Chinese student’s comment that he is a pig determined to ruin cabbages during TV show causes controversy
- A student at a notorious cram school where students prepare for university exams has shocked China with comments taken by some to refer to ruining girls
- Some have defended the 17-year-old, saying his comments were misunderstood and taken out of context
A 17-year-old Chinese student is at the centre of controversy after he described himself on a game show as a pig determined to ruin cabbages.
This sentence comes from a popular Chinese slang phrase: “good cabbages eaten or ruined by pigs”. The term can refer to resources being destroyed, but more often refers to good girls ruined by bad boys. It is unclear which meaning of the phrase Xifeng was referencing.
As a contestant on the Chinese TV show Super Orator, the boy said during his speech that he and other rural students spare no effort in studying in the hope of a better future.
“The students of our school often get together to talk about our dreams and future,” Xifeng said. “I said jokingly that I am just a pig from the countryside and I am determined to ruin cabbages in cities.”
Internet users were divided over Xifeng’s on-air comments.