On September 17, the #European Commission announced a proposal to suspend trade preferences with #Israel and sanction extremist ministers and violent settlers. The proposal is still pending approval by the Council. Chinese netizens have shared their comments on this matter. (1/6)

#WordOfTheWeek 水能载舟，亦能覆舟 (shuǐ néng zài zhōu, yì néng fù zhōu) literally means: “Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it”. This old Chinese phrase was recently used to describe the situation in Nepal.

#US and #China Representatives meet in Madrid this week to hold #tradeTalks. Chinese #Netizens share their opinion. On #Zhihu the topic was one of the top three most discussed topics of the day on September 16. 1/6

US-President D. Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on September 14 for Charlie Kirk, who was killed on September 10(www.bbc.com/news/article...). The whole incident sparked heated discussion on several Chinese social media platforms. (1/6)

#WordOfTheWeek 精神内耗 (jīngshén nèi hào) – “spiritual burnout” a social media cultural phrase, capturing a deeply felt sense of emotional burnout in modern life.

This week, a speech by the Director of the Department of #Philosophy at #PekingUniversity has generated significant resonance on the video platform #Xiaohongshu (小红书). In his address, he urges students to seek authentic ways of living and learning rather than conforming to standardized success. 1/6

#WordOfTheWeek 情绪消费 (Qíngxù xiāofèi) — literally “emotional consumption”. This trending term describes spending money for companionship or comfort. In China, consumers can hire someone to join them on a hiking trip.

After attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin remained in China to hold talks with President Xi Jinping and also attend the military parade. What are Chinese Netizens’ views on the China–Russia relationship? 1/6 www.bbc.com/news/article...

#WordOfTheWeek 霉霉 (Méi méi) “Miss Unlucky” is used as a nickname for #TaylorSwift in #China. 霉 literally means mold but in slang it also means bad luck. Swift got this name because in the 2010s when she got famous in China she went through a lot of unlucky public incidents.

The announcement of popstar #TaylorSwift’s engagement to American football player Travis Kelce has blown up across all social media platforms - also in China. #Netizens share their congratulations and comment on #PresidentTrump's reaction. 1/6

On Aug 21, President Zelenskyy said Ukraine doesn’t need China as a security guarantor, citing its “aid to Russia” via the drone market. The next day, FM spokesperson Mao Ning said China has upheld an objective stance on the Ukraine crisis and is ready to play a constructive role. (1/6)

A case of #humanTrafficking is occupying the #ChineseOnlineCommunity this week. A 17-year-old sold her 19-year-old boyfriend to scam gangs in Myanmar. His family paid to free him after 4 months. His body showed signs of torture. On #Zhihu, netizens are discussing a legal loophole. 1/6

#WortOfTheWeek 钓鱼(diàoyú) means “fishing” but it's mostly used metaphorically, meaning the act of luring someone into a reaction.

On Monday, there was a collision in the South China Sea between a vessel of the China Coast Guard and a PLA warship. The Philippine Coast Guard released a video of the incident. 1/6 www.bbc.com/news/article...

On August 3rd, the phrase “a dark day in the history of global trade integration” trended on Chinese social media. It is a quote by Cornell University trade policy professor Eswar Prasad, who said it when discussing the U.S. 's newly introduced “reciprocal tariffs” in the New York Times. 1/6

The new trade agreement between the EU and the U.S. is being discussed only marginally on Chinese online platforms. On Zhihu and Weibo, users have shared their differing opinions on the topic. 1/6

On July 28, China announced a new plan called the “National Childcare Subsidy.” It gives 3,600 yuan per year for each child under 3 years old, if the child is born legally. The money is given once a year until the child turns 3. The news quickly caused many people to talk about it online. (1/6)

On Thursday the #EU-ChinaSummit took place in Beijing. António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, as EU-Representatives went to meet with Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Talking points were EU-China relations, China's support for Russia and the climate crisis. How are #ChineseNetizens reacting? 1/6

On July 20, a topic about steamed eggs trended on Chinese social media. Many users pointed to a video by a German TikTok blogger showing how to make steamed eggs, labeled “Japanese steamed eggs.” Chinese users claimed the dish is Chinese, not Japanese, which sparked a wider discussion. (1/6)

This week #ChineseNetizens talk about the U.S. government lifting the #exportBan on Nvidia #Computerchips to China. 1/6 www.cnbc.com/2025/07/15/n...

A university girl was reportedly expelled on July 8, 2025, after a sexual encounter with Zeus, a Ukrainian esports player. Zeus allegedly shared photos and videos online and said, “I conquered a Chinese girl in one day.” The incident sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media. (1/7)

#WordOfTheWeek 彩虹族 (cǎihóng zú) – "Rainbow Group". A coded term for China’s LGBTQ+ community, evading censorship while signaling solidarity.

Chinese Foreign Minister #WangYi traveled to Brussels last week for #strategicDialogues. Among others, he was received by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. A meeting between EU Foreign Policy Chief #KajaKallas and Wang Yi sparked discussions across #ChineseOnlinePlatforms. 1/6

On July 2, the Dalai Lama said the reincarnation tradition will continue and tasked the Dalai Lama Trust Board with handling it. He rejected any other method of recognition. China’s Foreign Ministry replied that all reincarnations must be approved by the central government. (1/6)

#WordOfTheWeek 天定胜人 (tiān dìng shèng rén) – "Heaven/Nature defeats mankind." This phrase highlights growing climate crisis fears by cynically inverting Mao’s slogan 人定胜天 ("Man conquers nature"). It critiques blind faith in human dominance over ecosystems.

