the other two top ten lists, and the 36Kr article, which are useful, and relevant in 2025.
11. “Jiangsu Super”
苏超 sū chāo
苏超最打动人心的，还在那份草根的生命力。
What’s most moving about Jiangsu Super is its grassroots creativity.
Background:
Meaning: Jiangsu Super (苏超), short for “Jiangsu Super League” (江苏超级联赛), is an amateur football tournament which exploded in popularity in 2025. Teams represent 13 cities in Jiangsu Province.
The historical tensions between cities fuel intense but well-humoured matches, and has led to numerous viral memes.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: “Jiangsu Super” finally gives Chinese football fans something to cheer about
12. “Anime merch”
谷子 gǔ zi
为了买到自己喜欢的谷子，有人会选择「抱盒」，和买盲盒all in的道理是一样的 。
To get the merch they want, some people would buy the entire collection, which is equivalent to going all-in on blind boxes.
Background:
Meaning: This literally means “grain” or “millet”. In modern Chinese it’s a transliteration of the English word “goods” as it sounds similar (gǔ zi). Originally imported from a Japanese slang term, it refers to merchandise and collectibles in anime and gaming subcultures, like cards, posters, figurines, keychains, and other collectible merchandise.
As these subcultures have grown in popularity and entered the mainstream, this niche slang phrase has also become more widely used.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
13. “Embodied Intelligence”
具身智能 jù shēn zhì néng
小鹏如今官方的定位，已经从去年刚喊出来的”面向全球的AI汽车公司”升级为”面向全球的具身智能公司”。
XPENG’s official positioning has now been pivoted from last year’s “global AI car company” to “global embodied intelligence company”.
Background:
Meaning: Refers to AI systems in robotic form with the ability to perceive and interact with the real world. Originally imported from English, it traces back to Alan Turing’s 1950 paper, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”.
Since early 2025, the term has become increasingly mainstream as China has ramped up attention on this technology. The release of XPENG’s humanoid robot IRON in November brought this term into the national consciousness.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: EV maker unveils life-like humanoid robot
14. “Pre-Made...”
预制... yù zhì...
好久没吃西贝了，今天下飞机跟同事吃了一顿，发现几乎全都是预制菜，还那么贵，实在是太恶心了。希望国家尽早推动立法，强制饭馆注明是否用了预制菜。
I haven’t eaten at Xibei for ages. Today after getting off the plane, I had a meal there with colleagues and discovered almost everything was pre-made, and it’s so expensive too. It was really disgusting. I hope restaurants will soon be legally required to clearly indicate whether they use pre-made food or not.
Background:
Meaning: The phrase took off when influencer, entrepreneur, and comedian, Luo Yonghao (罗永浩), criticised Xibei (西贝) restaurant for its “pre-made dishes” (预制菜). That provoked an angry response from Xibei’s boss, Jia Guolong (贾国龙), and sparking nationwide debate about pre-made food in restaurants.
It’s now become widely used across various aspects of life, such as “pre-made relationships” (预制社交) for formulaic social interactions, “pre-made emotions” (预制情绪), for manufactured sentiment in media, and “pre-made experiences” (预制体验) for cookie-cutter tourism or entertainment that lacks genuine spontaneity.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: Restaurant chain under fire for over-priced meals; Video sharing platform censors Spring Festival Gala livestream
15. “Authentically human”
活人感 huó rén gǎn
2025年，网友不再迷信精致人设，转而拥抱有瑕疵的活人感。
In 2025, netizens no longer worship carefully curated personas. Instead, they are drawn to creators that appear authentic and imperfect.
Background:
Meaning: Literally translated as “living person vibes”, it refers to authentically human online content. It reflects a weariness with heavily curated online content like high production value, staged photos, scripted videos, and AI-generated posts flooding the Chinese internet.
Being “authentically human” represents what’s been lost in a lot of online content, and daily lives of many people: spontaneity, authenticity, vitality. The spark that separates the truly living from those who are merely existing and living unfulfilling lives.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: Who is China’s “Chicken Cutlet Brother”?
