Catch Phrase | 注水剧 ( zhù shuǐ jù )

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Vincent Lin  | From:  | Updated: 2019-09-09

Meaning:

“注水” means “water-injected,” and “剧” refers to “TV shows.” Coined by Chinese netizens, this term derives from the idea of “water-injected meat.” Some butchers sell raw meat injected with water to add weight and dupe customers. Similarly, audiences have found that some long-running Chinese TV shows, lacking substantial plots, are spread thin. Insiders point out that this is because TV shows are sold by episodes. To earn more money, production companies tend to lengthen the show rather than shoot it based on the original script.

Example:

A: 最近有一部国产剧特别火,叫《长安十二时辰》。

Zuìjìn yǒu yībù guóchǎnjù tèbié huǒ,jiào 《zhǎng’ān shíèr shíchén》。

A Chinese TV series by the name of “The Longest Day in Chang’an” has been very popular lately.

B: 很多国产剧都是注水剧,所以我很少关注。

Hěnduō guóchǎnjù dōushì zhùshuǐjù,suǒyǐ wǒ hěnshǎo guānzhù。

Many Chinese TV shows are “water-injected shows” (too long and too slow), so I seldom watch them.