Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 油管 | yóuguǎn | neologism, slang |
| 優兔 / 优兔 | yōutù | neologism, slang |
While many speakers in digital media contexts simply use the original English name YouTube, others use the slang terms 油管 or 優兔 / 优兔. The term 在線視頻網站 / 在线视频网站 can be used to refer more broadly to any website that allows users to upload content.
What does it mean word for word?
The slang term 油管 literally means 'oil pipe'.
Which one should you use?
YouTube is the original English name used in many Chinese-speaking contexts. 油管 is a shortened, slangy way to refer to the platform, whereas 優兔 / 优兔 is a neologism.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
油管 and 優兔 / 优兔 are informal slang terms.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 油管 is often used in mainland China, sometimes as a way to bypass censorship or as a phonetic and semantic shorthand.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
yóuguǎn
When do people say it?
The use of 油管 as a shorthand or a way to bypass internet censorship is common in certain Chinese-speaking digital communities.
Did you know?
- In some online forums, users may avoid even the word 油管 and use further emojis or abbreviations to refer to the site to stay under the radar of censors.
- The word 管 in 油管 can mean 'pipe' or 'tube', but it is also used in Chinese to mean 'to manage' or 'to control'.
- The term 優兔 is a literal phonetic translation where 優 means 'excellent' and 兔 means 'rabbit', giving the name a positive connotation.
Examples in context
- 我在油管上看它。I watched it on YouTube.This sentence shows how to use 油管 to indicate where something was watched.Tatoeba #9963083 by GlossaMatik, translation #2141532 by Hybrid
- 开始你自己的 YouTube 频道。Start your own YouTube channel.This sentence uses the original English name YouTube.Tatoeba #10986118 by Elaineeeeee, translation #10854166 by Amastan
- 我父母說，YouTube 和串流平台讓電影的魔力大打折扣。My parents say that YouTube and streaming services cheapen the magic of film.Tatoeba #13840858 by LeviHighway, translation #13697462 by frpzzd
- 在油管上有很多好玩的视频。There are many entertaining videos on YouTube.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
浩然 and 梓涵 are discussing how to find a tutorial video.
- 浩然 Haoran你想在油管上看这个教程吗？Nǐ xiǎng zài yóuguǎn shàng kàn zhège jiàochéng ma?Do you want to watch this tutorial on YouTube?
- 梓涵 Zihan好啊，他在油管上很有名。Hǎo a, tā zài yóuguǎn shàng hěn yǒumíng.Sure, he is very famous on YouTube.
- 浩然 Haoran那我帮你找找吧。Nà wǒ bāng nǐ zhǎozhao ba.Then I will help you look for it.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢你，浩然。Xièxiè nǐ, Hàorán.Thank you, Haoran.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “youtube” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
