The top buzzwords of 2020 in China: from the country’s fight against Covid-19 to how a person shows off on social media

A not-so-humble brag on social media about how rich or successful you are means that you’re good at ‘Versailles literature’ and a ‘Versailles masters’

Frustrated parents at home were forced to take care of their ‘sacred beasts’ during lockdown – no, that’s not a term for pets, it’s a term for children

3-MIN READ3-MIN

“New wave” became a buzzword when Bilibili used it in an advertisement praising young people for travelling the world, driving sports cars and enjoying expensive hobbies. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 12:15pm, 13 Dec 2020Updated: 5:51pm, 14 Dec 2020

The top buzzwords of 2020 in China have been announced and, not surprisingly, many relate to Covid-19 and its impact on people.

“People first, life first” took first spot on the annual list compiled by literature and art magazine Yaowen Jiaozi. The term was used by Chinese President Xi Jinping before the National People’s Congress in May as the country fought the pandemic.

Another popular buzzword was “sacred beasts”, a term coined by frazzled parents trying to control their unruly children when schools closed and the country went into lockdown.

“The year 2020 has been a rough year because of Covid-19, and this year’s list of 10 Chinese buzzwords has been largely influenced by the fight against the pandemic, the country’s economic recovery, and people’s lives amid Covid-19,” the magazine wrote.

A video of a student holding a laptop running a program while riding a bicycle made the term “involution” viral in China. Photo: Bilibili

Other top buzzwords were “new wave”, “involution” and “Versailles literature”, trending terms that touched on social stagnation and wealth inequality in China.