Learn Chinese Slang: Why Young People Say “摆烂 (bǎi làn)”

If you hang out on Chinese social media or chat with young people, you may hear the phrase “摆烂 (bǎi làn).” Literally, it means “let something rot,” but slang gives it a whole new flavor. In everyday life, “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” means giving up trying, accepting a bad situation, and just letting things be—even if they get worse.

It‘s a bit like saying “I don‘t care anymore” or “whatever happens, happens.”

1.Why “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” Became Popular

“摆烂 (bǎi làn)” first spread online among Chinese students and young workers under heavy pressure. Whether it’s endless exams, overwhelming workloads, or stressful personal issues, sometimes people use humor to cope. Saying “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” is like lowering expectations, laughing at yourself, and admitting you won‘t fight too hard.

It‘s not always purely negative. Sometimes “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” is self-deprecating humor, sometimes it‘s a survival strategy: instead of burning out, you just let things slide a little.

Examples in Daily Life

 Study Stress

Wǒ shì xué bù huì le, suǒ yǐ zhǐ néng bǎi làn.

我实在学不会了，所以只能摆烂。

I really can‘t learn it, so I‘ll just give up.

Exam Jokes

Zhè cì kǎo shì tài nán, wǒ jué dìng bǎi làn le.

这次考试太难，我决定摆烂了。

This exam is too hard—I‘ve decided to just let it be.

Work Pressure

Zhè ge xiàng mù yào gǎi tài duō cì, wǒ bǎi làn suàn le.

这个项目要改太多次，我摆烂算了。

This project needs too many revisions—I‘ll just let it rot.

Everyday Life

Jiǎn féi tài xīn kǔ le, wǒ bǎi làn chī hǎo le.

减肥太辛苦了，我摆烂吃好了。

Dieting is too hard—I‘ll give up and just eat. 

Other Related Slang

Bǎi làn

摆烂

Giving up, letting things rot

Tǎng píng

躺平

Lying flat; opting out of competition

Fó xì

佛系

Chill, not caring too much

Together, these slang terms reflect how young Chinese people joke about stress, balance, and survival in modern society.

2.How to Use “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” Naturally

 ✔️ Use in casual chats with friends, on social media, or joking about yourself.

✔️ Perfect for situations where you admit failure but want to stay lighthearted.

❌ Avoid in formal emails, serious meetings, or when speaking with authority figures.

3.Why Learn Slang Like This? 

Slang like “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” helps you connect with how people really talk in China—not just what‘s in textbooks. These words carry cultural meaning: they show how humor is used to deal with stress, and how people express attitudes toward work, study, and life.

At eChineseLearning, our native teachers go beyond grammar. We help you understand how phrases like “摆烂 (bǎi làn)” appear in real conversations, office banter, and online memes—so you sound natural and confident.

Try your free 1-on-1 trial class today, and start using Chinese slang like a native!

Quiz：Your friend says:“Jiǎn féi tài nán le, suǒ yǐ wǒ zhǐ néng bǎi làn.” (减肥太难了，所以我只能摆烂。)What do they mean?

A) They‘re starting a new healthy diet

B) They‘re giving up on dieting

C) They‘re exercising harder than ever

👉 Comment your answer below!