凡学

fánxué: 凡学 - Versailles Literature, Humblebragging

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 凡学, fanxue, fan xue, Versailles Literature, humblebrag, flexing, Chinese internet slang, how to show off in Chinese, boast, 凡尔赛文学, Chinese social media, Weibo slang, Xiaohongshu trend.
  • Summary: 凡学 (fánxué), often translated as “Versailles Literature” or “The Study of Humblebragging,” is a popular Chinese internet slang term describing the art of indirectly showing off one's wealth, achievements, or privileged lifestyle. Instead of boasting directly, a practitioner of 凡学 will often frame their flex as a complaint, a casual remark, or a moment of feigned annoyance, making it a subtle yet transparent way to boast on social media.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): fánxué
  • Part of Speech: Noun (Internet Slang)
  • HSK Level: N/A
  • Concise Definition: The art or “study” of humblebragging; a method of showing off by complaining or being self-deprecating.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine someone complaining, “Ugh, my new mansion is so big, I get tired just walking from the bedroom to the kitchen.” That's a perfect example of 凡学. The term literally translates to “Versailles-ology,” humorously framing this specific type of bragging as a field of academic study. It's about flaunting your good fortune under the guise of annoyance or hardship, a technique used frequently on Chinese social media to appear successful without being overtly boastful.

Character Breakdown

  • 凡 (fán): This character is taken from the Chinese name for the Palace of Versailles, 凡尔赛 (Fán'ěrsài), which is synonymous with aristocratic luxury and opulence. Ironically, the character 凡 by itself means “ordinary” or “common,” which adds a layer of sarcasm to the term.
  • 学 (xué): This character means “to study,” “learning,” or can act as the suffix “-ology” (like in 社会学, shèhuìxué, sociology).
  • Combined Meaning: Together, 凡学 (fánxué) creates the mock-academic term “Versailles-ology.” It satirizes the act of humblebragging by treating it as a sophisticated discipline that can be studied, analyzed, and perfected.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • 凡学 is a thoroughly modern phenomenon born from Chinese social media culture. It reflects a cultural tension between the traditional value of 谦虚 (qiānxū - modesty) and the modern desire to display success and social status. Direct bragging, or 炫耀 (xuànyào), can be seen as crude and lead to a loss of “face.” 凡学 is a (usually clumsy) attempt to navigate this, by showing off while trying to maintain a pretense of humility.
  • The term was popularized on the social media platform Weibo, inspired by the Japanese manga The Rose of Versailles, which depicts the lavish lives of 18th-century French aristocrats. Netizens began collecting and analyzing examples of this “Versailles” style of speech, ironically codifying its “rules” and turning it into a widespread meme.
  • Comparison to Western Culture: The closest Western equivalent is “humblebrag.” Both concepts describe bragging masked by a complaint or false humility. However, 凡学 is more specific and meme-ified. The “-学 (-ology)” suffix makes it a uniquely Chinese internet phenomenon, treating the behavior as a comically elaborate social performance. While a “humblebrag” is just a statement, 凡学 can describe the entire post: the self-deprecating text, the “casually” placed luxury item in the photo, and the carefully selected location tag.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Social Media: This is the natural habitat of 凡学. It's rampant on platforms like WeChat Moments (朋友圈), Weibo (微博), and Xiaohongshu (小红书). A classic 凡学 post involves text expressing a minor frustration, accompanied by a photo that reveals the “real” subject: a designer bag, a luxury car's logo on a steering wheel, or an exotic vacation spot.
  • Connotation and Tone: The term is used almost exclusively in a sarcastic or critical way. To call someone's post “凡学” is to mock them for their cringey and transparent attempt to show off.
  • Self-Aware Humor: People also use it self-deprecatingly. Someone might preface good news with “我要凡一下” (Wǒ yào fán yíxià - “Let me be 'Versailles' for a moment…”) as a humorous way to acknowledge they are about to share something boast-worthy, which softens the brag.
  • As an Adjective/Verb: In casual conversation, “凡” can be used on its own.
    • “你太凡了!” (Nǐ tài fán le!) - “You're so humblebraggy!”
    • “别凡了” (Bié fán le) - “Stop with the humblebragging.”

