Meaning:
“韭菜” refers to Chinese leek, a green leafy vegetable known for its vitality. When the part of the vegetable above ground is harvested, the bulb underground will sprout new leafs in a short period. “割” means to “cut.” This term, with the literal meaning of “harvesting Chinese leek,” is often used as a metaphor in the Chinese stock market, where unexperienced individual investors abound and continuously have their riches “harvested” by institutions and more experienced investors during the constant fluctuation of stock prices.
Example:
A: 你投资股票那么久，赚钱了吗？
Nǐ tóuzī gǔpiào nàme jiǔ，zhuànqián le ma？
You’ve been investing in the stock market for a long while. Have you made a fortune?
B: 没有啊，我总是听消息追涨杀跌，被割韭菜。
Méiyǒu a，wǒ zǒngshì tīng xiāoxī zhuīzhǎng shādiē，bèi gējiǔcài。
Not really. I’ve always tried to follow tips, buying a stock on the rise and then selling it again when I lose money. I’ve had my riches “harvested” by others in the market.