The current #heatwave in Germany has sparked discussions here about how to deal with extreme high temperatures. How do #ChineseNetizens view #climateChange? 1/6

On June 28, 2025, large protests broke out in Belgrade, Serbia, after the government ignored calls from students and opposition parties to dissolve parliament and hold early elections.The movement was fueled by months of public anger over corruption and a deadly train station collapse in 2024.(1/6)

#WordoftheWeek Netizens use the term 东大 (dōng dà) "Great East" to refer to China and take a political stance. The term counters 西大 (xī dà) "Great West", which refers to the US's global hegemony. Thus, 东大 represents China's understanding of a world order with multiple superpowers.

#ChineseNetizens react to the US entry into the war. What are their opinions on the armed conflicts in the #MiddleEast and the American bombing of #IranianNuclear facilities? 1/6

#Israel–#Iran fighting escalated on June 16. News like #US military planes crossing the Atlantic and #Trump leaving the G7 summit early sparked heated discussion on Chinese social media. Here’s how Chinese netizens are reacting to the war and commenting on America’s intentions. (1/6)

On Saturday, Washington witnessed its first military parade since 1991, with President Trump honoring the U.S. military. Meanwhile, anti-Trump protests flared in multiple cities, targeting his immigration policies. Here’s what #Chinese netizens are saying. #usa 1/6 www.bbc.com/news/article...

#WordoftheWeek 考糊了 (kǎo hú le) literally means "burned by the exam" and captures the extreme stress students face during China's #Gaokao. The phrase plays on the wordplay between 高考 (gāokǎo) "national college entrance exams" and 高烤 (gāo kǎo) "high-temperature grilling".

The #Gaokao exams (高考) take place annually in June in China. Students who pass can enter colleges and universities. In addition to Chinese and Math, a foreign language exam (usually English) is mandatory. Netizens discuss the relevance of English on #Zhihu. 1/6

On June 1,Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong announced he will join Germany’s 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT for the 2025–2026 season of the German Bundesliga (TTBL) and European Champions League. This move offers a new perspective on the career development pathways for Chinese table tennis players. (1/7)

#WordoftheWeek 靴子落地 (xuēzi luòdì) is a Chinese idiom that literally means "the boot hits the ground" and is used when a long-anticipated event finally happens.

A large-scale #drone attack by the #Ukrainian military struck several Russian airbases deep inside Russian territory on Sunday. #Russia launched its own offensive. This happend just ahead of peace talks in Istanbul. How are #Chinese #netizens assessing the situation? 1/6 apnews.com/article/russ...

#Word of the week #chinese The chinese idiom 破茧成蝶 (pò jiǎn chéng dié) means “break the cocoon and become a butterfly” which stands for a beautiful transformation after hardship. #language

Popular also in China: Around 12.5 percent of #HarvardUniversity's more than 6,700 international students come from the People's Republic. How do Chinese netizens react to the recent developments at the elite university? 1/6 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Can scale alone secure global leadership? The @chinaspektrum.bsky.social team looked at how Chinese netizens have discussed Beijing’s industrial strategy “Made in China 2025” during the past decade and amidst increasing US competition: EN: merics.org/en/comment/m... DE: merics.org/de/kommentar...

Like us, Chinese netizens have been repeatedly concerned with the conflict between #Israel and #Palestine since October 7, 2023. What are their opinions on the topic? 1/6 thediplomat.com/2023/12/unde...

Zhihu launched a discussion titled “How should we view mainland China’s 2025 Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.797, which ranks below countries like Thailand, Iran, Malaysia, and Armenia?”— the topic quickly climbed the daily trending list.What is HDI, exactly?Let’s see what people are saying.(1/6)

Why are Chinese citizens so angry about official corruption? Just after medical student Dong Xiying used family ties to get a PhD in 4 years, outrage flared again as actress Huang Yangdiantian wore ¥2.3M earrings to her coming-of-age ceremony—amid claims her father is a government official. (1/6)

Word of the week 摸鱼 (mō yú) - "pet the fish" meaning: the art of slacking off at work while pretending to be busy – like sneakily scrolling Douyin (China’s TikTok) during meetings. Literally translates to "stroking a fish" (because idle hands might as well pet aquatic animals).

US and China Agree to Suspend Majority of Tariffs for 90 Days – How Are Chinese Netizens Reacting? (1/5) apnews.com/article/chin...

#China and #Russia’s latest joint activities sparked intense debates on Chinese social media. Recap:On May 8, Xi Jinping signed the China-Russia joint statement and attended the “Russian Victory Day” parade, where the Chinese PLA honor guard also participated.In mid-May, Putin will visit China.(1/6)

Becoming a #doctor with an ominous economic degree and a fast-tracking #education program in China? The case of Dong Xiying 董袭莹, and the “4+4” [BA degree needed, then Master & PhD in 4y] program at Peking Union Medical College has sparked outrage online.

Word of the Week 海归 (hǎiguī) means "returnee from overseas". The Chinese word for sea turtle 海龟 is a homophone, which is why Chinese returnees are playfully called sea turtles. Fittingly, those returnees who struggle to find jobs are nicknamed 海带 (hǎidài) – "seaweed" (as if "stranded on shore").

Suspicion of #espionage against Chinese people in their own country? Yes, says CEO Dong Mingzhu 董明珠 of the Chinese household appliance giant Gree Electric. Her company would only hire graduates from Chinese universities. Chinese netizens express outrage. 1/5

Official concerns and policies about demographic development in #China is met with rejection by its netizens. On April 26, topics like “Cash rewards for #marriage in many regions” and “Zhejiang improves marriage and #childbirth policies for university students” trended on social media. （1/6）

Word of the week 天选老铁 (tiānxuǎn lǎotiě) is a chinese internet nickname for the pope. It translates as “heavenly-chosen bro”.