wēibó: 微博 - Microblog, Weibo

• Keywords: Weibo, Sina Weibo, 微博, wēibó, Chinese Twitter, Chinese social media, microblog, what is Weibo, how to use Weibo, Chinese internet culture, 刷微博, 发微博.
• Summary: Weibo (微博) is China's quintessential microblogging platform, often compared to Twitter but with a unique identity blending features of Facebook and Instagram. Literally meaning “micro-blog,” it's a dynamic, public space for sharing news, following celebrities, discussing trending topics, and understanding the pulse of modern Chinese society. For any learner of Chinese, understanding Weibo is key to unlocking contemporary culture, slang, and public discourse.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wēibó
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A Chinese microblogging service, or an individual post on that service.
• In a Nutshell: “Weibo” is the generic Chinese word for “microblog.” However, in 99% of conversations, it refers specifically to Sina Weibo (新浪微博), the most dominant platform of its kind in China. Think of it as a public town square where people post short messages, pictures, and videos. It's a fast-paced environment driven by trending topics, celebrity culture, and viral content, making it an essential window into what's capturing the attention of millions in China.

• 微 (wēi): This character means “micro,” “tiny,” or “miniature.” You can see it in other modern tech terms like 微信 (Wēixìn - WeChat), which literally means “micro-message.”
• 博 (bó): This is a shortened form of 博客 (bókè), the Chinese word for “blog” (a phonetic loanword). On its own, 博 can also mean “abundant,” “plentiful,” or “to win.”
• The two characters combine in a very logical, modern way: 微 (micro) + 博 (blog) = 微博 (microblog).

Weibo is far more than just a “Chinese Twitter.” While both are character-limited, public-facing platforms, their cultural roles are distinct. Weibo vs. Twitter: A Cultural Comparison

• Twitter is heavily centered around news, politics, and professional commentary. It's a major platform for journalists, politicians, and academics to engage in public debate.
• Weibo, while having news and discussion, is overwhelmingly dominated by entertainment and celebrity culture. It is the primary universe for Chinese “fan culture” (粉丝文化 - fěnsī wénhuà), where fans interact with idols, promote their work, and defend their reputation.
• Functionality: Weibo is more of a hybrid. It has the short-form posts of Twitter, the visual focus and “stories” feature of Instagram, and the interactive, threaded comment sections that feel more like Facebook. It's also deeply integrated with e-commerce, allowing influencers and brands to sell products directly through their posts.

In its earlier years, Weibo was celebrated as a nascent space for citizen journalism and public supervision, where users could expose corruption or organize around social issues. However, with increased state control and censorship, this function has been significantly curtailed. Today, it primarily serves as a barometer for popular culture, a massive marketing tool, and the go-to place for “eating melon” (吃瓜 chī guā)—a popular slang term for watching drama and gossip unfold online. Understanding Weibo is not just about learning a word; it's about observing how information, entertainment, and public opinion (within limits) are shaped in modern China.

The word “微博” is used constantly in daily digital life. It can refer to the platform itself, a post on the platform, or the act of using it.

• Referring to the Platform: People will say “I saw it on Weibo” (我在微博上看到的 - Wǒ zài Wēibó shàng kàn dào de).
• Referring to an Individual Post: You might hear “Did you read her latest Weibo?” (你看了她最新的那条微博吗？ - Nǐ kànle tā zuìxīn de nà tiáo Wēibó ma?). Here, the measure word 条 (tiáo) is used for a single post.
• As a Verb (colloquially): While not grammatically precise, people often use it with helper verbs to indicate actions:
  • 发微博 (fā Wēibó): To post/send a Weibo.
  • 刷微博 (shuā Wēibó): To “brush” Weibo, meaning to scroll idly through your feed. This is an extremely common phrase.
• Formality: Usage is generally informal and conversational. In a formal business or academic report, one might refer to it as “the Sina Weibo platform” (新浪微博平台 - Xīnlàng Wēibó píngtái).

