Top 10 Chinese Buzzwords of 2023 (Part 2)

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Last week, the linguistics journal Yaowen Jiaozi, or《咬文嚼字》 (Yǎo Wén Jiáo Zì), released the top ten Chinese buzzwords of 2023, highlighting significant linguistic trends and popular phrases of the year. Let’s see what they’ve discovered.

This is part two of our article.

06. Standing Out from the Crowd

Before being 显眼 (xiǎnyǎn, “to be impressive”, “to stand out from the crowd”) was seen as being too in-your-face, craving to get everyone’s attention. But today being 显眼 (xiǎnyǎn) is also about having an energetic and enjoyable personality that brings happiness and a positive vibe.

显眼包 (xiǎnyǎn bāo) - standout individual (lit. “prominent-package”)

显眼 (xiǎnyǎn) - standout; eye-catching

07. Dopamine Outfit

“Dopamine” is a vital substance in our bodies that affects our movements, thoughts and emotions. It’s also playing a crucial role in our well-being and happiness.

The trend of ‘dopamine outfits’ uses vibrant colors to make people feel happy. Beyond colors, ‘dopamine’ now means more than just a vibrant color — it’s used for things that bring joy.

多巴胺穿搭 (duōbā’àn chuān dā) - dopamine outfit

多巴胺老师 (Duōbā’àn Lǎoshī) - Dopamine teacher

08. Dazi, or Mate

If you spend enjoyable time with someone due to shared interests or engage in activities together, you can call this person 搭子 (dāzi) — a buddy or a mate.

Through social platforms, young people can find various types of 搭子 (dāzi) such as “meal mates,” “travel buddies,” “exercise buddies,” and even “shopping companions,” or “weight loss buddies”.

搭子 (dāzi) - buddy; mate; companion

09. Emotional Values

Initially, “emotional values” or 情绪价值 (qíngxù jiàzhí) were a marketing term that measured customers’ perceived emotional benefits against costs.

Now, it shows how someone can affect others’ feelings. Bringing comfort, joy, and stability raises their emotional value, while the opposite reduces it.

情绪价值 (qíngxù jiàzhí) - emotional values

10. Questioned, Understood, and Turned Into

In the show “iPartment”, one of the characters, Lin Wanyu, prioritized her career over marriage. At first, viewers criticized her, but over the years, they realized that love isn’t everything and started to relate to Lin Wanyu. A phrase, ‘Questioned Wanyu, understood Wanyu, and turned into Wanyu,’ trended on social media.

Example:

When parents were strict, kids didn’t get it and felt angry. As they grew up, they understood their parents’ perspective. When they became parents, they identified with their parents’ ways, saying, “question parents, understand parents, become parents.”

质疑[宛瑜]，理解[宛瑜]，成为[宛瑜] (zhìyí [Wǎn Yú], lǐjiě [Wǎn Yú], chéngwéi [Wǎn Yú]) -  questioned [Wanyu], understood [Wanyu], and became [Wanyu]

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