Slang dictionary · Work and life · Chinese internet slang
What does bai lan (摆烂) mean?
Also written: 摆烂, let it rot, bailan, tanking
In short
Bai lan (摆烂, bǎi làn) means deciding a situation is beyond saving and no longer trying, just letting it get worse; it is often translated "let it rot". The term comes from basketball: some NBA teams deliberately lose to finish last and get a better draft pick, which American sports call tanking and Chinese sports media translated as 摆烂. It moved into everyday slang and was everywhere around 2022.
Where bai lan comes from
In the NBA, a team that knows it can't contend may lose on purpose to finish near the bottom and improve its draft position. In English that is tanking; Chinese sports coverage rendered it as 摆烂.
From sports and esports the word spread into daily life, broadening into "things are going badly, so I'll just give up". When 咬文嚼字 picked its 2022 buzzwords, editor-in-chief Huang Anjing said 摆烂 ranked near the top in their word-frequency survey but was left off the list because of its negative meaning.
How to use bai lan
- 这周作业太多了，我直接摆烂 (too much homework this week; I'm just letting it rot)
- 减肥第三天，看到火锅后选择摆烂 (day three of my diet, saw hot pot, gave up)
- 比分落后二十分，这队已经开始摆烂了 (down twenty points, the team has stopped trying)
- 摆烂一时爽，一直摆烂一直爽 (giving up feels good once, and good every time)
- 今天也是摆烂的一天 (another day of letting it rot)
Bai lan vs. tang ping
| Term | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 摆烂 bai lan | let it rot | gives up on the task in front of you |
| 躺平 tang ping | lie flat | opts out of competition but still does the basics |
| 破罐子破摔 | smash a jar that's already cracked | older idiom, closest in meaning |
| tanking | losing on purpose | the sports term bai lan translates |
Tone
Most people saying 我摆烂了 ("I've given up") are joking or venting, not actually abandoning everything. Among friends that is normal.
Saying someone else 在摆烂 ("is letting it rot") is a real criticism: it says they are being irresponsible. Use it carefully about colleagues or teams.
FAQ
What is bai lan in English?
In sports it is tanking. In everyday use it is usually translated "let it rot", or "give up and let things slide".
Is bai lan negative?
Yes, mostly. About yourself it is self-mockery; about someone else it is criticism.
Was 摆烂 a buzzword of the year?
It was very frequent in 2022, but 咬文嚼字 left it off its top 10 list because of its negative meaning.