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 老公又给我买了个爱马仕包，我都告诉他别浪费钱了，家里柜子都放不下了，真烦。
    • Pinyin: Lǎogōng yòu gěi wǒ mǎile ge Àimǎshì bāo, wǒ dōu gàosù tā bié làngfèi qián le, jiāli guìzi dōu fàng bu xià le, zhēn fán.
    • English: My husband bought me another Hermès bag. I already told him not to waste money, the closets at home are all full. So annoying.
    • Analysis: This is a textbook example of 凡学. The complaint (“so annoying,” “closets are full”) is the vehicle for the real message: “My husband buys me expensive Hermès bags.”
  • Example 2:
    • 她今天发的动态也太凡学了吧，说自己胖了，配图却是健身房的马甲线照片。
    • Pinyin: Tā jīntiān fā de dòngtài yě tài fánxué le ba, shuō zìjǐ pàng le, pèitú quèshì jiànshēnfáng de mǎjiǎxiàn zhàopiàn.
    • English: The update she posted today is such a prime example of Versailles Literature. She said she got fat, but the accompanying picture was of her toned abs at the gym.
    • Analysis: Here, the term 凡学 is used to label and criticize someone else's post.
  • Example 3:
    • 哎，又被老板点名表扬了，搞得同事们都看着我，压力好大。
    • Pinyin: Āi, yòu bèi lǎobǎn diǎnmíng biǎoyáng le, gǎo de tóngshìmen dōu kànzhe wǒ, yālì hǎo dà.
    • English: Ugh, I was praised by the boss by name again. It made all my colleagues look at me, the pressure is immense.
    • Analysis: This is a classic “workplace 凡学,” complaining about positive attention to highlight one's success and competence.
  • Example 4:
    • 别凡了，想炫耀就直说。
    • Pinyin: Bié fán le, xiǎng xuànyào jiù zhí shuō.
    • English: Stop with the humblebragging. If you want to show off, just say it directly.
    • Analysis: This shows how “凡” can be used as a verb meaning “to humblebrag.” It's a direct and informal way to call someone out.
  • Example 5:
    • 不好意思，今天让我也凡一下：我刚拿到了北大的录取通知书！
    • Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, jīntiān ràng wǒ yě fán yíxià: wǒ gāng nádào le Běidà de lùqǔ tōngzhīshū!
    • English: Sorry, let me be “Versailles” for a moment today: I just got my acceptance letter from Peking University!
    • Analysis: This is a self-aware, humorous use of 凡学. By acknowledging the brag, the speaker mitigates the negative connotation and shares their genuinely exciting news in a playful way.
  • Example 6:
    • 这辆新买的保时捷减震太硬了，开在市区感觉很不舒服。
    • Pinyin: Zhè liàng xīn mǎi de Bǎoshíjié jiǎnzhèn tài yìng le, kāi zài shìqū gǎnjué hěn bù shūfu.
    • English: The suspension on this new Porsche I bought is too stiff, it feels really uncomfortable driving in the city.
    • Analysis: A classic complaint about a luxury product. The focus is on a minor flaw to draw attention to the ownership of an expensive car.
  • Example 7:
    • 每天在200平米的房子里醒来，感觉好孤独啊。
    • Pinyin: Měitiān zài liǎng bǎi píngmǐ de fángzi lǐ xǐnglái, gǎnjué hǎo gūdú a.
    • English: Waking up in a 200-square-meter apartment every day, I feel so lonely.
    • Analysis: The feigned emotional distress (“lonely”) is a transparent excuse to mention the large size of the apartment (200 sqm is very large in most Chinese cities).
  • Example 8:
    • 网友们评论说他的微博充满了凡学的味道。
    • Pinyin: Wǎngyǒumen pínglùn shuō tā de Wēibó chōngmǎn le fánxué de wèidào.
    • English: Netizens commented that his Weibo is filled with the “flavor” of Versailles Literature.
    • Analysis: This sentence describes the general impression of someone's social media presence, using 凡学 as a descriptor for their overall style.
