Niubi! The Real Chinese You Were Never Taught in School

Praise

BT

Stands for 变态 biàntài (byinn tie), which means “perverted” or “deviant” and once referred to homosexuality, sexual fetishes, people with an abnormal fixation on violence, etc. In online culture, however, it has now taken on a joking or positive connotation; thus calling someone BT is akin to cheerfully saying something like “you pervert” or “you weirdo” to a friend, or like saying “you’re so bad” when what you really mean is that you’re impressed.

PF

Stands for 佩服 pèifú (pay foo), meaning “admire.”

赞 zàn (dzahn)

Means “to praise” and is often used online when recommending or raving about a movie, a story, etc.

94

Agreed, I agree. “Nine four” in Chinese is jǐu sì (joe sih), which sounds like the phrase 就是 jiùshì (joe shih), which means “yes” or “it’s true.”

PL

Stands for 漂亮 piàoliàng (pyow lyahng), or “pretty.”

PPMM

Stands for 漂漂妹妹 piàopiào mèimèi (pyow pyow may may), a cutesy way of saying “pretty girl.”

ML

Stands for 美丽 měilì (may lee), or “beautiful.”