• Example 1:
  • 你有微博吗？我们互相关注一下吧！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu Wēibó ma? Wǒmen hùxiāng guānzhù yīxià ba!
  • English: Do you have a Weibo? Let's follow each other!
  • Analysis: A very common way to connect with a new friend online. “互相关注” (hùxiāng guānzhù) means “to mutually follow.”
• Example 2:
  • 我今天下午没事，就一直在刷微博。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ méishì, jiù yīzhí zài shuā Wēibó.
  • English: I had nothing to do this afternoon, so I was just scrolling through Weibo the whole time.
  • Analysis: This showcases the extremely common slang term “刷微博” (shuā Wēibó), which perfectly captures the modern habit of mindlessly browsing a social media feed.
• Example 3:
  • 他刚刚发了一条微博，解释了昨天发生的事情。
  • Pinyin: Tā gānggāng fāle yī tiáo Wēibó, jiěshìle zuótiān fāshēng de shìqing.
  • English: He just posted a Weibo explaining what happened yesterday.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates “发微博” (fā Wēibó), “to post a Weibo,” and uses the correct measure word 条 (tiáo).
• Example 4:
  • 这个话题上微博热搜了，现在大家都在讨论。
  • Pinyin: Zhège huàtí shàng Wēibó rèsōu le, xiànzài dàjiā dōu zài tǎolùn.
  • English: This topic is on the Weibo “hot search” (trending list), everyone is discussing it now.
  • Analysis: “热搜” (rèsōu) is the trending topics list on Weibo, a hugely influential force in Chinese pop culture. Making it onto the “rèsōu” guarantees massive visibility.
• Example 5:
  • 很多明星都用微博跟粉丝互动。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō míngxīng dōu yòng Wēibó gēn fěnsī hùdòng.
  • English: Many celebrities use Weibo to interact with their fans.
  • Analysis: This highlights the central role of Weibo in China's celebrity and fan culture. 粉丝 (fěnsī) is a loanword for “fans.”
• Example 6:
  • 这家公司的官方微博发布了道歉声明。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de guānfāng Wēibó fābùle dàoqiàn shēngmíng.
  • English: This company's official Weibo account published an apology.
  • Analysis: Shows how businesses and organizations use Weibo for official public relations and announcements. “官方” (guānfāng) means “official.”
• Example 7:
  • 我只是个小透明，我的微博没什么人看。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì ge xiǎo tòumíng, wǒ de Wēibó méi shénme rén kàn.
  • English: I'm just a nobody, not many people read my Weibo.
  • Analysis: “小透明” (xiǎo tòumíng), literally “little transparent,” is popular internet slang for a user with no influence or followers, the opposite of an influencer.
• Example 8:
  • 由于审查，那条微博很快就被删了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú shěnchá, nà tiáo Wēibó hěn kuài jiù bèi shān le.
  • English: Due to censorship, that Weibo post was quickly deleted.
  • Analysis: This points to the reality of content moderation and censorship (“审查” - shěnchá) on the platform. “被删” (bèi shān) means “was deleted.”
• Example 9:
  • 你别在微博上看八卦了，快来学习！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié zài Wēibó shàng kàn bāguà le, kuài lái xuéxí!
  • English: Stop reading gossip on Weibo and come study!
  • Analysis: “八卦” (bāguà) means “gossip,” a major type of content consumed on Weibo.
• Example 10:
  • 她的微博有上千万的粉丝。
  • Pinyin: Tā de Wēibó yǒu shàng qiān wàn de fěnsī.
  • English: Her Weibo has over ten million followers.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how follower counts are described. “上千万” (shàng qiān wàn) literally means “reaching the tens of millions.”

• Weibo vs. WeChat (微信): This is the most critical distinction for a learner. They are not interchangeable.
  • Weibo (微博) is a PUBLIC square. It's for one-to-many broadcasting. You post to be seen by strangers, followers, and potentially the whole world.
  • WeChat (微信) is a PRIVATE messaging app. It's for one-to-one or small group chats. Its social feed, “Moments” (朋友圈 - Péngyǒuquān), is only visible to your approved contacts.
  • Common Mistake: Saying “I'll Weibo you the address.” This is incorrect for a private message. You would say “I'll WeChat you the address” (我微信你地址 - Wǒ Wēixìn nǐ dìzhǐ).
• “Weibo” (the generic term) vs. “Sina Weibo” (the platform): While technically 微博 just means “microblog,” other companies (like Tencent) have tried to launch their own Weibos. However, Sina's is so dominant that the two are synonymous in conversation. You don't need to specify “Sina Weibo” unless you are in a very technical or business context.

• `微信 (Wēixìn)` - WeChat, the other pillar of Chinese social media. A messaging and lifestyle app that serves a private, relational function, contrasting with Weibo's public nature.
• `刷微博 (shuā Wēibó)` - To “brush” or scroll through Weibo. The most common verb phrase associated with using the app casually.
• `发微博 (fā Wēibó)` - To post a Weibo. The primary action of content creation on the platform.
• `热搜 (rèsōu)` - “Hot search.” The list of trending topics on Weibo, a powerful agenda-setter in Chinese media.
• `粉丝 (fěnsī)` - A phonetic loanword for “fans.” The core of Weibo's massive celebrity and influencer economy.
• `吃瓜 (chī guā)` - “To eat melon.” Popular slang for being a bystander who enjoys watching drama or gossip unfold, often on Weibo.
• `网红 (wǎnghóng)` - “Internet famous.” An online influencer, many of whom build their careers on Weibo.
• `新浪 (Xīnlàng)` - Sina, the parent company of Sina Weibo.
• `评论 (pínglùn)` - “Comment.” The comments section of a Weibo post is often where the most heated discussions and interactions take place.
• `转发 (zhuǎnfā)` - “To forward” or “retweet.” The primary mechanism for spreading a post on Weibo.