汉语新词新译系列-Z
周光族 (zhou1 guang1 zu2)
weekly spend-all
Similar to, but wor than, people who spend all their monthly income well before pay day, this group spends their monthly wages within a week, sometimes becau they earn too little to last through.
宅购族 (zhai2 gou4 zu2)
otaku shoppers
It refers to tho who stay at home during holidays and do online shopping to avoid the crowd on the streets. The Chine expression is a spin-off from a similar Japane term otaku （御宅族）.
植入式广告 (zhi2 ru4 shi4 guang3 gao4)
product placement
This refers to the practice of intentionally showing the brand of a product in a movie to promote it in an unostentatious way. For instance, in the popular movie "If You Are the One," certain brands of cell phones and an airline company are displayed.
桌游 (zhuo1 you2)
board game
Board games didn't gain popularity in China until recent years. The Chine expression literally means a table game.
撞脸 (zhuang4 lian3)
doppelganger, look-alike
龙井茶怎么泡The Chine term literally means "clash of faces", which refers to two people who look very much like each other.
走班族 (zou3 ban1 zu2）
walk-to-work clan
The phra refers to tho who choo to go to work on foot instead of taking bus or cars in order to avoid traffic jams and to keep themlves fit.
抓手 (zhua1 shou3)
handle, key issue
Originally meaning a handgrip or knob, the term is now frequently ud to describe an opportunity or means for achieving a goal. It may also mean key issues or points for a bre
akthrough.
中美国 (zhong1 mei3 guo2)
chimerica
Economist Niall Ferguson coined the word to emphasize the clo and interdependent relations between the world's two major economies, China and America.
砖家 (zhuan1 jia1)
charlatan
萧山萝卜干
The term, popular on the Internet and with a negative connotation, generally refers to tho people who like to brag about their limited knowledge and promote themlves as "experts." The pronunciation of the phra in Chine is exactly the same as "expert" and the first character means "brick" in Chine, which implies the "experts" are so shamel
ess that their faces are tough enough to withstand the force of a brick.
纸枷锁 (zhi3 jia1 suo3)
paper yoke
In ancient China, some offenders were shackled with a pillory and made to hold a bowl of water with their enclod hands. If they spilled the water they would be clubbed to death. Now people u paper pillory to refer to subtle oppression one may face in life.
蟑螂族 (zhang1 lang2 zu2)
cockroach clan
The term is ud to describe people who are unperturbed by any negative publicity about them and who insist on living in an environment that is unsuitable for them. Like cockroaches, they have the ability to survive in hostile conditions.
周边产品 (zhou1 bian1 chan3 ping3)
peripheral goods
A concert by a popular band, a hit TV show, or even a designer's exhibition can spin off a variety of consumer goods ranging from school supplies to fashion accessories, decorated with the characters' figure or logo. The goods meet the needs of fans and are also a good way to cash in on the popularity of idols.
自助自行车 (zi4 zhu4 zi4 xing2 che1)
lf-rvice bicycle rental
The lf-rvice bicycle rental facility has been introduced into a few cities around the country to ea traffic pressure and reduce noxious emissions.
坐家 (zuo4 jia1)
dentary worker
This Chine term, implying a "chair-bound professional, " refers to dentary workers, such as typists, computer operators and paper pushers.
种草莓 (zhòng cǎo méi)
give a hickey
The term, meaning literally "planting strawberry" in Chine, refers to the behavior of giving the skin a reddish mark through amorous kissing.
中国宇航员 (zhong1guo2 yu3hang2yuan2)
taikonaut
This is a hybrid word formed from the Chine taikong, "space," and Greek nautes, "sailo
r." It distinguishes Chine spacemen from the astronauts of the United States, cosmonauts of Russia and spationauts from French-speaking countires.
主旋律 ( zhu3xuan2lv4)
mainstream ideology or trend
The Chine term borrows from musicology, which literally means the "key melody." It is now often ud to stand for the mainstream (or government-backed) ideology or trend.
自闭症儿童 (zi4bi4zheng4 er2tong2)
autistic child
There are reportedly more than 10,000 children suffering from autism in Shanghai and there is no know cure. Japan recently donated US$80,000 to a Shanghai kindergarten to improve the treatment for such children.
