Learn These 5 Chinese Words You’ll Hear in 2025, Part 2
- Aileen Ting
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
Already learned the first five words? Here are five more Chinese words and expressions you may hear in 2025.
These words show up in:
social media posts
short videos
group chats
tech news
everyday conversations
In this guide, you will learn:
what each word means
how it feels in Chinese
when you might use it
Watch the short video version
1. 预制××
Pinyin: yù zhì...
Meaning: Cookie-cutter, overly polished, or manufactured.
预制 originally means “pre-made” or “pre-prepared.” For example, 预制菜 means pre-made food.
Now, people also use 预制×× to describe something that feels:
too planned
too polished
too similar to everything else
not very natural
You may see it used for content, photos, travel posts, lifestyles, or someone’s online image.
Tone: Usually a little critical or sarcastic.
You are not just saying something was prepared in advance. You are saying it feels fake, formulaic, or lacking personality.
Examples:
这套内容有点预制感。This content feels a little too cookie-cutter.
别发那种预制朋友圈了。Stop posting those highly staged social media updates.
现在很多旅游照片都很预制。A lot of travel photos these days look so manufactured and fake.
When to use it: Use 预制×× when something feels too staged, too polished, or not very genuine.
Good for talking about:
influencer content
social media photos
travel posts
overly planned lifestyles
2. 具身智能
Pinyin: jù shēn zhì néng
Meaning: Embodied AI
具身智能 is a more technical word.
It refers to artificial intelligence that can interact with the physical world through a body, such as a robot.
This is different from AI that only exists as software, such as:
a chatbot
an app
a tool on a screen
With 具身智能, the AI is connected to:
movement
space
sensors
objects
real-world tasks
You may hear this word in conversations about AI, robotics, automation, and future technology.
Examples:
最近大家都在谈具身智能。Lately, everyone is talking about embodied AI.
具身智能是未来的重要方向。Embodied AI is a major direction for the future.
这家公司在研发具身智能机器人。This company is developing embodied AI robots.
When to use it: Use 具身智能 when talking about AI that works through robots or physical actions in the real world.
3. 韧性
Pinyin: rèn xìng
Meaning: Resilience or grit.
韧性 describes the ability to:
stay strong
recover from difficulties
keep going under pressure
You can use it to talk about:
a person
a team
a company
a community
the economy
This is not only an internet word. It is also useful in daily life, work, and serious conversations.
When you say someone has 韧性, you mean they have mental strength. They may face stress or setbacks, but they do not give up easily.
Examples:
这个团队很有韧性。This team has serious grit.
面对困难，我们需要保持韧性。When we hit a wall, we need to stay resilient.
她的心理韧性很强。She has incredible mental toughness.
When to use it: Use 韧性 when talking about strength, endurance, emotional toughness, or recovery from challenges.
4. ××基础，××不基础
Pinyin: ... jī chǔ, ... bù jī chǔ
Meaning: [Blank] is basic, but [blank] is definitely not basic.
××基础，××不基础 is not one fixed word. It is a sentence pattern and a meme-style expression.
The idea is simple:
One part looks basic, but another part is not basic at all.
That contrast makes it funny, dramatic, or stylish.
It was often used in fashion at first. Now, people can use it for many things, such as:
clothes
prices
personality
appearance
lifestyle
funny contrasts
Examples:
上衣基础，裤子就不基础。The top is basic, so the pants definitely can't be basic.
表面基础，价格不基础。It looks totally basic on the outside, but the price tag is anything but basic.
长相基础，性格不基础。Average looks, but a completely wild personality.
When to use it: Use ××基础，××不基础 when one part seems ordinary, but another part is surprising, bold, expensive, dramatic, or funny.
5. 从从容容、游刃有余，匆匆忙忙、连滚带爬
Pinyin: cóng cóng róng róng, yóu rèn yǒu yú, cōng cōng máng máng, lián gǔn dài pá
Meaning: Calm in theory, but an absolute scrambling mess in reality.
This expression is long, but that is part of why it feels funny.
It compares:
the calm version of life we imaginewith the chaotic version that actually happens
Here is the breakdown:
从从容容: calm and unhurried
游刃有余: handling something with ease and skill
匆匆忙忙: rushed and hurried
连滚带爬: scrambling, rushing, or barely managing
Together, the phrase describes a very relatable situation.
In your mind, you plan to be calm, organised, and in control. In reality, you end up rushing, panicking, and trying to survive the moment.
Examples:
本来想从从容容地完成，结果还是连滚带爬。I planned to knock this out calmly, but ended up scrambling at the last minute.
想象中游刃有余，现实中连滚带爬。In my head: smooth and capable. In reality: a scrambling mess.
每天早上都是连滚带爬地去上班。Every morning I'm just panic-rushing to get to work on time.
When to use it: Use this expression when joking about:
busy mornings
deadlines
work stress
school pressure
travel problems
chaotic daily life
Which Word Should You Learn First?
Start with 韧性 if you want to learn a useful everyday Chinese word. It works for people, teams, work, stress, and personal growth.
Learn 预制×× if you want to understand online comments better. It is useful when people talk about content that feels staged or fake.
Remember 具身智能 if you are interested in technology. You may see it in AI and robotics discussions.
Try ××基础，××不基础 if you enjoy internet humor. It is a fun way to describe contrast.
Use 从从容容、游刃有余，匆匆忙忙、连滚带爬 if your life often feels calm in your imagination, but chaotic in reality.
Learn These 5 Chinese Words in Anki
Want to remember these words more easily?
Review them in our Anki deck.
Learn Mandarin in Hong Kong
Modern Chinese is full of expressions from everyday life, online culture, work, and social situations. If you are interested in learning Mandarin in Hong Kong.
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