Slang of the Week
“A current of clear water”
一股清流 (yì gǔ qīng liú) — what it means, where it comes from, and how to use it
“A current of clear water”
What it means
This phrase has two parts:
- “A current” (一股 yì gǔ), which is a counting word for an amount of gas, liquid, or an emotion.
- “Clear stream” (清流 qīng liú), which is an old term for officials of integrity who refused to compromise.
In internet slang, “a current of clear water” (一股清流) describes someone or something that stands out by being better than its surroundings.
In English it means: “a breath of fresh air”.
Where it comes from
As an internet phrase, “a breath of fresh air” (一股清流) dates back to 2016.
It began when the video maker Papi酱 (papi-jiàng) appeared at a Weibo event for online celebrities. She stood out among a thousand influencers who otherwise looked very similar. Wearing plain make-up and a simple black dress, she was described by fans as “a breath of fresh air” (一股清流).
One media headline from June 2016 captures the moment:
“How did Papi酱, this breath of fresh air, outshine the rest of the online influencers?”
papi酱这股清流，是怎样亮瞎那一大波网红脸的？
The article praised her:
For wearing “neither a low-cut top nor heavy make-up, completely beating that wave of ‘snake-spirit faces’”
既不穿低胸也不化浓妆，完胜这一大波蛇精脸。
“Snake-spirit face” (蛇精脸) is the sharp-chinned, surgically perfected look of the era’s influencers.
The phrase was in wide use by 2017 and 2018, applied to television shows as well as people. Programmes like The Reader (朗读者) and Chinese Poetry Conference (中国诗词大会) were labelled “breath of fresh air shows” (清流综艺), standing apart from everything else chasing ratings.
Papi酱, real name Jiang Yilei (姜逸磊), is still living up to the label ten years on. She became one of China’s first-generation top influencers, co-founding the influencer agency Papitube. Then in 2026, aged 38, she walked away from it completely — deregistering her companies and returning to a small seven-person team, just making videos again.
How to use it
“A breath of fresh air” is a common expression in mainstream media and spoken language today.
You can use it for someone or something that stands out in a refreshing way.
At work:
“She never joins the office gossip. She’s a breath of fresh air in our company.”
她从不参与办公室八卦，是我们公司里的一股清流。
Talking about what you’re watching:
“No celebrity guests, no hype. This show is a breath of fresh air.”
这档节目没有明星也不炒作，是综艺界的一股清流。
Following the news:
“His reputation has plummeted from a breath of fresh air to just another opportunistic influencer.”
他的人设从一股清流慢慢下滑到不过如此。
Now it’s your turn
Think of one person, brand, or show in your world that deserves the label. The one that stands out in a crowded field.
Describe them in Chinese:
＿＿是＿＿界的一股清流。
Make a sentence and hit reply to this email — I look at every response!
And try it in a real conversation this week.