Definition
猩猩 (xīngxing) primarily means 'orangutan', the great ape. In mainland Chinese slang, it's also a derogatory term for a dialect speaker whose Mandarin is heavily accented, implying their speech sounds like an orangutan's — use with extreme caution as it can be offensive.
noun
orangutan(slang) a dialect speaker whose speech is heavily influenced by Standard Mandarin
Easily confused
- 星星xīng xingsound-alikestar (in the sky)
- 行星xíng xīngsound-alikeplanet
Examples
- 猩猩。Wǒ zài dòngwùyuán kàn dào le sān zhī xīng xing.I saw three orangutans at the zoo.
- 猩猩，。xīng xing xǐhuan chī shuǐguǒ, yóuqí shì xiāngjiāo.Orangutans like to eat fruit, especially bananas.
- ，“猩猩”。Tā shuō pǔtōnghuà de shíhou zǒngshì dài zhe fāngyán kǒuyīn, péngyoumen jiào tā “xīng xing”.When he speaks Mandarin, he always has a dialect accent, so his friends call him "orangutan" (slang for dialect speaker).
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