Catch Phrase | 人间不值得,但是...(rénjiān bùzhídé, dànshì)

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Stephanie Yang  | From:  | Updated: 2018-12-12

Meaning:

“人间” means “life” or “this world,” “不值得” means “not worthy,” and “但是” means “but.” The first half of this catchphrase, which literally means “life is not worth living,” was first used by a comedian named Li Dan. His original intention was to persuade people not to take things too seriously, because so many bad things happen in life. Chinese netizens have played with the words and added “but (something makes life worth living again)” to turn around the meaning.

Example:

A: 我对丽丽那么好她还是要和我分手,人间不值得。

Wǒ duì lìli nàme hǎo tā háishì yào hé wǒ fènshǒu,rénjiān bùzhídé。

I was so nice to Lili and she still wanted to break up. Life is not worth living.

B: 人间不值得,但是羊肉火锅值得。一起吃饭去吧,吃完饭我请你看电影。

Rénjiān bùzhídé,dànshì yángròu huǒguō zhídé。Yīqǐ chīfàn qù ba,chī wán fàn wǒ qǐng nǐ kàn diànyǐng。

Life is not worth living, but mutton hotpot makes it worth living again. Let’s go for dinner and I will treat you to a movie afterwards.