



Meaning:



Literally “备胎” means a “spare tire.”





Unlike in English, where the term is used jokingly to refer to the extra fat on a person’s waist, Chinese netizens have given it a new meaning, which is more associated with the “spare parts” meaning.





If a girl hangs out with a guy but does not take him as her boyfriend, that guy would be her “spare tire.” Girls who already have a boyfriend sometimes keep a “spare tire” too. That guy can be her “plan B.”





Example:

A: 周末干什么？





Zhōumò gànshénme?





What’s your plan for the weekend?









B: 莉莉要我陪她去逛街。





Lìli yào wǒ péi tā qù guàngjiē。





Lili asked me to go shopping with her.









A: 你又不是她男朋友，干嘛要陪她去？





Nǐ yòu búshì tā nánpéngyǒu, gànmá yào péi tā qù?





You are not her boyfriend. Why go with her?









B: 她对我很好，我不好意思拒绝。





Tā duì wǒ hěn hǎo, wǒ bùhǎo yìsī jùjué。





She is nice to me, and I don’t have the heart to say no.









A: 醒醒吧，她的男朋友是高富帅，她才不会看上你呢。





Xǐngxǐng ba, tā de nánpéngyǒu shì gāofùshuài, tā cái búhuì kànshàng nǐ ne。





Wake up. Her boyfriend is tall, rich and handsome. She will never fall for you.









B: 我喜欢她，当备胎也可以。





Wǒ xǐhuan tā, dāng bèitāi yě kěyǐ。





I like her, and am willing to be a stand-by for her.