Meaning:
“电子” means “electronic,” and “榨菜” refers to “pickled mustard tuber.” This term, coined by Chinese netizens, refers to stories, essays, videos, TV shows or movies that we read or watch on our phones or computers and can provide light-hearted fun at mealtime. These are compared to “pickled mustard tubers” because traditionally the food is good company at meals when one doesn’t really have a good appetite. This term is similar to one we previously learned here: “下饭剧” (xiàfànjù), which refers to TV shows and movies people like to watch during mealtime.
Example:
A: 你在看什么？
Nǐ zài kàn shénme？
What are you watching?
B: 微信视频，这是我的电子榨菜。
Wēi xìn shìpín，zhè shì wǒde diànzǐ zhàcài。
Short videos on WeChat. These provide my mealtime fun.