  • Example 9:
    • 为了准备去法国的旅行，我不得不花了一个下午复习我的法语，好累。
    • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi qù Fǎguó de lǚxíng, wǒ bùdébù huāle yí ge xiàwǔ fùxí wǒ de Fǎyǔ, hǎo lèi.
    • English: To prepare for my trip to France, I had to spend a whole afternoon reviewing my French. So tiring.
    • Analysis: The “flex” here is twofold: going on a trip to France and the ability to speak French. The complaint about being “tired” is the 凡学 camouflage.
  • Example 10:
    • 你这篇作文写得太凡了，一直在说自己没什么灵感，结果拿了第一名。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ zhè piān zuòwén xiě de tài fán le, yìzhí zài shuō zìjǐ méishénme línggǎn, jiéguǒ ná le dì-yī míng.
    • English: The way you wrote this essay was so humblebraggy; you kept saying you had no inspiration, but you ended up getting first place.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates how the concept can apply to achievements and talents, not just material wealth.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake 1: Confusing 凡学 (fánxué) with 炫耀 (xuànyào).
    • 凡学 (fánxué) is indirect bragging, hidden within a complaint or feigned modesty.
    • 炫耀 (xuànyào) is direct bragging, openly showing off.
    • Incorrect: Saying “我新买了一辆宝马 (I bought a new BMW)” is 凡学. (This is 炫耀).
    • Correct 凡学: “唉，宝马的自动泊车功能太灵敏了，每次都停得太完美，让我都快忘了怎么自己停车了。(Sigh, the auto-park feature on the BMW is too sensitive, it parks perfectly every time. It's making me forget how to park by myself.)”
  • Mistake 2: Thinking it's a compliment.
    • Calling someone's post “凡学” is never a genuine compliment. It is a criticism that points out their lack of sincerity. It's like saying, “I see what you're trying to do there, and it's not slick.” The only positive usage is when one applies it to oneself humorously.
  • False Friend vs. Close Equivalent: “Humblebrag”
    • While “humblebrag” is an excellent translation, the cultural flavor of 凡学 is slightly different. The suffix “-学 (-ology)” gives it a satirical, academic, and distinctly “internet meme” quality that “humblebrag” lacks. It implies that this behavior is so common and formulaic that it can be broken down and studied like a science.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `凡尔赛文学 (fán'ěrsài wénxué)` - The full, original term for “Versailles Literature.” 凡学 is the shortened, more common version.
  • `炫耀 (xuànyào)` - Direct boasting or showing off. The opposite of the “humble” part of 凡学.
  • `装逼 (zhuāng bī)` - (Crude Slang) To act pretentious, to pose, to pretend to be impressive. 凡学 is a specific, and often more elaborate, form of 装逼.
  • `低调 (dīdiào)` - Low-key, modest, discreet. The true cultural antonym to both 凡学 and 炫耀.
  • `晒 (shài)` - Internet slang for “to show off” or “to share online.” Literally “to bask in the sun.” Often used in compounds like 晒幸福 (shài xìngfú) - to show off one's happy life.
  • `朋友圈 (péngyǒuquān)` - WeChat “Moments,” a social media feed where 凡学 is frequently observed.
  • `土豪 (tǔháo)` - “Nouveau riche.” A term for people with new money, often stereotyped as engaging in less subtle forms of showing off.
  • `内卷 (nèijuǎn)` - “Involution.” A term for the intense, zero-sum internal competition in society. The pressure of 内卷 often fuels the desire to project an image of success, making 凡学 a common coping or status-signaling mechanism.