Emerging Terms 2


More emerging terms that were popular among the Chinese Internet digerati in 2014.  I added my comments and proposed translations.

且行且珍惜       As you journey through life, cherish what you have
The above phrase was probably first quoted by Lin Yutang, a famous Chinese writer and later used in a Taiwanese hit song by Jeff Chang.  But its popularity among the Internet digerati in China may have started on 31st March 2014 when a famous actress used it in her Weibo account to comment on her husband’s infidelity, “恋爱虽易,婚姻不易,且行且珍惜” which literally translates to “love is easy, marriage is not, cherish it while it’s there”.

There is a modified version of the above phrase to describe obesity:).  “吃饭虽易,减肥不易,且吃且珍惜” which translates to “to eat is easy, to lose weight is not, eat moderately”.  It means that one’s horizontal girth is your own problem and issue, it has nothing to do with others, so to manage your weight, eat cautiously and in moderation.

也是蛮拼的  Works really hard/put in a lot of effort
This is a colloquial term popularized in a television drama.

你家里人知道吗?Does your family know?
This sarcastic remark started in an internet forum on news.  It is used to dig at others if their families and friends know that they are behaving in such and such manner.  Somehow this reminds me of an old Abba song, “Does your mother know?”

承包鱼塘体  This fish pond is taken
Originated from another television drama when one of the male lead said to his female companion that he would want the whole world to know that she owns “this fish pond (himself)”

不作死就不会死   You will not die if you don’t intend to
This is a deviation from the Chinese translation of a dialogue in the Japanese popular Gundam animation.

带你装逼带你飞   Sweeps one up and takes one soaring
There are many different versions and sayings on what the above phrase mean but I take it to mean to equip someone so that they can fly.  There is a very interesting series of pictures in the below website, http://www.9yaocn.com/spec/dainifei

有钱就这么任性  The rich can be so capricious
This phrase literally means that when one has the money, you can do anything you want with it (the money), including wasting it on meaningless schemes and products if you choose to.

上天台  Up to the rooftop
The actual meaning of this phrase is to go up to the rooftop and jump down (commits suicide).  It is meant as a joke.  It was said to be used by soccer pundits who were betting heavily and losing money on the games in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

画面太美,我不敢看   One dares not take in the beauty of the scene
From a popular Chinese song, literally means that the scene or image is so beautiful that one dares not look at it.  Often used as a self-deprecatory remark or to ridicule something.

References: 2014年十大网络流行语 (http://xh.5156edu.com/page/z6115m3951j19912.html)