What's In A Word

A new edition of the Xinhua or New China Dictionary shows how the Chinese language has grown and changed due largely to social and technological factors. Not only are words coming in but some are getting kicked out after falling behind the times.

Released earlier this week, the new tome represents eight years of work and a size increase by a third compared to the previous edition.

What's In

XueliMen. "Diploma gate." Drawing from the American media usage to "-gate" any scandal, diplomagate refers to using counterfeit degrees to obtain jobs or official positions.

FangNu. "House slave." Referring to people that work for the sole goal of buying a house, especially in current times with the inflated real estate market. "Nu" can also be added to car or credit-card.

1,500 traditional characters have also been added, just in case the simple ones aren't enough to learn.

What's Out

Words for kerosene, horsepower, motor, phone and cooperatives have been removed after being seen as outdated or infrequently used.

If you're looking for something that hits closer to home check out the New Beijing Dialect Dictionary, published at the end of 2010. The volume contains lesser known and archaic Beijing sayings including:

“Listens to the songs of lalagu (mole cricket),” a euphemism for being dead.
“To return with antenna’s and tails,” a reference to hutong cricket-fighting meaning to be safe and sound.
“quankouren,” a “complete-family woman” that had both a son and a daughter, made redundant with the one-child policy