Chinese China

二百五

Expression USED Frequently BY Everybody

(250) • Used to describe someone as stupid, or moronic. Origins are debated but often ascribed to a legend about a king offering a 1000 coin reward to anyone admitting to a minister's murder. Four people showed up and offered to split the reward evenly. They were all executed for the 250. Another explanation is that 500 taels were saved by running a rope through the hole in the middle of the coin; the word for half of this rope (250 taels) is a homonym for half-crazy.

"你这个二百五怎么鸡蛋都不会做"

"You 250, you can't even make eggs?"

Chinese China

成全

Expression USED Frequently BY Likely most Chinese speaking countries

(help) • When a man is cheating on a woman, the woman may choose to stay in the relationship, and may also choose to leave. Sometimes when they choose to leave, they will tell others they choose to leave to 成全他们 (Chéng Quán Tā Mēn, literally: help them), as in: they seems to be a perfect match, I will step aside and help them to be the perfect couple. This is sort like the "acceptance" stage of grief. But depending on the perspective this can also be interpreted as self-moved: you didn't do anything much but thought your act was noble.

A：我听说你男朋友劈腿了。 B：对我们分手了，我成全了他们。

A: I heard your boyfriend was cheating on you. B: Yes we broke up, I helped them.

Japanese, Chinese Japan

草（くさ）

Slang USED Frequently BY Internet, livestream chats

In slang, it means "LOL".

*面白いこと* "草生える"

*Interesting thing happens* "Grass grows"

Chinese Taiwan

刀子嘴豆腐心

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(a mouth of knife and a heart of tofu) • When someone is Sharp and harsh when speaking, but has a soft and tender intention.

"虽然他说话很尖酸刻薄，但实际上他是个刀子嘴豆腐心的人。"

"Although he speaks in a sharp and sarcastic way, he's actually a person with a mouth like a knife and a heart like tofu."

Chinese | Hokkien and Malay Malaysia

mempersiasuikan

Portmanteau USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(v.) • It's a portmanteau between a Malay and Hokkien word used in Malaysia and the Hokkien verb ‘sia sui’. It means ‘to embarrass’.

"You don’t mempersiasuikan our family can or not?"

"Can you please don't embarrass our family?"

Chinese | Hokkien Malaysia

cincai

Slang USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone

It means "whatever" but you can also use it to describe an action where one does anything casually or as one pleases.

"What you want for lunch?" "Cincai lah!"

"What do you want to have for lunch?" "Whatever!"

Chinese | Hokkien Malaysia

Abuden?

Slang USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(interj.) • When someone asks stupid obvious questions, “abuden” is the correct answer. It means “isn’t it obvious?” or "What else did you expect?"

"Are you eating?" "Abuden?"

"Are you eating?" "Duh! Isn't it obvious?"

Chinese | Hokkien Malaysia

bo jio

Slang USED Frequently BY Everyone

It refers to people who have never invited the person who mentions it to a certain event, outing or gathering.

"你去哪儿? bo jio!"

"Where are you going? You didn't invite me!"

Chinese | Hokkien Malaysia

Bak chiu tak stamp

Slang USED On Rare Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(eyes have been pasted over with a stamp) • Taking amusement in someone's inability to see things clearly (both literally and figuratively).

"Bak chew tak stamp?"

"Can't you see it?"

Chinese Taiwan

安安

Slang USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone

A greeting like "hi", which you can use to replace "good morning", "good afternoon" or "good evening".

"安安，等等要一起出去嗎？"

"Hi, do you want to hang out later?"

Chinese Various countries

笨蛋

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(stupid egg) • Fool or stupid idiot; can be either insulting or playful depending on context, such as whether the speaker is a stranger or a close friend.

"你讓我們輸了！你是笨蛋嗎？"

"You let us lose! Are you a stupid egg?"

Chinese | Cantonese Hong Kong

冇眼睇

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(no eyes to see) • To be unable to bear the sight of something, usually to express disappointment or when something is infuriating.

"我冇眼睇."

"I can't take it anymore."

Chinese China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong

喂

Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(interj.) • A greeting used most frequently (and nowadays almost exclusively) on telephone calls. The greeting most directly means "Hello" and confirms the phone call has connected.

喂 ，你还在吗?

Hello, are you still there?

Chinese Various countries

加油

Idiom USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(add oil) • Can be used by supporters to motivate a team, can be used by family and friends to encourage an individual, and can be used by those who stand in solidarity with a group.

"加油! 你能行的!"

"Add oil! You can do it!"