{"id":1708,"date":"2021-12-13T14:28:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T06:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=1708"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:48:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:48:00","slug":"funny-chinese-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/funny-chinese-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Lighten Your Day: A Peek Into Funny Chinese Words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learning a new language is often challenging yet fun. It all depends on how you look at it and how you learn it. Undeniably, the Chinese language is the most complex language to learn. But, it is also among the most interesting ones!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, let\u2019s learn some funny Chinese words related to animals. You\u2019ll find it funny when the meaning is finally revealed! Take some smart guesses before you read in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Learn Funny Chinese Words?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But first, why funny Chinese words? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning a language is not about just from books. There are also a lot of commonly spoken funny Chinese words. And yes, they are an excellent way to learn Chinese effectively!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll get giggles from these funny words, and that’s the essential part of mastering Chinese. It helps you to relate one word with another better. You can also blend into the Chinese culture by using funny words and slang words! Ready to get some laugh? Let\u2019s dive right in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u5439\u725b (chu\u012b ni\u00fa) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong>
\u5439(chu\u012b) means to blow; \u725b (ni\u00fa) is a cow. But, why do you even blow the cow?! It means to boast or brag about something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin<\/strong>: 
In ancient China, people build rafts out of animal hides. They need many men to blow air into the hides to inflate them. One was obviously bragging if he claimed to inflate a raft by himself. People will say that he was talking big, which is \u5439\u725b\u76ae (chu\u012b ni\u00fa p\u00ed) – literally means blowing cowhides, or just \u5439\u725b(chu\u012b ni\u00fa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
\u4f60\u770b\uff0c\u4ed6\u53c8\u5728\u5439\u725b\u4e86\u3002
(N\u01d0 k\u00e0n, t\u0101 y\u00f2u z\u00e0i chu\u012b ni\u00fa le.)
Look, he is boasting again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41  (p\u0101i m\u01ce p\u00ec) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong>
\u62cd (p\u0101i) is to pat, and \u9a6c\u5c41  (m\u01ce p\u00ec) is the horse\u2019s ass. People refer someone to patting the horse\u2019s ass to say that he\u2019s flattering or bootlicking someone. It\u2019s nothing short of hilarious! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin:<\/strong>
People in China\u2019s Yuan Dynasty glory in raising good horses. They often pat at the strong horse\u2019s butt when they meet, saying, \u201cWhat a good horse!\u201d to praise the owner. However, it soon became an action to flatter others, even when the horses are neither good nor strong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the phrase \u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41 (p\u0101i m\u01ce p\u00ec) is to mock people who kiss someone\u2019s ass to make blatant flattery. You can say \u201c\u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41\u201d directly, or \u201c\u62cd\u2026\u7684\u9a6c\u5c41\u201d meaning \u201cto kiss up to someone.\u201d For instance, \u201ckissing up to a boss\u201d can be said as \u201c\u62cd\u8001\u677f\u7684\u9a6c\u5c41\u201d (p\u0101i l\u01ceo b\u01cen de m\u01ce p\u00ec).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
\u4ed6\u603b\u662f\u5bf9\u8001\u677f\u62cd\u9a6c\u5c41\u3002
(T\u0101 z\u01d2ng sh\u00ec du\u00ec l\u01ceo b\u01cen p\u0101i m\u01ce p\u00ec.)
He is always flattering his boss.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \u9732\u9a6c\u811a (l\u00f2u m\u01ce ji\u01ceo)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong>
\u9732(l\u00f2u) is to show, and \u9a6c\u811a (m\u01ce ji\u01ceo) is the horse\u2019s feet. But what does it means to show the horse\u2019s feet? It refers to showing flaws and disclosing the truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin:<\/strong>
In the Tang Dynasty, Chinese people decorated the donkeys or horses with painted kirin skins. It is to add joy to the festive celebrations. However, it is difficult to cover the animal\u2019s feet up. They have no choice but to show the horses\u2019 or donkeys\u2019 feet when performing tricks. That is why the phrase \u9732\u9a6c\u811a (l\u00f2u m\u01ce ji\u01ceo) means betraying one’s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
\u8bf7\u4f60\u5f53\u5fc3\uff0c\u4e0d\u8981\u9732\u9a6c\u811a\u3002
(Q\u01d0ng n\u01d0 d\u0101ng x\u012bn, b\u00f9 y\u00e0o l\u00f2u m\u01ce ji\u01ceo.)
