汉语新词新译系列-N

脑抽 (nao3 chou1) brain spasm

It is a rude expression used by young Netizens to describe a person who acts or speaks in an insane way as if he or she is suffering from cerebral spasms.

牛皮癣 (niu2 pi2 xuan3) street spam

The Chinese term literally means psoriasis, a common but annoying skin disease. It is now often used figuratively to describe usually shoddy printed ads or signs unsightly plastered on street walls, trees, utility poles, telephone booths or other public places.

内功 (nei4gong1) inner power

The term originally referred to the rare power a kungfu master accumulated in the inner organs, such as control of breathing to enhance the impact of a punch. These days, people often use it to describe an organization’s competitiveness and efficiency resulting from its internal system and innovation.

农家乐 (nong2jia1le4) farmer’s home inn

During the weeklong golden holidays, people often cannot find hotels in popular sites, so some farmers will lend their houses to tourists, which are cheaper than normal hotels. Tourists can also eat with the farmer’s family and do farmer chores for fun.

裸考 (luo3kao3) naked exam

This is word-for-word translation of the newly invented Chinese term. It does not mean that one takes a test with nothing on. It means a “pure test,” in which no one can get any special treatment, such as winning additional points because of one’s other talents or performance. In the past, student who have artistic or athletic gifts, were often given extra points on their academic exams.

闹洞房 (nao4dong4fang2) bridal chamber pranks

It’s Chinese tradition that guests crowd into the bridal chamber to tease the newly-wed couple after the wedding banquet. Anything goes here and sometimes it turns into a rather rowdy gathering that lasts late into the night.

女猪 (nu3zhu1) heroine, female protagonist

“pig” and “protagonist” have similar pronunciations in Chinese except for their tones, so do not mistake the term for “female pig” next time you see it online – it is actually a trendy way of saying heroine among the literature fans on the Internet.

娘娘腔 (niang2niang2qiang1) sissy, pansy

The English phrase originally refers to a weak man or a homosexual. People in Shanghai use the Chinese phrase to describe boys or men who talk or behave in an effeminate way.

脑子进水 (nao3zijin4shui3) bubble brain

If water is injected into the brain, as this Chinese term reads verbatim, it won’t be able to work very well. This term is commonly used these days to mean someone who is being stupid or confused.

裸替 (luo3ti4) nude stand-in

Nude stand-in refers to people who substitute big stars in movies for nudity shots. A nude stand-in for movie star Zhang Ziyi in “The Banquet” recently popped up in the spotlight of the media by telling her own stories and career.

脑体倒挂 (nao3ti3dao4gua4) limbs before brains

The phrase refers to the phenomenon that some talent-intensive jobs such as researchers are paid less than labor-intensive ones such as meter readers when industries are not market-oriented.

牛皮癣 (niu2pi2xuan3) nagging problem, eyesore ads

The term for a skin disease, psoriasis, is often used to describe a prolonged nagging problem. It may also be used to depict the eyesore ads, such as illicit trashy ads posted or printed on walls, telecomm poles, door steps or even pavements, which are very difficult to get rid of.

鸟人族 (niao3ren2zu2) bird people

In colloquial Chinese, this is not a term for creatures in science fiction, fantasy fiction or mythology. Instead, it refers to people who move their home frequently, on an average of two to three times a year, in a city like Shanghai. Their purposes are to find novel living environments, new lifestyles or to meet particular personal needs, such as sleeping in an absolutely quiet room.

内紧外松 (nei4jin3wai4song1) floating duck tactic

This translation is based on the English term of “floating duck syndrome,” which describes a situation where a duck paddles frantically underneath in order to keep its body calmly floating on the water. In China, however, people don’t see it as a syndrome, but a tactic to hide one’s efforts in speeding up his work or in controlling damages underneath a calm and relaxed appearance.