REAL INTERNET CHINESE
a phonetic stand-in for a curse about someone's mother
roughly damn or freaking, slipped in before a verb or adjective for emphasis
- Who can you say it to?
- Close friends only Carries a swear or an insult. Only with people who would swear back.
- 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 the train is delayed an hour again or your phone dies at one percent. Frustrated, emphatic, common in complaints among friends. A censored sounding version of the real curse.
Hear it in the wild
Zhè lù tème yòu dǔ le.
This road is damn jammed again.
Tème rè sǐ le jīntiān.
It is freaking roasting today.
Quick answers
What does 特么 mean?
roughly damn or freaking, slipped in before a verb or adjective for emphasis
When do people say 特么?
Say it when the train is delayed an hour again or your phone dies at one percent. Frustrated, emphatic, common in complaints among friends. A censored sounding version of the real curse.
When should you not say 特么?
It stands for an insult about someone's mother. Venting with friends is normal; around elders, teachers or customers it is crude and disrespectful.
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