Slang dictionary · Love and relationships · Chinese internet slang
What does zhanan (渣男) mean?
Also written: scumbag, 渣女 (zhanü), zha nan
In short
渣男 (zhānán, literally "dregs man") is a Chinese insult for a man who is irresponsible or hurtful in relationships: cheating, dating several people while promising each "only you", chasing someone and then going cold, or wanting intimacy without commitment. 渣 comes from 人渣 ("scum of humanity"), so the word is strongly negative, close to calling someone a scumbag or a cheat. The female form is 渣女 (zhānǚ). It has been common for years; its exact origin is unclear.
What 渣 means
渣 (zhā) is the residue left after something is pressed or extracted, and 人渣 means a person of the worst character. 渣男 applies that to love: not necessarily criminal, but dishonest and careless with a partner's feelings. 渣 now also works on its own: 他好渣 ("he's such a jerk"), 被渣了 ("got played").
Behavior people call 渣
- flirting with others or cheating while in a relationship
- dating several people and telling each one they are the only one
- being warm while chasing someone, then cold or ghosting once together
- wanting intimacy but refusing any responsibility
- lying or manipulating a partner so they won't leave
Anyone can do these things; for women the word is 渣女.
How to use it
- 「谈了三年，他背着我同时在交往别人，真是渣男。」 (Three years together and he was seeing someone else behind my back. A real scumbag.)
- 「先别急着骂渣，你们本来也没确定关系。」 (Don't call him a jerk yet; you two were never official.)
- 「被渣了一次，现在谈恋爱都很谨慎。」 (I got played once; now I'm careful in relationships.)
- 「这部剧的男二是教科书级渣男。」 (The second male lead in this drama is a textbook scumbag.)
Similar words and tone
| Term | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 渣男 (zhānán) | irresponsible, hurtful partner | the broadest insult |
| 海王 (hǎiwáng) | flirts with many at once | one type of 渣男 |
| 普信男 (pǔxìnnán) | ordinary but overconfident man | about self-image, not fidelity |
| PUA | controls a partner through belittling | manipulation; more serious than 渣 |
FAQ
Is 渣男 the same as player?
Partly. A player who flirts with many people is called 海王, which is one kind of 渣男. 渣男 also covers cheating, lying and emotional coldness, closer to "scumbag".
What is the female version?
渣女 (zhānǚ). The word 渣 also works alone for anyone: 他好渣 ("he's such a jerk"), 被渣了 ("got played").
Is 渣男 offensive?
Yes. It is an insult. Saying it to someone's face or naming a real person online can hurt and start a fight, so stick to the facts.