Difference between revisions of "River crab"
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河蟹 (héxiè): river crab | 河蟹 (héxiè): river crab | ||
| − | [[File:river crab1.jpg| | + | [[File:river crab1.jpg|350px|thumb|left|''Picture of a river crab wearing three watches. (“Wear three watches” (带三个表 dài sān ge biǎo) sounds similar to the “Three Represents” (三个代表 sān ge dàibiǎo), Jiang Zemin’s signature ideological creation.'']] |
| − | The Chinese government often uses its goal of constructing a | + | The Chinese government often uses its goal of constructing a “harmonious society” (和谐社会 héxié shèhuì) as a justification for censorship. Chinese netizens began to use “harmony” as a euphemism for censorship. “River crab” (héxiè) sounds nearly the same in Chinese as “harmonious” (héxié). |
| − | + | “River crab” can also be used as a verb. Instead of saying something has been censored, one might say “it has been harmonized” (被和谐了 bèi héxié le) or “it has been river-crabbed” (被河蟹了 bèi héxiè le). | |
| − | A | + | A “crab” is also a bully. |
In the context of Chinese Internet mythology, the river crab (censorship) threatens the habitat of the [[grass-mud horse]] (symbol of online deviance). For a famous YouTube video that illustrates this, see [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D2eh4xehc4 here]. | In the context of Chinese Internet mythology, the river crab (censorship) threatens the habitat of the [[grass-mud horse]] (symbol of online deviance). For a famous YouTube video that illustrates this, see [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D2eh4xehc4 here]. | ||
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[[File:china flag.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Flag of the People's Republic of China.'']] | [[File:china flag.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Flag of the People's Republic of China.'']] | ||
| − | [[File:river crab2.jpg|500px|thumb|center|''The word | + | [[File:river crab2.jpg|500px|thumb|center|''The word “harmonious” written in Chinese—various components have been modified to resemble the radical used in the word “crab.”'']] |
[[Category: Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon]] | [[Category: Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon]] | ||
Revision as of 19:46, 14 August 2012
河蟹 (héxiè): river crab
The Chinese government often uses its goal of constructing a “harmonious society” (和谐社会 héxié shèhuì) as a justification for censorship. Chinese netizens began to use “harmony” as a euphemism for censorship. “River crab” (héxiè) sounds nearly the same in Chinese as “harmonious” (héxié).
“River crab” can also be used as a verb. Instead of saying something has been censored, one might say “it has been harmonized” (被和谐了 bèi héxié le) or “it has been river-crabbed” (被河蟹了 bèi héxiè le).
A “crab” is also a bully.
In the context of Chinese Internet mythology, the river crab (censorship) threatens the habitat of the grass-mud horse (symbol of online deviance). For a famous YouTube video that illustrates this, see here.
Contents
Word of the Week: River Crab
21 March 2012, by Anne Henochowicz
Watch Your Language! (In China, They Really Do)
13 March 2012, by Sophie Beach
Quiz: How Well Do You Know Chinese Netizen-Speak?
9 August 2011, by Sophie Beach
Hong Huang (洪晃): Censorship and Political Dystopian Fiction as Marketing Concepts
22 February 2010, by Xiao Qiang
Music Video: “My Brother’s at the Bare Bottom” (我哥在光腚)
19 January 2010, by Xiao Qiang