16. “Middle-aged man vibes”
登味 dēng wèi
登味翻车，脱离大众的“俯视感”终遭反噬。
Middle-aged man vibes backfired - being arrogant, condescending and out of touch finally sparked backlash.
Background:
Meaning: A recently coined phrase which combines two words describing problematic male behaviour: “out-of-touch middle-aged man” (老登) and “patronising“ or “dad-like tone” (爹味). The term laodeng (老登) gained popularity this year as a way to criticise men who are patronising and overbearing.
This phrase, “middle-aged man vibes” (登味), captures the essence of that behaviour: that combination of arrogance, disconnection from reality, and outdated attitudes typical of successful but out-of-touch middle-aged men, such as entrepreneurs like Lei Jun (雷军).
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: China has a new slang word for “middle-aged men”
17. “The era of middle-aged women”
中女时代 zhōng nǚ shí dài
社交平台上，中女时代的相关视频和话题浏览量居高不下。
On social media platforms, videos and hashtags related to “the era of middle-aged women” have consistently drawn huge views.
Background:
Related: One social media trend in 2025 has seen the celebration of women aged 30-55, breaking away from the old stereotypes of women like the “virtuous wife and mother”. It’s especially pushing back on the idea of age anxiety and social pressure on women once they’ve hit 30.
Content showcases economic independence, career breakthroughs, and self-reinvention. Stand-up comic “Director Fang (房主任) is one of the most high profile success stories of “the era of middle-aged women” this year.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: China’s unexpected stand-up comedy star
18. “Emotional value”
情绪价值 qíng xù jià zhí
6块钱的鸡排，吃出60块钱的情绪价值，600块钱的服务质量。
A 6-yuan chicken chop delivers 60 yuan worth of emotional value and 600 yuan worth of service.
Background:
Meaning: Originally marketing terminology used to measure “emotional ledger” of customers when they buy. Its usage has expanded from the commercial realm into interpersonal relationships, workplace dynamics, and daily life.
It’s used to describe that intangible feel-good factor consumers get when thy buy a product or a service. Just like “Chicken Cutlet Brother” did earlier this year.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Related RTM content: Who is China’s “Chicken Cutlet Brother”?
19. “Village café”
村咖 cūn kā
疫情刚解封时，城市网红咖啡突然不再受宠，越来越多的人开始去周边乡村解锁新玩法——”村咖”。
Right after the lockdowns ended, trendy urban cafés suddenly fell out of favour. More and more people started exploring new experiences in nearby villages, which gave rise to the village cafés.
Background:
Meaning: This is a trend we’ve been following closely this year, but haven’t written about yet. As the phrase suggests, “village cafés” are specialty coffee shops in rural villages in China. Places like Anji in Zhejiang have become famous for their “village cafés” which attracts visitors who came for the coffee, and of course the selfies for social media (打卡).
We’re likely to see this trend continue into 2026 as more people look to the countryside to escape from the pressures of city life.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
20. “Micro-drama” / “Short drama”
短剧 duǎn jù
短剧出海爆发：2025年前8月海外收入达15.25亿美元，同比激增194.9%。
Micro dramas go global: in the first 8 months of 2025, overseas revenue reached $1.525 billion USD, up 194.9% from last year.
Background:
Meaning: This is another trend we’ve been watching this year. Micro dramas are ultra-short episodic dramas (typically 1-3 minutes per episode) which exploded on Chinese social media in 2024-2025. Content evolved from trashy quick entertainment to premium productions with realistic themes exploring middle-aged marriage struggles, family dynamics, and workplace conflicts.
Major platforms like iQiyi, Tencent, and Mango TV made short dramas a core part of their business the domestic market, some with multi-million dollar budgets. While Chinese-backed apps like ReelShort and DramaBox are bringing the format to international markets. Another trend to watch in 2026!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
