Welcome to RealTime Mandarin—a multimedia resource to immerse you in the latest Chinese language trends, inspire you to practice and improve your Mandarin every week, and empower you to communicate with confidence.
Subscribe now to get the next issue straight to your inbox!
Last week the Beijing Daily reported on a new ride-hailing app, Strong Nation Transport (强国交通 qiángguó jiāotōng), an apparent competitor to Didi.
According to the report, the new app had completed ‘internal testing’ (内测), would be China’s first state-backed ride-hailing app, and address concerns about data security:
Due to disorderly expansion and data security issues with the ride-hailing sector, "Strong Nation Transport" will adhere to the principle of digital security for public good. Its functions will maximise the protection of user data security and personal privacy.
基于网约车行业一度存在的无序扩张和数据安全问题，“强国交通”将秉承数字惠民和安全可控的原则，将陆续上线多项功能，最大程度保护用户数据安全与个人隐私 [2]
Concerns over customer data is what led to Didi’s licence to sign up new users being revoked for 18 months.
The Strong Nation Transport app appeared to have government support: Backed by the Ministry of Transport, and the similarly-named Strong Nation Learning App (学习强国 xuéxí qiángguó).
Despite that apparent support, the Beijing Daily article was removed soon after it was published.
Reports in other Chinese media outlets said the Ministry of Transport had rejected there was any official backing for the app, claiming it was a scam.
Is this an illegal company trying to piggyback on an official-sounding name to make money for itself? The Ministry of Transport states it has no links with the app.
野鸡公司碰瓷？交通部称强国交通 App 与交通运输部无关 [4]
Media investigations found the company behind the new app and one of its founders had a background in Chinese media:
This company is controlled by Beijing Guangxin Times Technology Partnership, and the shareholders are Jiang Ping and Tong Guanglai. Tong Guanglai is also well-known for his experience in the media. He used to be a reporter for China Times, and later went into business as a marketing director.
这家公司，由北京光信时代科技合伙企业（下称“光信时代”）控股，而光信时代的股东为，蒋萍与童光来。而童光来另一个广为人知的身份，是一位资深媒体人。他曾经是华夏时报的记者，后来转型到企业当了市场负责人 [1]
So it looks like the whole thing was a publicity stunt by a couple of ballsy media entrepreneurs.
Or was it…?
Experts quoted in the non-Mainland Chinese language press reckoned there must have been some level of support from government:
“My impression is that the central government, the Central Propaganda Department, and the State Council Information Office are all trying to build momentum for the "Strong Nation Transport" app and give the green light as much as possible. This supports my argument: the "Strong Nation Transport" app is indeed part of the policy of the Chinese government. It's not just an experimental product. The invisible hand of government policy is telling the market and the world that there is more to the origins of the app than meets the eye.”
给我的印象是，中国的中央政府也好，中宣部也好，国务院新闻办也好，都在给‘强国交通’这块APP造势助威，尽可能的开绿灯。这恰恰能够佐证我的判断：这款‘强国交通’APP确实是中国政府的政策行为。它不光是任由自生自灭的实验品，而是以政策无形的手向市场以及国内外宣告，这款APP的来历绝对不简单。[3]
So that’s what we explore this week: The language of deception, rumour, and fakes.
Favourite Five
1. 野鸡 yějī
wild chicken; con artists
机关和下属技术支持单位全部不知情，这就是个碰瓷的野鸡公司 - None of the subsidiaries knew anything about it. It was clearly a con by an illegal company. [4]
More: 野 means wild, or unregulated. So 野鸡 is not a pheasant but a wild chicken (as opposed to chicken in a farm).
2. 碰瓷 pèng cí
touching porcelain; a piggybacking scam
APP界面直接打上了“交通运输部”标识一事，该交通运输系统人士称，有碰瓷嫌疑 - The app interface had the logo of the "Ministry of Transport". Someone in the ministry said they believed it was a scam. [1]
Note: We go deeper in The China Project’s Phrase of the Week.
3. 国字头 guó zì tóu
state-run or state-affiliated giant
舆论普遍认为，能够注册“国字头”招牌并得到官媒报道，不是简单的“野鸡公司碰瓷“能够解释的 - It is widely believed that this can't be explained by saying it was just a scam, since the company managed to register a name that sounds ‘state-affiliated’ and get support from the state media. [2]
More: 国家队 guójiā duì - National team. Anther informal term for SOE.
4. 牵强附会 qiān qiǎng fù huì
far-fetched
“强国交通”牵强附会 - Is the Strong Nation Transport App trying to scam the public with its official-sounding name? [2]
Note: 强 is a play on words here which Zoe explores in the podcast.
5. 井水不犯河水 jǐng shuǐ bú fàn hé shuǐ
river water does not mix with well water; totally unrelated
中国中央政府的部委对外声称与”强国交通”等个人企业行为河水不犯井水 - Central government ministries and commissions claim that they have absolutely no connection with private businesses like the Strong Nation Transport App. [3]
Consuming the Conversation
Useful words
赫然 hè rán
impressively; shockingly
强国交通”logo的下方，赫然是“学习强国”和交通运输部的标志- The Strong Nation Transport logo shockingly has the logos of the Strong Nation Learning App and Ministry of Transport beneath it. [1]
打脸 dǎ liǎn
slap in the face
今天就遭到了交通部和学习强国的双重“打脸” - Today the Strong Nation Transport app was doubly slapped down by the Strong Nation Learning App and the Ministry of Transport. [1]
打着……的旗号 dǎ zhe……de qí hào
to do something under the pretence of something else
还妄想打着官方的旗号行事，怕不是想给自己的网约车生意打免费广告 - They even wanted to pretend they are affiliated with the state, but isn’t this just a way to get free advertising for your ride-hailing app? [1]
算盘 suàn pán
abacus; calculation
微博词条已被删除，他的算盘也彻底落空了 - Weibo hashtag of Strong Nation Transport has been deleted. His plot has failed. [1]
辟谣 pì yáo
dispel rumours
相继辟谣，与“强国交通”撇清关系 - They moved to dispel the rumours, distancing themselves from the Strong Nation Transport App. [2]
约谈 yuē tán
be invited for a talk with government (and be instructed what to do, often without actually being told directly)
官方对网约车平台的监管一直没有放松，期间也曾多次约谈相关平台企业 - Government supervision of ride-hailing platforms has not relaxed. During this period, ride-hailing companies have been invited to talk many times. [2]
Related: 被请喝茶 bèi qǐng hē chá - ‘Invited to tea’
官商 guān shāng
government and business
让拥有深厚官商人脉背景、资源充足的这些人，由他们个人去运作这个事情 - Let people with deep government and business connections, and sufficient resources, run this business. [3]
Three-character phrases
一杯羹 yì bēi gēng
a share of profits
面对如此庞大的市场，不想入市分一杯羹者几希 - There are very few companies that don’t want to enter this huge market and take a share of profits. [2]
Related: 几希 jǐ xī - Meaning ‘very few’ in classical Chinese (from Mencius).
蹭流量 cèng liú liàng
capitalise on social media to drive web traffic
