Slang dictionary · Pinyin abbreviations · Chinese internet slang
What does XSWL mean?
Also written: XSWL, 笑死我了, xiao si wo le
In short
XSWL is the pinyin initialism of 笑死我了 (xiào sǐ wǒ le), "it's killing me, I'm dying of laughter". It means something is hilarious, much like LMAO. It belongs to a family of pinyin abbreviations popular with young Chinese users; China Youth Daily used it as a textbook example when it reported on teenagers' online slang in 2018.
Where XSWL comes from
Pinyin initialisms take the first letter of each syllable of a common phrase. They are faster to type and feel like an in-group code. 笑死我了 was already an everyday exaggeration for "so funny", and its initials became a fixture of comments and bullet chats.
In October 2018 China Youth Daily quoted the line "你连 dbq 都不知道，xswl！" ("You don't even know dbq? XSWL!") to show how teenagers talk online. There is no record of where the abbreviation first appeared.
How to use XSWL
- xswl，猫把自己卡在纸箱里了 (LMAO, the cat got stuck in a box)
- xswl，你这刘海是认真的吗 (LMAO, were those bangs a choice?)
- 这个评论区 xswl，比视频还好看 (this comment section is hilarious, better than the video)
- 他一本正经地读错了老师的名字，xswl (he mispronounced the teacher's name with a straight face, LMAO)
- xswl 哈哈哈哈哈 (XSWL hahahaha)
Similar words
| Term | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| xswl | dying of laughter | the classic abbreviation |
| 笑死 | so funny | shorter; can sound mocking |
| 哈哈哈 / hhh | hahaha | just laughter |
| 绷不住了 | can't hold it in | about failing to keep a straight face |
| awsl | ah, I'm dead (from cuteness) | about cuteness, not humor |
Tone
XSWL is light and friendly between friends. Replying XSWL to someone's bad news or a serious post reads as mocking them.
People unfamiliar with internet slang may not recognise it, so in formal messages just write 太好笑了 ("so funny").
FAQ
What does XSWL stand for?
笑死我了, xiào sǐ wǒ le: "laughing me to death", or "I'm dying of laughter".
Is XSWL rude?
No. It just means something is funny, but using it about someone's embarrassment can come across as laughing at them.
What is the English equivalent of XSWL?
LMAO or "I'm dead". It is a bit stronger than LOL.