Chinglish Dictionary

Eat bitter

吃苦

A cornerstone of Chinese work ethic: "eat bitterness" or "endure hardship." It describes the ability to withstand diffic...

Iron rice bowl

铁饭碗

A classic Chinese business term for a secure, lifelong job — usually in government or state-owned enterprises. "Iron ric...

Guan xi

关系

A Chinese word that has entered global business vocabulary. "Guan xi" (关系) literally means "relationship" but in busines...

Hot dry noodles

热干面

A classic Wuhan breakfast 🍝, alkaline noodles mixed with sesame paste, soy sauce, pickles, etc., dry and fragrant, a rep...

Salt and pepper shrimp

椒盐虾

A classic Chinese seafood dish 🦐, fresh shrimp fried crispy with salt and pepper seasoning, fragrant crispy shell, tende...

Can have a look

可以看看吗

A polite Chinglish request: "may I take a look?" It drops the subject "I" and the polite auxiliary "may" — streamlining ...

Spicy gluten / Latiao

辣条

A popular Chinese spicy snack 🌶️, made from flour, seasoned with chili, cumin, etc., chewy, spicy and fragrant, a childh...

Zongzi / Sticky rice dumpling

粽子

A traditional Chinese rice delicacy 🍙, glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves with fillings like dates, meat, beans, a ...

Tofu pudding / Douhua

豆花

A soft and tender Chinese soybean dessert 🍮, made of solidified soybean milk, sweet with sugar or salty with sauce, smoo...

Not angry not angry

不气不气

A soothing Chinglish mantra: "don't be angry, calm down." The double "not angry" mirrors the Chinese "不气不气" (bù qì bù qì...

Slow slow come

慢慢来

A gentle Chinglish reminder: "take it slow, no rush." The repetition "slow slow" mimics the Chinese pattern of doubling ...

Drink more hot water

多喝热水

The most iconic Chinese health advice ever given. "Drink more hot water" is the Chinese universal remedy for everything ...

Eat le

你吃了吗

A classic Chinglish greeting: "have you eaten?" The word "le" is Chinese pinyin for "了" (le), a Chinese grammar particle...

Go you mother's

去你妈的

A raw Chinglish curse phrase: a direct translation of the Chinese insult "去你妈的" (qù nǐ mā de), which literally means "go...

Morning three night four

朝三暮四

A literal translation of the Chinese idiom "朝三暮四" (zhāo sān mù sì), meaning "three in the morning, four at night." The o...

Go and look

走着瞧

A terse Chinglish threat: "go and see" or "just wait and see." It's the broken English version of the Chinese "走着瞧" (zǒu...

First see you, I shit love you

第一次见你，我便爱上了你

A hilariously wrong Chinglish confession of love. "First see you" is a literal translation of "第一次见你" (first time seeing...

No money no talk

没钱免谈

A brutally direct Chinglish phrase: "if you have no money, there's nothing to discuss." It captures the transactional na...

You me you me

彼此彼此

A minimalist Chinglish expression: "you and me, same same." It's the Chinese way of saying "the feeling is mutual" or "s...

Wet fried beef river

干炒牛河

A classic Cantonese stir-fried noodle 🥢, wide rice noodles stir-fried with beef, bean sprouts, soy sauce, smooth noodles...