Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 娘娘腔 | niángniángqiāng |
| 女人般的 | nǚrénbān de |
| 女人氣的 / 女人气的 | nǚrénqì de |
The term 娘娘腔 is used to describe an effeminate boy or man. It is frequently used informally to describe someone who behaves in an overly delicate or effeminate manner.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 娘娘腔 is composed of 娘 (niáng, meaning mother or female) repeated, followed by 腔 (qiāng, meaning tone or manner/accent).
Which one should you use?
While 娘娘腔 is a noun used to label a person as a 'sissy', the adjective 女人气的 (or the traditional form 女人氣的) is used to describe a specific quality or mannerism as being 'feminine'. Additionally, 女人般的 is another adjective available to describe things that are woman-like.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 娘娘腔 is often used as a derogatory slur or an insult to mock a man's perceived lack of masculinity. It is an informal and pejorative way to address or describe someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
娘娘腔 functions as a noun. For example, you can say 他是个娘娘腔 (He is a sissy).
How do you pronounce it?
niángniángqiāng
Did you know?
- The term 娘娘 (niángniáng) is a highly respectful way to refer to an empress or a high-ranking lady in historical dramas, yet its repetition in 娘娘腔 completely changes the connotation to a mocking one.
- In modern internet slang, the character 娘 (niáng) has been adopted by fans of Japanese anime to describe 'cute' or feminine male characters, often using the loanword 'moe'.
- In some contexts, 娘娘腔 is used not just for gender expression, but as a general critique of a man who is perceived as indecisive or lacking in courage.
Examples in context
- 他说话声音娘娘腔，行动总是很娇气。His voice is effeminate, and his behavior is always delicate.
- 他发嗲的声音让人觉得很娘。His flirtatious tone makes people perceive him as sissy.
- 别这样娘娘腔的，男子汉应该有点阳刚之气。Don't act so sissy, a real man should have some masculine energy.
- 他说话总是娘娘腔的。Tā shuōhuà zǒngshì niángniangqiāng de.He always talks in a sissy way.
- 别像个娘娘腔一样哭。Bié xiàng gè niángniangqiāng yīyàng kū.Don't cry like a sissy.
- 那个男孩被同学嘲笑是娘娘腔。Nàge nánhái bèi tóngxué cháoxiào shì niángniangqiāng.That boy was teased by classmates for being a sissy.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a boy's behavior in class.
- 浩然 Haoran你觉得他说话是不是有点娘娘腔？Nǐ juéde tā shuōhuà shì bù shì yǒudiǎn niángniangqiāng?Do you think he talks a bit like a sissy?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我倒觉得他只是性格比较温柔。Wǒ dào juéde tā zhǐshì xìnggé bǐjiào wēnróu.I actually think he is just a gentle person.
- 浩然 Haoran但他表现得实在太娘娘腔了。Dàn tā biǎoxiàn de shízài tài niángniangqiāng le.But he acts way too much like a sissy.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然，你对他有点过于挑剔了。Hàorán, nǐ duì tā yǒudiǎn guòyú tiāotì le.Haoran, you are being a bit too critical of him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sissy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