Be on your guard, and do not betray yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve learned funny Chinese words about farm animals. Donkeys, horses, cows\u2026 I bet you find them somehow ridiculous and amusing. Ha! And that\u2019s what makes Chinese learning fun! You can also check this article about How to Learn Chinese Faster<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep on reading – there are more funny words about fish for you!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. \u6478\u9c7c (m\u014d y\u00fa) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong>
\u6478 (m\u014d) is to feel or touch, and \u9c7c (y\u00fa) means fish. I mean, why do you touch the fish at all?? It turns out that touching the fish means slacking off during working hours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin:<\/strong>  
It origins from the Chinese idiom \u6d51\u6c34\u6478\u9c7c (h\u00fan shu\u01d0 m\u014d y\u00fa), literally meaning to catch fish in muddy water. It originally refers to the situation where people take advantage out of chaotic conditions. Today, \u6478\u9c7c (m\u014d y\u00fa) refers to situations where people loaf on the job and don\u2019t do their work well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
\u4ed6\u7ecf\u5e38\u4e0a\u73ed\u6478\u9c7c\u3002
(T\u0101 j\u012bng ch\u00e1ng sh\u00e0ng b\u0101n m\u014d y\u00fa.)
He always slacks off at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c (ch\u01ceo y\u00f3u y\u00fa) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong>
\u9c7f\u9c7c  (y\u00f3u y\u00fa) is squid, and \u7092 (ch\u01ceo) means stir fry. Stir-fried squid? Sounds delicious. Wait, no! It means to fire somebody!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin:<\/strong>
Chinese people used to take along their bedrolls to work. They have to carry it away if being fired, hence the saying \u5377\u94fa\u76d6\u8d70\u4eba (ju\u01cen p\u016b g\u00e0i z\u01d2u r\u00e9n) – packing up and leaving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, people found that squids would curl up when fried, resembling the bedrolls. They started using \u7092\u9c7f\u9c7c (ch\u01ceo y\u00f3u y\u00fa) instead of \u5377\u94fa\u76d6\u8d70\u4eba (ju\u01cen p\u016b g\u00e0i z\u01d2u r\u00e9n) to mean being fired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also say \u201c\u7092\u4e86\u00d7\u00d7\u7684\u9c7f\u9c7c\u201d (ch\u01ceo le \u00d7\u00d7 de y\u00f3u y\u00fa) – fired someone or \u201c\u00d7\u00d7\u88ab\u7092\u4e86\u9c7f\u9c7c\u201d (\u00d7\u00d7 b\u00e8i ch\u01ceo le y\u00f3u y\u00fa) – someone is fired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
\u4ed6\u56e0\u4e3a\u4e0a\u73ed\u6478\u9c7c\u800c\u88ab\u7092\u4e86\u9c7f\u9c7c\u3002
(T\u0101 y\u012bn w\u00e9i sh\u00e0ng b\u0101n m\u014d y\u00fa \u00e9r b\u00e8i ch\u01ceo le y\u00f3u y\u00fa.) 
He was fired for not doing his work well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, what about one more funny Chinese phrase about chicken? It sounds pretty amusing, literally. And when you know the meaning – they are indeed funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. \u843d\u6c64\u9e21 (lu\u00f2 t\u0101ng j\u012b)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong> 
\u843d (lu\u00f2) means falling into, \u6c64 (t\u0101ng) refers to the soup. And \u9e21 (j\u012b)? Yes, a chicken! Hmmm\u2026 a chicken that fell into soup?? Is that a Chinese dish?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorry, but no. It is used to describe how people look when they are soaked wet. Like a drenched chicken!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin:<\/strong>
Chinese people did not have umbrellas in the past. They have to endure under the hot sun. The worse scenario is that they get fully soaked on rainy days. People find that those who are soaked look like a drenched chicken, hence the phrase \u843d\u6c64\u9e21 (lu\u00f2 t\u0101ng j\u012b)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong>
\u4ed6\u4eec\u90fd\u88ab\u6dcb\u6210\u4e86\u843d\u6c64\u9e21\u3002
(T\u0101 men d\u014du b\u00e8i l\u00edn ch\u00e9ng le lu\u00f2 t\u0101ng j\u012b.)
They all got soaked like drenched chickens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These Chinese idioms and slang words can be cheesy or funny. Whether you had a big or hollow laugh, I bet you\u2019ve earned some Chinese vocabulary. That\u2019s why we say funny words are good ways to master fluency! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maayot<\/a> has more bite-size engaging stories for you daily. Subscribe to Maayot to take up the Chinese language fast! Or, you can learn more from the articles below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n