The Chinese internet is full of memes and slang terms that come and go, but some manage to stand the test of time and become cultural phenomena. As we enter 2022, let’s take a look at the top Chinese memes that have taken the internet by storm in 2022:
Bing Chilling
This iconic meme originated from a video featuring wrestler John Cena promoting the movie “Fast and Furious 9” on Weibo. In the video, Cena used machine-translated Mandarin with an awkward accent, which led to the creation of the “Bing Chilling” meme. The meme features a photo of John Cena with the caption “Good morning China, now I have Bing Chilling” and has gained over 1 billion views on TikTok.
Retreat! Retreat Retreat!
One day, a man couldn’t find a parking space and angrily accused an aunt of illegally occupying it. However, to his surprise, the aunt was unreasonable and used a “spell attack” to fight back. Not only did she recite spells, but she also used strong and forceful movements while shouting “retreat, retreat” at the man, causing him to cry on the spot. The aunt’s movements were reminiscent of a fencer, so the “fencing” emoji is often used to represent repelling people or things that one does not like.
Thank Q
The “Thank Q” phrase that has gained popularity in recent days originated from a rural man who taught himself English. He was excited to speak the language and often talked about the beauty of his hometown. However, his strong accent has amused many internet users. The phrase “Thank Q,” which originally meant thank you, has now become a catchphrase for humorous situations and is used by people to share their speechless moments.
Social death
Social death refers to the loss of honor and dignity, even though the physical body is still alive. In other words, it means that one’s reputation is damaged and they are ostracized from society, unable to participate in daily life as they once did. Nowadays, it is often used to describe the feeling of being deeply embarrassed and wanting to hide away, similar to the concept of a “public execution.”
Lying flat
Lying flat, literally means a person lying down, and often describes a state where there is no fluctuation in one’s heart about something and one just wants to lie down. To put it more simply, it means compromising with reality and not wanting to work harder.
BBQ
The etymology of “Barbie Q” is “BBQ”, which means to roast on the fire. When something goes wrong, the word “Barbie Q” can be used, which can be understood as “it’s over” or “it’s over”.
These memes have taken the Chinese internet by storm and show no signs of slowing down. Whether you’re a Chinese language learner or just want to keep up with internet culture, these memes are a great way to understand how Chinese is used online and in casual conversation.
