4 Simple Chinese Slang to Sound like a Chinese-Speaking Pro

Do you want to fool your Chinese friends easily into thinking you are a master in speaking the language? 

Tricking your friends may not be the best long-term idea, but learning simple Chinese slang to sound like a Chinese-speaking pro will help you in your day to day skills. A lot of Chinese slang will derive from English words and can be easy for you to remember.

Here are four easy Chinese words that you can quickly pick up and start using today!

哇 Wa 

哇 translates into English as “Wow” and can be used in any situation to express wonder and excitement.

Examples include:
哇! 她很漂亮. 
Wa! Tā hěn piàoliang.
Wow! She is very beautiful. 

哇! 你的中文真棒!
Wa! Nǐ de zhōngwén zhēn bàng!
Wow! Your Chinese is great!

不是我的菜 Bùshì wǒ de cài 

This literally translates to “not my dish”, and is the Chinese equivalent to “not my cup of tea”. 

For example, if you are not interested in someone you can say: 

对不起, 你很好,可是不是我的菜.
duìbùqǐ, nǐ hěn hǎo, kěshì bùshì wǒ de cài
I am sorry, you are great, but you are not my type. 

酷 Kù

You may be able to guess from the pronunciation, but this is how you say “cool” in Chinese. The term originated in the 1980s and was primarily used to describe the younger generation. However, it is now popular amongst any age. You could say: 

你的头发太酷了!
Nǐ de tóufǎ tài kùle!
Your hair is too cool!

他的衣服很酷
Tā de yīfú hěn kù.
His clothes are so cool. 

太棒了tài bàngle

太棒了 is like saying “Amazing!” or “Awesome!” in Chinese. The literal translation is “too great”.  It can be used to describe people, events, or any situation that includes excitement. 

Hopefully, after learning these four words, your friends will tell you “你的中文太棒了!” Nǐ de zhōngwén tài bàngle! (Your Chinese is awesome!)