As 2024 comes to an end, let's take a look at some of the most talked-about Chinese buzzwords of the year.
These words capture the essence of modern life, from urban sophistication to personal resilience, with a touch of humor and relatability. Let's dive in!
01.
City不city / City bu city
The first term on our list exploded in popularity after a viral video by Chinese-American blogger 保保熊 (Bao Bao Xiong), who jokingly asked his sister:
上海city不city啊？
Is Shanghai city or not?
Her enthusiastic reply:
好city啊！
Very city!
made viewers laugh and sparked a trend.
But what does it really mean? "City" here becomes an adjective for describing whether something feels modern, trendy, or metropolitan. It's not just about big buildings and bright lights — it's about whether a place gives off the unmistakable vibe of urban sophistication.
The phrase went viral because it reflects how young people evaluate their surroundings in an increasingly cosmopolitan China.
Example:
A: 你觉得这家咖啡店city不city？
Nǐ juéde zhè jiā kāfēidiàn city bù city?
Do you think this café is city or not?
B: 好city！又有设计感，又能拍好看的照片。
Hǎo city! Yòu yǒu shèjì gǎn, yòu néng pāi hǎokàn de zhàopiàn.
Super city! It's so well-designed and photogenic.
02.
松弛感 / sōngchígǎn
Speaking of the pace of city life, staying composed and finding balance is more important than ever in 2024. That's where our next phrase comes in.
Imagine handling a high-stakes situation with effortless calm — that's the essence of 松弛感 (sōngchígǎn), meaning "relaxed vibe." 松弛感 rose to prominence during the 2024 Paris Olympics. As young Chinese athletes displayed incredible poise and confidence under pressure, they inspired millions to seek that same sense of ease in their daily lives.
