The Chinese internet has exploded with people sharing their positive Covid-19 tests, and joking about what to do next
Since China pivoted away from its “dynamic zero-Covid (动态清零 dòngtài qīnglíng)” policies, the current Omicron variant has caused a surge of infections. As many cities, including the capital Beijing, are in the midst of a spike in cases, netizens (some already sick at home) have also generated reams of new slang terms, hoping to console their infected friends and cheer up the lucky ones who remain healthy.
During China’s zero-Covid era, a crucial life-saving strategy for citizens was “storing vegetables (囤菜 túncài)” in case of unexpected lockdown. However, as infection now seems inevitable, residents immediately shifted gear...but not by much. ”Before: We store vegetables and wait for lockdowns. Now: We stockpile medicine and wait for fever. (以前: 买菜等封控。现在: 买药等发烧。Yǐqián: mǎicài děng fēngkòng. Xiànzài: mǎiyào děng fāshāo.)”
Zhang Wenjie is a contributing writer at The World of Chinese. She loves to share the lifestyles, voices, and concerns of China’s Gen Z. She is also fond of collecting and displaying the flourishing slang expressions in the Chinese language.
