Yet in Chinese that isn’t the case. 1314: "For ever", usually preceded by a phrase such as "I love you" or whatever. The correct explanation of not giving people a clock is because 送钟 sounds just the same to 送终(here 终 reffers to the end of the life), which means see farewell to someone at his funeral. He was a close friend of the king of the Qi kingdom. Anonymous. Please check your inbox for your confirmation email. It is considered racist. ... By saying the number 250 you are actually insulting someone by calling them an idiot. When bargaining for something in China, shoot for 240 instead of 250. On the Chinese internet, “glass” is sometimes slang for “male homosexual” because it is a variant of “BL” which means “boys love”. Lv 7. 9. Extremely confused, I begged her for an explanation. In Chinese slang, the number 250 means 'idiot' (spelled as èr bái wû/ㄦˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄨˇ). Due to this, China avoids the number 250 at all costs, that includes prices in supermarkets as well! The term is most often used as a greeting on the internet in order to create a warm and affectionate tone. “Or maybe I forgot to zip my pants up.” After confirming that my pants were, in fact, zipped up, I just shrugged it off and went to class. Most vulgar slang in Chinese, as it is in most languages, involves sexual reference. 250 basically means “half-insane” or “stupid”. Remember, many chinese are business-oriented people. The “Nibble Old Group” and Other Notable 族s. But modest Chinese scholars took to using this slang term about themselves as a form of self-deprecation, and so one-half again of a diao is a true idiot, a "250… Another explanation comes from the old times, when the famous officer Su Qin was killed. Sasha is an English teacher, writer, photographer, and videographer from the great state of Michigan. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device. We will be avoiding those, but looking at words to know, that will help you, if not to make friends and influence people, at least to understand more of what’s going on around you, if you’re a … Back in the old days when the Chinese packed money, they place 500 bucks in one envelope, which is called封in Chinese. Chinese scholars went a mile ahead by breaking the half into another half (250). So if 500 is 一封 (one envelope), then 250 would be respectively半封 (half an envelope). As such, er bai wu, or one quarter of a diao, came to be used as an insult. In slang 530 in Chinese means I miss you, because the numbers 5, 3 and 0 sound like the words for I, Miss and You respectively. 菜鸟 [càiniǎo / cai4 niao3] noun. When he got to work, the other men whispered and laughed amongst themselves, for the man was wearing his wife’s lover’s hat – a green one. Chinese Slang: “Company Moths”. Back in the old days when the Chinese packed money, they place 500 bucks in one envelope, which is called封in Chinese. In essence, it means everyone. I’ve been living here for just over two years total now, and I’m still learning new things each and every day. er bai wu, pronounced AR-BUY-OO in Mandarin Chinese, is translated literally as the number 250 and is a slang term for a very, VERY stupid person. For newcomers just arriving in China, or people planning a trip or move to the Middle Kingdom, there are an abundance of cultural quirks that you should know about. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, he moved to China and spent 5+ years living, working, studying, and traveling there. This goes for watches as well. ... 250. So if 500 is 一封 (one envelope), then 250 would be respectively半封 (half an envelope). It originated (probably) in a way similar to that of another Chinese phrase 半吊子 (half a diaozi) (used to say someone is not good at something but assumes he or she is and brag about the fact). Even house numbers with the number 250 are avoided in China. The first lesson is suitable for beginners whereas the rest requires a basic understanding of the Chinese language. NOT just a number! “You are wearing a green hat!” (你戴绿帽子 – Nǐ dài lǜ mào zi), she replied, in between fits of laughter. I wrote a post about this one and 250 a while back, which you can find here. BONUS – did you know Chinese use numbers for slang also! business in India. If you know of another definition of 250 that should be included here, please let us know. Thank you! He and his wife run the travel blog Grateful Gypsies, and they're currently trying the digital nomad lifestyle across Latin America. Did you know that the number 250 (二百五 èr bǎi wǔ) means “idiot” in China? One colloquial expression you may see a lot, however, is the following: Chinese Slang – TMD. Once the annunciation was published, four persons stood up from the sitting crowd and claimed that they had killed Su. A long time ago, a string of 1,000 copper coins was a unit of currency called a diao (弔). For a link to their twitter, click here. 250 二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ) – Idiot Another Chinese slang term that uses numbers. So the King asked: “1,000 gold pieces need to be shared by four. Preview 00:46. The king had a plan to find the murderer and commanded the decapitation of Su in order to hang up his head on the city gate. Otherwise, people may consider you an erbaiwu, the Chinese for 250, which means idiot in Chinese slang. 