gěng: 梗 - Internet Meme, Inside Joke, Punchline

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Summary: An essential term for navigating modern Chinese internet culture, 梗 (gěng) is the equivalent of an “internet meme,” “inside joke,” or “running gag.” Originally meaning a “punchline” in Taiwanese comedy, it has evolved to describe any piece of shared cultural shorthand—a viral phrase, a video clip, or a specific reference—that is widely understood within a community. Understanding what a 梗 is, and knowing popular ones, is key to getting the humor and context of contemporary Chinese social media and daily conversation.

Pinyin (with tone marks): gěng

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: An internet meme, a running gag, an inside joke, or the punchline of a joke.

In a Nutshell: Think of 梗 (gěng) as a piece of shared, repeatable culture. Its original meaning is a plant stalk or a blockage. In comedy, this evolved to mean the “blockage” in a story that creates a twist—the punchline. Today, it has exploded online to mean any self-referential piece of content (a phrase, an image, a sound) that people repeatedly use. If you don't understand the original context, you won't “get the 梗,” leaving you out of the loop.

The combination originally described a tough plant stem or branch, which can create a blockage or obstruction. This idea of a “blockage” metaphorically shifted to mean the “punchline” that interrupts a story's flow with a surprise, and from there, it broadened to its modern meaning of a self-referential “meme” or “inside joke” that requires prior knowledge to understand.

From Stage to Screen: The modern usage of 梗 originated in the Taiwanese entertainment and comedy scene, where it was used as a loanword for the English “gag.” It referred to a planned comedic bit, a gimmick, or a punchline in a performance.

The Internet Explosion: With the rise of social media platforms like Weibo, Bilibili, and Douyin (TikTok), 梗 became the perfect term to describe the fast-paced, self-referential, and community-driven nature of online humor. Chinese netizens are incredibly creative, constantly generating new 梗s from viral videos, TV show quotes, news events, or even typos.

Social Currency: Knowing the latest 梗s is a form of social currency, especially among younger generations. It signals that you are “in the know” and part of the online community. Being able to “接梗 (jiē gěng)“—to catch and respond to a reference—is a sign of social and cultural fluency.

On Social Media: 梗s are the lifeblood of comment sections, short videos, and online discussions. Users will quote a 梗 to make a witty point or use an associated “表情包 (biǎoqíngbāo)” (sticker/reaction image).

In Daily Conversation: Friends often use 梗s from popular shows or recent events as inside jokes. Saying “你这个梗太老了” (That meme of yours is too old) is a common lighthearted jab.

Connotation: Generally informal and humorous. Its use implies a relaxed and familiar social context. Using a 梗 in a formal or professional setting would be inappropriate.

梗 (gěng) vs. 笑话 (xiàohuà - a joke): This is a key distinction. A `笑话` is a self-contained story with a setup and punchline, like a knock-knock joke. A `梗` is a *reference*. A joke can *become* a 梗 if its punchline is repeated endlessly online, but a 梗 itself is not necessarily a full joke. For example, “YYDS” is a 梗, but it's not a 笑话.

梗 (gěng) vs. 段子 (duànzi - a witty anecdote): A `段子` is a short, often humorous, piece of text or story. It's the complete content. A `梗` is often the key, repeatable element *from* a 段子. A 段子 might go viral, and a specific phrase from it becomes the 梗.

Context is Everything: Using a 梗 is highly context-dependent. Using a gaming 梗 with people who don't play games will just lead to confusion. It is almost always used in informal situations among peers. Avoid it in academic or professional writing.

网络用语 (wǎngluò yòngyǔ) - Internet Slang. 梗 is a major category of this.

表情包 (biǎoqíngbāo) - Sticker packs / Reaction images. A very common visual format for a 梗.

吐槽 (tǔcáo) - To roast, make a sarcastic comment, or rant. A common social activity that heavily uses 梗s.

出圈 (chūquān) - “To break out of the circle.” Describes when a niche 梗 becomes known to the mainstream public.

YYDS (yǒngyuǎn de shén) - An acronym for “永远的神” (Eternal God). A very popular 梗 used to praise someone or something as the greatest of all time.

内涵 (nèihán) - Implied meaning; subtext. Many 梗s have a lot of 内涵 that isn't obvious at first glance.

接梗 (jiē gěng) - To catch/understand a reference. A key social skill in modern China.

烂梗 (làn gěng) - A stale, overused, or bad meme.

造梗 (zào gěng) - To create a meme.

段子手 (duànzi shǒu) - A person who is skilled at writing witty anecdotes (段子), often a source of new 梗s.