Beijing Bureau: What do the Chinese really cheer?
by Dan Mattingly
Before this summer’s Olympics, the Chinese government, all too familiar with the unspeakable slurs that Chinese fans yell at their own soccer teams, decided to promote a mild-mannered official national cheer.
It goes like this: “China!” Clap Clap. “Go!” Thumbs up. “Olympics!” Clap clap. “Go!” Raise hands above head.
This cheer is, of course, mocked by nearly every Chinese person who has ever heard of it. So what do people actually yell at sports events in China, during these Games and after?
Cheers and Other Exclamations
Jia You – “Let’s go!” – Literally meaning “add oil” (to the fire), this chant is a multi-purpose tool at sports events. Versions heard at Olympic venues include “China, add oil,” “Taiwan Province, add oil,” and “hero, add oil.”
Zhong Guo Bi Sheng – “China Must Win”
Niu Bi – “Cow’s Vagina” – The actual word for the female anatomy used in this exclamation is much, much dirtier than the word above. This phrase can mean “awesome,” as in “cow’s vagina of a corner kick” or “Usher is a cow’s vagina of a dancer.” But it can also be disapproving in certain contexts.
Jeers
Sha Bi – “Retarded Vagina” – Sexist and horrifically impolite, Chinese fans too often find themselves directing this slur at their own star-crossed soccer team.
Mie Le Xiao Riben – “Extinguish the little Japanese” – This nationalist chant, which many consider beyond the pale, is focused on China’s main rival. But, now and then, a zealous fan extends this chant to a different ethnic or ideological enemy, such as “extinguish the U.S. basketball team’s perimeter defense.”
See also: Ming Thompson reports on the smog in Beijing and the state of security at the gymnastics competitions, and Dan Mattingly tells us how the Chinese treat Taiwanese athletes.
Plus: Ming Thompson’s Beijing food blog.
Good good study, day, day up!
— carolita Aug 11, 10:06 AM #(This was taught to me by a chinese client, who mischievously called it “chinglish” and which means, “Study hard, and get better every day!” Apparently this is an old Chairman Mao saying.)
“A cow’s vagina of a dancer”? Do they have dancing with the stars over there?
— Joe Blow Aug 11, 12:36 PM #Who can afford to add oil these days? How about “Add alternative energy sources, preferably sustainable ones!” Raise hands above head.
— jose h Aug 11, 02:05 PM #Actually I asked my Chinese client about this today, and he tells me that this is a misunderstanding. The way he tells it, many Chinese words, spelled and pronounced identically, have many meanings, depending on the context. He wrote the word down for me and told me that as time goes along, it acquires many different meanings. He insisted on this being truthful, and that they are not literally saying “cow’s vagina.”
There, I’ve done my duty. Is he right, or wrong? Covering up for his countrymen? Who knows?
— carolita Aug 12, 10:12 PM #I think you’re fooled by saying the word “Niu Bi-牛逼” is cow’s organ. Niu Bi means 真棒 in Chinese,# strong ; powerful # 2. excellent, it’s a admire expression, of cause, not a serious one.
— Peter, OH Aug 13, 04:08 PM #牛逼(NB) is first an insult, but later people found it terrific.
— zhiguang Aug 13, 10:06 PM #好好学习，天天向上。good good study, day day up. Chairman Mao told us to work hard.
Sha Bi(SB，傻逼）has no favorible meaning now.
逼is only the sound but not the actual word for the colloquial name of the organ. maybe there is no such a written form.
Chinese is not easy to learn.
I think all these comments have a great deal of truth to them. “Niu bi” is a bit like “you suck” — it’s been used so often that it’s original, sexually explicit meaning has started to wear away. When we see a nine year old kid yelling “you suck” at Derek Jeter, what does that mean? Is he really conscious of the significance of what he’s yelling? Does it matter?
Also, I’ve been told that the “bi” sound in “niu bi” is an uppercase Roman “B” — which is meant to be a representation of female below-the-belt anatomy. As Zhiguang mentions, there are several Chinese characters used for the “bi” sound in “niu bi” (牛ｂ,牛比,牛逼) which suggests that it might be a sound borrowed from English. Although maybe Zhiguang or Peter (native speakers?) could correct me on this. Chinese is difficult to learn!
— Dan M. Aug 14, 09:39 AM #Yes, I grew up in Beijing. I recall I learned the expression by using the word 牛逼 (BTY, there is no other writing for this as far as Beijing Ren’s concerned)during my elementary school year. Surely, no kid thought IT mean anything close to a cow. :) When you grew up, however, you no long used such word except among the best friends since B sounds like another dirty word which is very offensive. Also, you do not want to sound like an un-educated person in the public which is very important, right?
“Chinese is difficult to learn!” I think you managed very well as you know even such word. I can’t say I know something in English close to this and can use it in the right situation. Enjoy your writings.
— Peter, OH Aug 14, 10:07 AM #Loved this, Dan. Loved the debate on 牛B, too.
Gotta say, I’ve also been loving the Chinese announcers’ “漂亮!” Piaoliang! and sometimes watch — especially China vs. Anybody At All basketball — waiting for it.
It means beautiful, and it’s used much like it would be used by an American announcer. Yao Ming approaches the hoop… PIAOLIANG!
— Rachel W., Beijing Aug 15, 03:55 AM #Niu Bi is from Niu Pi, which means cow’s skin, and it is from Chui Niu or Chui Niu Pi, to blow cow’s skin.
— Aug 21, 07:45 AM #If a ball is made by cow’s skin it can be blow to large one. In the old days, China has no balloon. The meaning is say something that is much more than the real case. like a person said he saw a huge lake after he just saw a small basin of water. Or he said he can do a great job when he knows he cannot.
Nowadays, it seems Niu Bi becomes not so negative as before