Slang dictionary · Number slang · Chinese internet slang
What does 666 mean in Chinese?
Also written: 666666, 6, 溜溜溜, liu liu liu
In short
In Chinese internet slang, 666 means "awesome", "so good" or "nice play". The digit 6 is read liù, which sounds like 溜 (liū), a colloquial word for smooth and skilful, so 666 is "smooth, smooth, smooth". It grew out of game chat and livestream bullet comments, where people spam it to praise a great move. It has nothing to do with the devil; typed after someone messes up, it turns sarcastic.
Where 666 comes from
666 is a sound pun. In northern Chinese, saying someone plays "very 溜" means they are slick and skilled. Three 6s are the fastest way to type that in a chat box, so 666 became the standard cheer in game chat and on streaming sites, where viewers' comments scroll across the video.
There is no agreed first use. What is clear is how closely it is tied to gaming: when China Youth Daily wrote about teenagers' internet slang in 2018, it listed 基操勿6 ("basic move, no need for 6"), an esports-stream reply meaning "that was nothing special, don't hype it".
How to use 666
- 666，这波太秀了 (666, that play was insane)
- 主播这操作 666666 (the streamer's moves are 666666)
- 可以啊，666 (not bad at all, 666), after a friend finishes a deck overnight
- 666，真有你的 (666, wow, only you), after someone spills coffee on the keyboard
- 基操勿6 (basic move, no need for 6), a modest reply to praise
The number of 6s is up to you. A single 6 works; a long string is more excited.
Praise or sarcasm?
666 is sincere by default. Posted right after someone fails, embarrasses themselves or says something absurd, it means "wow, great job" in the sarcastic sense. Context tells you which: if they just pulled off something hard, it is praise; if they just crashed, it is teasing.
| Term | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 666 | awesome, smooth | everyday praise, often spammed |
| 牛 (niú) | awesome | a word, not a number; same idea |
| yyds | the greatest of all time | much stronger praise |
| 六六大顺 | traditional good-luck phrase | a blessing, not internet praise |
Tone and cultural notes
666 is casual: fine in group chats, comments and streams, odd in a work email or a message to an older relative.
FAQ
Is 666 bad luck in China?
No. The number 6 is generally lucky in Chinese culture, and online 666 is praise. The devil association is Western.
What does 6 alone mean in Chinese chat?
The same as 666, just shorter: "nice", "impressive". Longer strings like 666666 sound more excited.
How do I reply to 666?
Say thanks, laugh it off, or use the in-joke 基操勿6, "just a basic move, no need for 6".