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Catch Phrase | 魔性 (móxìng)

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Stephanie Yang  | From:  | Updated: 2018-08-22

Meaning:

“魔” means “magic,” and “性” means “quality.” This popular term, which literally means “of magic quality,” was first used by Chinese netizens in 2014. First only used by game players and anime fans, it quickly caught on. People use it to describe videos, games, photos or dance moves that first appear weird and funny but quickly gain popularity and become contagious. It can be roughly translated as “bizaarely charming.”

Example:

A: 小明的生日趴你去了吗?

Xiǎomíng de shēngrìpā nǐ qù le ma?

Did you attend Xiaoming’s birthday party?

B: 我出差了,所以没去。有什么新鲜事?

Wǒ chūchāi le,suǒyǐ méi qù。Yǒu shénme xīnxiān shì?

No, I was away on a biz trip. What’s up?

A: 小明给大家表演了一段魔性热舞。真没想到他会跳舞。

Xiǎomíng gěi dàjiā biǎoyǎn le yīduàn móxìng rèwǔ。Zhēn méi xiǎngdào tā huì tiàowǔ。

Xiaoming performed a bizaarely charming dance for us. I didn’t know he can dance!