Nowadays young people use a large number of slang and informal expressions in daily conversations, and often these words and expressions indicate “hidden intentions” in certain circumstances. In the previous article, we talked about a few essential phrases you can use during the WeChat conversation with your Chinese friends. Let’s move forward! It’s the 2nd part of “Phrases for WeChat Conversations”. We have 5 more expressions for you.

1. 呵呵 (hē hē)

呵呵 (hē hē) is usually associated with a smirk and can be often seen in a conversation on WeChat. However, it is more or less used in a derogatory sense. One important thing you need to remember is that this word actually implies a person’s unwillingness to continue a conversation, which means this person is either not interested in what you are talking about, or simply unwilling to chat with you because, let’s say, he or she is busy. Be a bit careful with the use of this word as some people may take offense at it, especially when they are sharing their views on certain issues with you.

2. 赞(zàn)

The original meaning of this word is “to praise”, and it works similarly to “666”. Whenever there is something that you think is awesome, feel free to use this word.

3. 嗯呢(ǹg ne)

The pronunciation of 嗯 is quite similar to “èn”, which means “yes”. Instead of “对(duì)”, Chinese people tend to use嗯呢(ǹg ne) more often on WeChat when they agree to do something or confirm something is correct. The popularity of this word among young people can be explained by the use of 呢(ne), which helps create a relaxing atmosphere.

4. ………

This sign is what you can use when you are speechless, or you feel like you can’t do anything about something. In Chinese youth culture, a dotted line gives other people the feeling that you don’t want to comment on something. Or you simply don’t want to talk anymore. Consequently, this sign is often used in situations where you are not really happy with something or somebody.

5. 晕 (yūn)

晕(yūn) originally means “dizzy”, and it’s often used when something (usually something unpleasant) is beyond your expectation. In fact, there is a logic behind the reason why Chinese people use this word to express astonishment. Imagine a scenario where something unexpected happened and you don’t know how to deal with it. As a result, you are getting dizzy because you feel puzzled. 

What phrases do you commonly use to chat with your friends?

「You can also have a look at our article about Chinese internet slang」

Leave a comment with your answer below – or tweet us at @thatsmandarin!