纸黄金 (zhi 3huang2jin1)
paper gold
A general term to describe gold contrasts, which do not necessarily involve the delivery of physical gold. The International Monetary Fund invented "paper gold" in 1971. The Bank of China Shanghai branch now lls paper gold 24 hours a day.
装修房(zhuang1xiu1fang2)
finished apartment
The city plans to promote marketing of more finished apartments, complete with flooring, bathroom and kitchen units and painted walls and windows, in an attempt to cut down noi pollution and prevent destruction of residential buildings resulting from individuals' random plans of installing equipment in and decorating their new homes.
撞衫 (zhuang4shan1)
clothing clashing
This Chine term means two or more people appear in a gathering or a public place accidentally wearing identical clothing. So, all fashion-minded ladies would try their very best to avoid zhuangshan or "clothing clashing." For them, clothing clashing is a disaster or an embarrassment, to say the least.
自由行 (zi4you2xing2)
lf-guided tour
This has become an increasingly popular form of travel with urban residents in China, especially among the young people. Having hotel and transport arranged by travel agencies and the itinerary totally controlled in their own hands, the travelers can enjoy the convenience of a package tour and the freedom of backpacking travel.
斩冲头 (zhan3chong4tou2)
rip off a sucker
This is a Shanghai slang, meaning to treat someone as a pushover or foolish spender in a deal or transaction. If you were persuaded to buy something of poor quality at a high price, you would be called chongtou (sucker) by Shanghaine.
种源农业 (zhong3yuan2nong2ye4)
ed variety cultivation
Plant varieties and ed cultivation are an important part of the so-called modern metropolitan agriculture that has been listed as a major goal of the city in developing its rural areas in the following five years.
做秀 (zuo4xiu4)
publicity stunt
The term means some exaggerated or unusual behaviors people do to draw public attention to promote themlves, products or anything el. East China Normal University reportedly questioned a houkeeping rvice company's recent attempt to hire students as temporary ayis was a publicity stunt.
招牌菜 (zhao1pai2cai4)
signature dishes/hou special
, a Website recommending famous restaurants and dishes, has recently become popular. You can easily find the most famous dishes of a restaurant on that Website.
走光 (zou3guang1)
wardrobe malfunction
This is a euphemism to describe an accidental exposure of some intimate parts of human body. For instance, Janet Jackson blamed her scandalous breakaway dress in her Super Bowl performance in 2004 on a "wardrobe malfunction."
足球寡妇 (zu2qiu2 gua3fu4)
football widow
Not everyone is thrilled about the World Cup, especially the wives of feverish football fans. With shopping discounts and traveling specials offered by sharp-sighted business people, the women will manage through this difficult month.
赞 (zan4)
superduper
This Chine word, meaning "to prai," is now widely ud on the Internet by Chine Netizens to extol and recommend a movie, a story or any other things. It conveys the mixed feeling of appraisal, approval, recommendation and admiration.
抓辫子（zhua1bian4zi3）
catch someone's mistake
The Chine term translates literally "pigtail gripping." It ud to be a crucial tactic in winning the upper hand in a bare-hand fight during the Qing Dynasty, when every man had to keep a pigtail on the back of his head. Nowadays, however, the term is often ud to mean picking out and catching someone's mistakes, particularly in political campaigns.
作女 (zuo4nu3)
high-maintenance woman
Such women need a lot of care and attention from a partner. Men usually have to spend a lot of money to maintain their relationship becau the women tend to have an endless stream of demands.
脏话衫(zang1hua4shan1)
clothing with expletives
Clothes printed with English, Japane and Korean expletives are popular among local children, especially middle-school students. They think "It's not nice to say the words, but it's cool to wear them." However, their fashion interest at prent has worried parents, some of whom even u dictionaries to vet their children's wardrobes.
装嫩族 (zhuang1nen4zu2)
grups
Grups refers to people who are in their 30s or 40s but act like they're in their 20s. They have been credited with killing off the generation gap as they redefine age. This word originated from a New York magazine that described a "Star Trek" episode featuring a planet run by wild children trapped in perpetual youth. The children call "Captain Kirk" and his crew grups, short for grown-ups.
