Recently, the Wall Street Journal created a new word for Chinese mother gold buyers, “dama”, who beat Wallstreet tycoons in gold buying.
Other than “dama”, there are some other new English words created specially for China, either by foreign media like the Wall Street Journal or by Chinese netizen. Let’s take a look at some interesting words originated from China.
NO.1 Antizen
ant+izen=Antizen, Antizen is used to describe Chinese post 80’s college graduates who work hard but make a low living income and stay in shared tiny flats with roommates. The number of Antizen living in tier one cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou is huge. This group is similar to “young workers” in the U.S., facing the same kind of problems, such as challenges of independent living, finding a job, medical health care and sex life.
NO.2 Chengguan
Chengguan means City Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Burea in Chinese. Mike Tyson just opened his Sina Weibo account, and his first post was: “Who is the best fighter in china?” Later , someone commented “Chengguan”. Tyson asked,”Who is Chengguan? A tough man? I’ve never heard it.”
This is just a joke, but Chengguan are widely hated in China. There are lots of stories about Chengguan abuse in the media. Street vendors are the victims of Chengguan’s abusive physical violence. Many were beat dead by Chengguan, some even have been punched and kicked.
NO.3 Don’ Train
don’t+train=Don’ Train, Don’ Train is the advanced high-speed train which most Chinese migrant workers couldn’t afford to take.
NO.4 Ernai
Some Chinese tried to translate Ernai into second milk, but westerners have no idea what it means, so Women’s Wear Daily explained:”The Chinese name for Lolita is Er Nai, or The Second Mrs.”
NO.5 Guanxi
Guanxi means relationship, but it is more complicated in China. It is the Chinese way of building network, connections which would result in benefits exchange. Guanxi building could be really time consuming, but it is everywhere and if you want to do business in China, you’d better have good Guanxi.
NO.6 Hongbao
Hongbao is a red envelop giving from adults to children during Spring Festival. Usually, a red envelop is wrapped with money, giving to children as a new year’s gift.
Now, Hongbao means much more than new year’s gift money. Hongbao becomes a measure for relationship or Guanxi, peopple give Hongbao on birthdays and weddings. It is gradually used as a bribe to get what you want. This is a price must pay for preferential treatment, which is everywhere in China. You have to give Hongbao to school teachers, doctors, government officials… to get what you want. Some ask for favors like good grades in exams, some ask for a job in the government. Even you just ask for normal treatment like else where in the world, you will still need to give Hongbao to get that, for example, if you want doctors do whatever they could to treat your family well, you have to bribe them.
NO.7 Shuanggui
This is a news from the Wall Street Journal, reported about Shenzhen City Mayor Xu Zongheng was placed under “shuanggui”, or “double designation”. Shuanggui is the Chinese Communist Party own law for officials, who must be interrogated at a designated time and place for what they did.
There are other popular words originated from China, such as Duomaomao, Gaokao, Geilivable, Niubility, etc. These new English words deliver Chinese culture and wisdom, or special phenomenon.