The Hall of Fame: Oxford Certified 🏆

Here is the ultimate collection of Chinglish phrases that were so widely used and impactful, they successfully hacked their way into the official English dictionaries (like the Oxford English Dictionary).

Respect the cultural output! 👇

Chinglish

中式英语 (zhōng shì yīng yǔ)

Means: Chinese English

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Paper tiger

纸老虎 (zhǐ lǎo hǔ)

Means: A hollow threat / Someone who appears powerful but is actually weak

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No can do

不行 / 做不得 (bù xíng / zuò bu de)

Means: I can't do it / That is not possible

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Lose face

丢脸 (diū liǎn)

Means: Be humiliated / Suffer a loss of respect

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Long time no see

好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn)

Means: It's been a while! / I haven't seen you in ages!

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Add oil

加油 (jiā yóu)

Means: Go for it! / Keep it up! / Come on!

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