酱
jiàng
The Chinese slang term for "chan" is 酱 (jiàng).
In Chinese internet subcultures, 酱 is a slang term used to refer to imageboards, such as 4chan.
How do you pronounce it?
jiàng
When do people say it?
In Chinese internet subcultures, 酱 is used to mimic the sound of the Japanese honorific '-chan' or the English suffix '-chan' (as in 4chan) to name specific online communities or characters. Additionally, the term 阿陈 (Ā Chén) can be used as an informal nickname meaning "dear Chan" or "dear Chen" among close friends.
Did you know?
- While the internet slang 酱 is used for cuteness, the original traditional character 醬 actually refers to 'soy sauce' or 'paste'.
- The use of 酱 to mimic the Japanese honorific '-chan' is part of a wider trend called 'ACG culture' (Anime, Comic and Games). This has led to the creation of a hybrid online dialect that blends Chinese, Japanese and English sounds.
- In Chinese internet slang, this phonetic mimicry is often used to 'moe-ify' or make a subject appear cute and diminutive, much like the original Japanese usage.
Examples in context
- 陈先生Mr. Chan
- 陈女士Mrs. Chan
- 陈博士Dr. Chan
- 小陈你好吗？Hi, Little Chan, how are you?
- 陈陈，快过来看这个！Hey, Chan Chan, come and see this!
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing internet culture.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen晓雯：你知道什么是酱吗？Xiǎo wén: nǐ zhī dào shén me shì jiàng ma?Do you know what a chan is?
- 俊杰 Junjie俊杰：是指那种匿名讨论版吧。Jùn jié: shì zhǐ nà zhǒng ní mí tǎo lùn bǎn ba.You mean those anonymous imageboards, right?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen晓雯：对，我最近在看一个酱。Xiǎo wén: duì, wǒ zuì jìn zài kàn yī gè jiàng.Yes, I've been looking at a chan lately.
- 俊杰 Junjie俊杰：那里的人说话太激进了。Jùn jié: nà lǐ de rén shuō huà tài jī jìn le.The people there talk too radically.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 酱, CC BY-SA 4.0.