250 is an offending or teasing slang, interpreted as "idiot", "dumb". You can imagine how upset I was when I realized that wearing my favorite MSU hat was like walking around with a sign that says, “My girflriend is cheating on me.” Luckily, I’m not the only 老外 who has made this mistake – here is a funny video about another green hat mishap. ... 250: idiot. Is Cambodia an attractive location for FDI. LOVE your insight on Chinese culture! Chinese Slang: The Naked Series. As I understand it, "you are 250" means that you are a simpleton. Chinese number insults, however, play less on sound but have some other interesting origins related to history and culture. © 2021 Transparent Language, Inc. All Rights Reserved. These are just two of the many interesting cultural quirks you may run into in China. Likewise, for you aspiring English teachers out there, don’t tell prospective clients that you charge 250/hour – you probably won’t pick up too many students that way. very impressive;) but there’s someone else told me that the reason for not giving a clock as a gift is because clock in Chinese is called 钟 which has another meaning means death. 他妈的 – (Pinyin: tā mā dē). This is widely used in the Northeastern region of China and treated as a taboo with a great deal of superstition. Occasionally, half-forgotten myths from Chinese history have lent significance to certain numbers, as with the pretty common insult “250.” The story is basically that in ancient China, coins were strung together in stacks of 1000. Here, Stephie and Felix will go through the entire range of Chinese slang along with some tips and tricks and how (and not) to use them. The Chinese love plays on homophonic words and numbers with hidden meanings. Originally, 1000 was a unit of the currency called a diào. It then came to be associated with the date May 20th (5.20), which became a very romantic day! In the Bible, the number of men rebelling against Moses, who were swallowed up by a fire. Did you know that the number 250 (二百五 èr bǎi wǔ) means “idiot” in China? -Leaving chopsticks in your rice bowl: Doing so resembles the burning of incense at a family member’s grave, and it is another unpleasant and unwelcomed reminder of death. Is that right? This is an insulting slang. Once the bitter cold Beijing winter hit, I made sure to wear said hat out one morning. Chinese Slang, 牛逼！ This week, on my blog, I wanted to tell you guys a bit more about Chinese slang. The king’s dear friend was assassinated in the night and he wished to find who the killer was. In Chinese, 二百五 (two hundred and fifty) is a term used as an insult, which means "stupid person" or "to be a simple person". Numbers. !” (你在笑什么呢 – Nǐ zài xiào shénme ne), I angrily asked her. And in the world of Chinese Internet Slang, there are many, many ways to refer to other people. Used by most Overseas Chinese to refer generally to non-Chinese Southeast Asians and Taiwanese Aborigines. Well, one evening, her husband returned home a bit earlier than usual, and her entertainer had to quickly slip out the back door. Some other examples include: -Giving a clock as a gift: This symbolizes time running out, as in death, and is an awful gift to give to a Chinese person. China’s Group Buyers – 拼客. The copper pieces were tied together through square holes in their centre. This expression should not be thrown around and is … in China. In Chinese, 二百五 (two hundred and fifty) is a term used as an insult, which means "stupid person" or "to be a simple person". By that time, 250 became a synonymous for "idiot". Half of a diao, or 500 coins, was called 半弔子 (bàn diào zi), and this phrase was also used to describe someone with inferior skills and/or mental abilities. You can think of it as a Chinese equivalent of “bae.”