菜鸟
càiniǎo
The English phrase 'noob' can be translated into Chinese as 菜鸟 (càiniǎo). If unsure, use 菜鸟. Wiktionary also lists 杂鱼 (záyú).
Meaning: newbie (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 菜鸟 | càiniǎo |
| 杂鱼 | záyú |
菜鸟 is commonly used in gaming contexts to describe a player who is new or lacks experience.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 菜鸟 literally translates to 'vegetable bird'.
Which one should you use?
While 菜鸟 refers to a beginner's lack of skill, 杂鱼 is used to describe someone who is insignificant or a low-level opponent.
How do you pronounce it?
càiniǎo
When do people say it?
The term 门外汉 is used across China meaning someone who is ignorant about a particular subject.
Did you know?
- To describe a 'pro' as the opposite of a 菜鸟, Chinese gamers often use 大神, which literally means 'Great God'.
- The term 杂鱼 is heavily influenced by Japanese anime and manga culture, where 'zako' describes the nameless, weak enemies that appear in large numbers.
- If you want to call someone a 'noob' in a very traditional way, you might say they are 生手, which literally means 'raw hands'.
Examples in context
- 他是一个编程新手。He is a programming beginner.
- 他在游戏中是个菜鸟。He's a noob in the game.
- 对于音乐，我是个彻底的门外汉。I'm a complete noob when it comes to music.
- 我还是个菜鸟。Wǒ háishì gè càiniǎo.I am still a newbie.
- 别嘲笑这个菜鸟。Bié cháoxiào zhège càiniǎo.Don't mock this newbie.
- 他是游戏界的菜鸟。Tā shì yóuxì jiè de càiniǎo.He is a newbie in the gaming world.
Example conversation
Two friends are playing a video game together.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，你快帮帮我！Yǔtíng, nǐ kuài bāngbāng wǒ!Yuting, please help me!
- 雨婷 Yuting怎么了？你被击败了吗？Zěnme le? Nǐ bèi jībài le ma?What happened? Were you defeated?
- 浩然 Haoran是的，我真是个菜鸟。Shì de, wǒ zhēn shì gè càiniǎo.Yes, I am such a noob.
- 雨婷 Yuting没关系，浩然，我可以教你。Méiguānxì, Hàorán, wǒ kěyǐ jiāo nǐ.It's okay, Haoran, I can teach you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “noob” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
