On the last day of the year, we look at the top buzzwords of 2019. Some of these words you may know from your textbook, but the way people *actually* use them in real life is very different. Learn to use these phrases from the real world with this list:

1. 上头Shàngtóu (Overwhelmed)

This term describes something going to the top of your head, and getting irrationally addicted to something, like food, video games or a particular song you keep playing over and over.

Examples:

学汉语太好玩了，我上头了。Xué hànyǔ tài hǎowánle, wǒ shàngtóu le. Learning Chinese is so fun, I’m overwhelmed.

这部电视剧太好看了，很多人都上头了。Zhè bù diànshìjù tài hǎokànle, hěnduō rén dōu wǒ shàngtóu le. This TV series is so good that many people are overwhelmed.

我最近嗑这对CP*嗑上头了。Wǒ zuìjìn kē zhè duì CP* kē wǒ shàngtóu le. (I recently got on this couple.)

*CP stands for ‘couple pair’, a Chinese way to say ‘couple’.

2. 我酸了Wǒ suān le (I’m sour)

A self-mocking line that people say when they admire others’ good jobs, good partners and good life in general. Often accompanied with images of lemons.

Example:

她老公又帅又聪明又有钱，我酸了。Tā lǎogōng yòu shuài yòu cōngmíng yòu yǒu qián, wǒ suān le. (Her husband is handsome, smart and rich, I am sour.)

3. 比心 bǐ xīn (finger heart)

Fresh foreigners in China may think the gesture has something to do with money, but the finger heart is a sign of love and affection, a favorite among self-takers and friends or colleagues. Although sometimes, it’s also misused, as Michael will show you.

In Chinese it’s called a 比心 bǐ xīn: gesture heart. The finger heart was used by a Japanese pop band ‘ジャニーズ’ in the 60s, and repopularized by South Korean actress Kim Hye-soo in 2010.

4. 我太南了Wǒ tài nán le (I’m too south)

南nán(South) is used to replaced 难nán(difficult), in another popular line people use to self-mock their difficulties in life.

Example:

加班到12点，我太南了。Jiābān dào 12 diǎn, wǒ tài nán le. (Overtime until 12 o’clock, I’m too south.)

It’s also popular to remake with mahjong:

5. 我不要你觉得，我要我觉得 Wǒ bùyào nǐ juéde, wǒ yào wǒ juéde (I don’t need what you think, I need what I think)

This got popular from a reality TV show in China. One of the celebrities in that show was being bossy and dominating, which is a lot against the general public’s expectation. He kept saying this line in that show, so people start to use this line to mock arrogant people.

Example:

女朋友：今天晚上我们吃火锅吗？

男朋友：我觉得火锅不太……

女朋友：我不要你觉得，我要我觉得。就吃火锅！

Nǚ péngyou: Jīntiān wǎnshàng wǒmen chī huǒguō ma?

Nán péngyou: Wǒ juédé huǒguō bù tài……

Nǚ péngyou: Wǒ bùyào nǐ juéde, wǒ yào wǒ juéde. Jiù chī huǒguō！

Girlfriend: What about having hot pot tonight?

Boyfriend: I don’t think hot pot is good because it‘s too…

Girlfriend: I don’t want you to think, I want me to think, let’s eat hot pot!

6. 9102年Nián (The year 9102)

Meaning that it’s already in the new century, why are you still so conservative? Like when your grandma asks you to fix your ripped jeans and tells you to drink more hot water. 9102 is used because it’s 2019 in reverse.

Examples:

都9102年了，我怎么还是那么穷？

都9102年了，还不多点儿汉语？

Dōu 9102 nián le, wǒ zěnme háishì nàme qióng?

Dōu 9102 nián le, hái bù duō diǎn‘r hànyǔ?

It’s the year 9102, why am I still so poor?

It’s the year 9102, why do I still not speak Chinese?

7. OMG

In China last year, this English abbreviation became a popular buzzword — spurred on by internet celebrity Li Jiaqi in his Taobao livestreams to persuade people to buy things, such as lipstick. Used to exaggerate the actual function of the products.

Example:

这款口红是如此多姿多彩, OMG买它！Zhè kuǎn kǒuhóng shì rúcǐ duō zī duōcǎi, OMG mǎi tā! (This lipstick is so colorful, OMG buy it!)

8. 笑死我了 Xiào sǐ wǒ le (Laughing my ass off)

The literal meaning is ‘this laugh kills me’ (figuratively speaking….), as it’s the Chinese version of “LMAO” (laughing my ass off). But as Ellie will show you, this can also be used in a sarcastic way.