. Er bai wu has moved out of China’s borders, as it has even made it into the Urban Dictionary! In Chinese slang, this curse word means “f*cking awesome” as well. One is that it is derived from the old coin system used in ancient China where 1,000 coins were grouped by a string called a 吊子 (diàozi). Chinese Slang Using Letters. It is rather innocuous and considered a rather tame curse word. As such, I am by no means an expert on Chinese culture, but I do know a thing or two, and hopefully sharing this knowledge can save at least one of the readers of this blog from suffering the same embarrassing moments that I have experienced. 5 years ago. Huanna (Chinese: 番仔; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hoan-á) – a term in Hokkien literally meaning "foreigner or non-Chinese". There are a few different theories about why this became an insult. 二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ; 250) 250 basically means “stupid” or “half-insane.” There are a few different theories about the origin of this phrase. (Numbers 26:10).250 Savage, a rifle cartridge. ), I brought a whole bunch of Spartan gear with me to the ‘Jing – t-shirts, hoodies, and a nice, warm, green winter hat. On the way, I noticed a group of Chinese girls pointing and laughing at me. How much gets each of you?” They answered together: ”Two hundred fifty (èr bǎi wǔ)!” The King was furious and answered: ”Take these four“250 (èr bǎi wǔ)” and let them beheaded! A long time ago, a string of 1,000 copper coins was a unit of currency called a diao (弔). Chinese Internet Slang. In the Philippines, this term is used by Chinese Filipinos towards indigenous Filipinos. It goes so far that you will not find products with a price of 250 RMB in the supermarket or other stores. Nice and full from a wonderful street food breakfast, I walked to my Chinese class. She went on to tell me a sad story of a hard-working country man and his woman troubles. Either way, the saying “戴绿帽子” (wear a green hat) is now used to describe a cuckold, or a man whose girlfriend/wife is unfaithful. 二百五 (èr bǎi wŭ) -- “250” You’d think that calling someone a number wouldn’t hurt, right? Become a channel member and get perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9OOZpuqqJduB0kCiocQjw/join What does "250" mean in China? I t comes from the fact that Chinese coins used to have a hole in the middle so that they could be strung together in amounts of 1000 (called a diào (吊). 1 decade ago. The Many Varieties of “上班族”. 阿猫阿狗 (a mao a gou) This is a common phrase in China which means the same as Tom, Dick and Harry. Posted: (2 days ago) 二百五, or “250,” is a popular Mandarin Chinese slang insult with a pretty hefty history behind it. Apparently, this particular man’s wife found herself bored at home while he worked all day; so bored that she recruited other men to keep her entertained. Link to this entry. Being a very humble and modest bunch, many Chinese scholars would often refer to themselves as ban diao zi. There are many explanations for why this is the case, but the most common relates to ancient Chinese currency. For more fascinating tales from China, follow us on @cgtntravelogue on Facebook and Instagram. 250 has been used in Chinese slang for hundreds of years, although has really seen an uptake in recent years thanks to China’s “text speak” slang. Another story says that, in ancient times, husbands of sex workers had to identify themselves by wearing green scarves. -Clearing your plate: The food may be delicious, but if you scarf it all down you will be sending a message that the host did not serve enough food, which is an insult. How to use the term 250: White Shooting Star of HK. 1314 (pinyin: yīsānyīsì) represents 一生一世 "one life, one world" (pinyin: yīshēng yīshì). After all, the last thing you want to do in China is lose face (丢面子 – diū miàn zi). èr bǎi wŭ or (二百五 ) < – two hundred and fifty (250), Insult level 3/5. CHINESE SLANG & ABBREVIATIONS **Large part of this list is thanks to @/caerium on twitter for posting some common slang & terms used by Chinese netizens. ... Eleven popular Chinese slang words that will make you communicate like a pro with Chinese natives. How about a $250 note with George W. on it? 0 3. 918 in Chinese slang means Good Luck because 9, 1 and 8 sound similar to 加油吧 which is a term of encouragement in Chinese . He was seeking revenge against the murderer. The term ban diao zi (半吊子), or half a diao, was used to mean someone not having full knowledge. In Chinese, 250 (二百五 – èr bǎi wǔ) means moron, ignoramus, dumbass – basically it is used to describe an incredibly stupid person. There are much more Chinese slang uses and colloquial terms using numbers in Chinese. maybe Chinese Astrology warns them that 250 is a bad number. #250, How to improve Taco Bell's They rely on feng-shui and number lucks. 2. 