汉语新词新译系列-E

恶播 (e4 bo1)
the vicious TV show

This phrase, meaning literally "vicious broadcasting", has been popping up in Chinese media reports and online posters recently after several provincial TV stations telecast the same series using aggressive and unconventional methods in order to attract audiences. Some broadcast two or three episodes of the series more than 10 times a day, others presented an "abridged" version to "outplay" other TV stations. The phenomenon reflects a serious shortage of good TV products and lack of effective market regulations in the outlying country regions.

二维码 (er4 wei2 ma3)
QR Code

A QR Code is a matrix code invented by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The QR is derived from "Quick Response." Camera mobile phone users with code-reading software can scan the image of the QR Code and be relinked to a Website that this code represents.

二手短信 (er4 shou3 duan3 xin4)
second-hand SMS

It refers to mobile phone messages received from, and sent to, others. There are many such messages of greeting in circulation during holiday seasons. Using them displays a lack of originality, and even sincerity, as they are never your own.

恶搞 (e4gao3)
kuso

The term refers to the online popular fad of turning a famous song, movie or other artwork into a parody that offends some people but amuses others. It is a Japanese word.

二房东 (er4fang2dong1)
second-hand landlord

The phrase means people who rent an apartment from the owner and then lease to other tenants to make money from the price difference. Many property management companies are complaining that some "second-hand landlords" divide apartments into smaller units to rent to more tenants.

二奶 (er4nai3)
kept mistress

This Chinese term was used in the past to refer to the number two of a man's wives. But today, it is widely used to call a kept mistress who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man. She is usually financially supported by the man.

恶帝/恶后 (e4di4/e4hou4)
infamous celebrity

Guo Jingming, a writer accused of plagiarism and Li Xudan, a TV actress accused of lying about her age, have won this year's "Golden Crow Awards," a title for the most infamous celebrities on the Chinese mainland.

恶趣味(e4qu4wei4)
repulsive addiction

Originating in Japan, the term refers to disgusting addictions people indulge in, especially those do not match their social status.

二奶专家 (er4nai3 zhuan1jia1)
mercenary expert

For years, it's been a trend in China for companies to hire mercenary experts to distort public information for purposes such as promoting their products or protecting their reputation. This Chinese term combines the phrases "kept mistress" and "expert," because people tend to think of such experts as "kept mistresses" of the firms.

二次污染 (er4ci4wu1ran2)
secondary pollution

Unclean cisterns installed on top of some residential buildings and the landfill sites for wastes often become the source of secondary pollution for tap water and the surrounding environment.

恶意圈钱 (e4yi4quan1qian2)
malicious money grabbing

Domestic stock markets plunged to a seven-month low last week amid mounting apprehension over new share offerings, which investors believed were part of a malicious intent to grab money from the markets. China Securities Regulatory Commission has warned listed firms to consider market conditions, investor sentiment and their own funding needs before deciding the timing and size of refinancing.

286 (er4ba1liu4)
slow, stupid

It literally refers to the older model of computer running on a 286 CPU, which is slow. Now it's used humorously to mean someone who is slow or stupid.