REAL INTERNET CHINESE
a rotten meme
a stale joke that has been repeated way past its expiration date
- Who can you say it to?
- Friends and coworkers Normal among people your own age. Skip it with elders, clients and officials.
- Out loud, or only typed?
- Say it or type it Works out loud and in chat.
- Is it still used?
- Settled in Past the fad stage, part of everyday speech.
When to say it
Say it when someone tells a joke from three years ago expecting laughs, or a show leans on the same gag for the tenth episode. Dismissive, a little mean.
Hear it in the wild
Bié zàishuō zhège làn gěng le.
Stop flogging that dead meme.
Mǎn píng dōu shì làn gěng, hǎo wúliáo.
The whole feed is stale memes, so boring.
Quick answers
What does 烂梗 mean?
a stale joke that has been repeated way past its expiration date
When do people say 烂梗?
Say it when someone tells a joke from three years ago expecting laughs, or a show leans on the same gag for the tenth episode. Dismissive, a little mean.
When should you not say 烂梗?
Calling someone's joke a rotten meme to their face is telling them they are not funny. Friends can take it, acquaintances will not.
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