餐具=惨剧 [cǎnjù / can3 ju4] noun. In Chinese, 二百五 (two hundred and fifty) is a term used as an insult, which means "stupid person" or … The next morning, half-asleep and in a hurry to get to work, the man grabbed his coat and hat on his way out the door. In Chinese, 王八 is slang for “tortoise,” and as a tortoise is associated with promiscuity, this word basically insults someone’s mother/grandmother/etc. is more like "No Green!" Chinese New Year is almost over – well, not yet, because the Lantern Festival has not yet taken place, but let’s just assume that is the case – and it’s time for us to focus on streetwise Chinese. 2. It is good to know the meaning of 250 in China, but please be careful with the use of this expression. Something to do with a number test. Link to this entry. 3) 亲 (qīn) 亲 (qīn) is an abbreviated form of the Chinese term of endearment “亲爱的 (qīn ài de),” which literally means “dear” or “dearest.”. Open in CGTN APP for better experience Many of the Chinese slang is related to the pronunciation, but not this one. Consequently, the king was very angry because of the murder of this close officer. Newbie, n00b, beginner, novice, rookie. For that reason, modest Chinese disciples sometimes call themselves “bàndiàozi” to humbly depreciate their own expertise. Stupid person (Chinese) All of our slang term and phrase definitions are made possible by our wonderful visitors. "Go Green!" Bàndiàozi (半弔子"half diào "), literally means half a diào (500 pieces), which also indicates a person with poor cognitive abilities. Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Chinese Slang 101: “Leftover Girls” and “Diamond Wangs”. Before I explain this, let me share a funny story from my first year in Beijing: Having spent my college years at Michigan State University (Go Green! Follow. From a little research, it comes from the fact that Chinese coins used to have a hole in the middle so that they could be strung together in amounts of 1000 (called a diao (吊). Some of them are nice, some of them are not so nice. Chinese Slang: The “Rushing Clan”. The meaning behind the simple insult is an old tale about a king. While this one’s definition is a bit vague, many believe it translates to calling someone not enough. In my last video post (“A Trip to a Beijing Market“) I mentioned that, while shopping for hats in China, guys are advised not to buy a green one. What does 918 mean in Chinese? Check it out… find out and download the 2nd image on our Chinese slang blog linked below! 0 1. One explanation is that it comes from diào, a currency unit of ancient China. Did you know that the number 250 (二百五 èr bǎi wǔ) means “idiot” in China? In Chinese, 250 (二百五 – èr bǎi wǔ) means moron, ignoramus, dumbass – basically it is used to describe an incredibly stupid person. They added next to his head a banner which promised the murderer 1,000 gold pieces, pretending that Suwas an enemy of the country and that the king was grateful for the assassination. Chinese Slang – 484 . The literal translation, “cow vagina,” might be a different story. He also studied Indonesian Language & Culture in Bali for a year. 250 basically means “half-insane” or “stupid”. “Do I have food on my face?”, I thought. 520 originally started as a slang word used by the Chinese online as a shortcut to say I love you in Chinese, like ILY in English. All of them, however, will make you seem like a native Chinese speaker if you can pull them out without hesitation in the right situations. A string of 1000 coins was called a diao, and bàndiàozi (半弔子 or 半吊子) represented half a diao, as well as a slang way of saying someone was inadequate. The king said: “You must not lie!”, but each of these four people insisted that they were the assassin of Su. In this case, bàndiàozi is not necessarily a pejorative term. “What are you laughing at? 484, or ‘sibasi’ is similar to the 是不是 (shibushi) meaning yes or no. 250 (èr bǎi wǔ): Meaning: Idiot. Show your love with 520! Chinese Slang 101: Chinese geeks and nerds – 宅男. This stems from the ancient Chinese currency revolving around 1,000 … Arriving in the classroom, however, I was again greeted by chuckles – this time from my Chinese teacher. 233 : “laughter" 233 (pinyin:èr sān sān） represents 哈哈哈 （pinyin: hā hā hā). There are many explanations for why this is the case, but the most common relates to ancient Chinese currency. 网红 (wǎng hóng) The leaders of the internet. Please keep it up! In other countries, probably nothing; in China, however, this number carries another meaning. 17. Nevertheless, “250” (èrbǎiwǔ,"a quarter of diào") has become an offense and an insult in China. 530: I miss you (我想你) 88: bye bye (拜拜) INSULTS . “What could possibly be wrong with the number 250?”, you ask.
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