职业舞伴 (zhi2ye4 wu3ban4)
taxi dancer
Paramount, one of the oldest entertainment venues in Shanghai, began recruiting professional "taxi dancers" recently, to dance with guests and guide them.
注水剧 (zhu4shui3ju4)
soaked soap
The days many soap opera producers are accud of dragging out a plot into an unreasonable length in order to ll the ries for a higher price to TV stations.
抓狂 (zhua1kuang2)
going crazy
Young people the days often u this term to describe a person who is behaving insanely becau he is so mad at something or he has lost control of a grim situation.
扎台型(zha1tai2xing2)
be showy, act dashingly
娑罗子的功效与作用When some people feel too good about themlves and go to the lengths to show it off in front of others, they are "acting dashing." This is a Pidgin English term in Shanghai dialec
t which borrows the English words "dashing."
钟点房 (zhong1dian3fang2)
hour-rate room, love hotel
植物神经紊乱吃什么药More and more "love hotels" have mushroomed around universities in the city. The hotel rooms are usually priced by the hour. Such hotels are often patronized by students. There's also another kind of hour-rate hotel rooms in airports, which are designed for pasngers who have to wait veral hours between two flights.
走鬼 (zou3gui3)
illegal booth owner
This term is mostly ud in Guangdong, which means people who run illegal stalls along the streets and play hide-andek with police officers. The owners have to push their boo
ths and escape as fast as possible to avoid being caught by police. The Chine term literally means "walking ghost."
做派 (zuopai)
acting, way of behavior
功率和马力This term originally means the acting or gestures and movements on stage. Now, it is also ud to depict a person's way of behavior or manner in doing things or dealing with various situations and people.
长草 (zhang3cao3)
a growing craving
This word is to describe the growing of some consumers' desires for certain items. For example, when a girl is interested in cosmetics, clothes or shoes but can't buy them immediately becau of high price or other reasons, her desire will grow until buying the
m. The Chine literally means "grass-growing" (in the heart), which reflects the robust growing of the desire for the product.
中招员工自评怎么写 (zhongzhao)
ri to the bait, hit by virus
The Chine term usually refers to someone who is caught in a trap t up for him. Now, it is often ud to mean that a computer is hit by virus and becomes dysfunctional.
走穴(zou3xue4)
moonlighting
This term refers specially to actors, actress or singers and doctors, lecturers or engineers who u their own time to work in something that is not arranged by their employers or take a cond or third job for additional income.
蛰居族(zhe2ju1zu2)
cluded clan
Compared with the group of NEET — Not in Employment, Education or Training—the people go further. The cluded clan refers to some young people who do not work, live off their parents and stay at home all the time to avoid any social life or contact with other people.
钻石王老五 (zuan4shi2wang2lao3wu3)
diamond bachelor
The Chine term translates directly as "an old Joe with diamonds." A diamond bachelor has usually pasd the optimum marriage years, but is much valued becau he is successful in his career and has status in society. Many women desire such bachelors.
真人秀 (zhen1ren2xiu4)技嘉主板bios
reality show
If refers to TV programs which feature common people caught in real life situations instead of acting as the producer directs.
作弊克 (zuo4bi4ke4)
anti-cheat nsor
China's education authorities have installed such electronic devices in many schools to prevent examinees cheating via wireless radio signal receivers. The nsor is able to pinpoint dishonest examinees who u an earphone or any other receiver to obtain answers to the exam.
子弹头列车 (zi3dan4tou2 lie2che1)
bullet train
Bullet trains are trains with bullet-shaped locomotives, which are designed according to aerodynamics, allowing the train to run at a high speed. A bullet train arrived in Shanghai on January 15, which will travel between 200 and 250 kilometers an hour.
众包 (zhong4bao1)十大新闻
crowdsourcing
This Chine term is actually a translation of the new English word "crowdsourcing," which means obtaining labor, products, or content from people outside a company, particularly from a large group of customers or amateurs who work for little or no pay.
拽 (zhuai3)
arrogant
The word originates from a northern dialect but has come into u in daily talk the days to mean tho who pride themlves on skills, fame, or income over their rivals or peers.
