Keywords: selang, 色狼, se lang meaning, what does selang mean, Chinese pervert, Chinese lecher, Chinese wolf, sexual harassment in China, groping in Chinese,咸猪手, 流氓, 变态
Summary: The Chinese word 色狼 (sèláng), literally translating to “color wolf,” is a strong and common term for a male pervert, lecher, or sexual predator. It vividly describes a man who harasses women, often through unwanted physical contact like groping (an act called `咸猪手 xiánzhūshǒu`) or leering, especially in public spaces like subways. Understanding `色狼` is crucial for navigating discussions about public safety and social issues in modern China.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): sèláng
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: N/A
Concise Definition: A man who behaves in a lecherous, predatory, or sexually aggressive way towards women, particularly in public.
In a Nutshell: Think of `色狼` not just as a “pervert” in a general sense, but as a “sexual predator.” The word combines the idea of lust (`色`) with the predatory nature of a wolf (`狼`). It’s an active term, describing someone who acts on their inappropriate desires, making others feel unsafe. It's the word you would shout to draw attention to someone groping you on a crowded bus.
Character Breakdown
色 (sè): While its most basic meaning is “color,” `色` also carries a strong, distinct meaning of “lust,” “sex,” or “lewdness.” You'll see it in words like `好色 (hàosè)`, meaning “lecherous,” and `女色 (nǚsè)`, referring to female beauty as an object of carnal desire.
狼 (láng): This character simply means “wolf.” It carries all the associated imagery of being a predator—cunning, aggressive, and dangerous.
The two characters combine to create a powerful and visceral image: a “lust wolf” or “sex wolf,” a predator who hunts for opportunities to satisfy his lecherous desires. The meaning is not subtle.
Cultural Context and Significance
A Public Menace: The concept of the `色狼` is a significant topic in modern Chinese urban life. News reports, social media posts, and public service announcements frequently warn people (especially women) to be wary of `色狼` on crowded public transportation. The term is central to the public conversation about sexual harassment (`性骚扰 xìngsāorǎo`).
Comparison to “Pervert”: In Western culture, the word “pervert” can be quite broad. It might describe someone with a non-mainstream but private fetish, or it could be used as a general insult. A `色狼`, however, is almost exclusively used to describe a man whose actions are external and predatory. It's not about what someone thinks; it's about what they *do* to others in a public or semi-public space. The focus is on the act of harassment and the violation of personal boundaries. A `色狼` is a public threat, whereas a “pervert” might just be considered weird or deviant.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Direct Accusation: This is its most potent use. A person, typically a woman, might shout “抓色狼! (Zhuā sèláng!)” which means “Catch the pervert!” to alert others and shame the perpetrator. It is a call for immediate help and social intervention.
Warning: People use it to warn friends. For example, “Be careful of that guy, he looks like a `色狼`.”
Media and News: Newspapers and online media use `色狼` in headlines to describe perpetrators of public indecency or sexual assault, e.g., “Subway `色狼` Caught on Camera.”
Connotation and Formality: The term is highly informal and carries an extremely negative connotation. It is a serious accusation. You would never use it lightly or as a joke among friends, as it's equivalent to accusing someone of being a sexual predator.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
“快来人啊！这里有色狼！”
Pinyin: “Kuài lái rén a! Zhèlǐ yǒu sèláng!”
English: “Someone help! There's a pervert here!”
Analysis: This is a classic cry for help in a public space. The urgency and severity of the term are clear. It is meant to draw immediate attention and assistance.
English: There are so many people on the subway, girls need to be careful of perverts.
Analysis: This sentence is a common piece of advice or a general warning. It highlights the specific context (crowded public transport) where `色狼` are perceived to be a problem.
English: That man keeps staring at you, he's just like a pervert.
Analysis: Here, `色狼` is used to describe behavior (leering) that is predatory, even without physical contact. The phrase `真像个 (zhēn xiàng ge)` means “really looks like a…”
English: Don't make that kind of joke, otherwise people will think you're a pervert.
Analysis: This sentence serves as a warning about social perception. It underscores that even inappropriate jokes can lead to being labeled with this very serious term.
Example 7:
电影里的那个反派就是一个十足的色狼。
Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ de nàge fǎnpài jiùshì yīgè shízú de sèláng.
English: The villain in the movie is a complete pervert.
Analysis: `十足的 (shízú de)` means “out-and-out” or “100%,” used here to emphasize the character's lecherous nature. This is a common way to describe a fictional character.
Example 8:
她勇敢地反抗了那个色狼，并报了警。
Pinyin: Tā yǒnggǎn de fǎnkàngle nàge sèláng, bìng bào le jǐng.
English: She bravely resisted the pervert and called the police.
Analysis: This sentence frames the victim as heroic and the `色狼` as the clear aggressor who should be reported to the authorities.
Example 9:
夏天穿得少，更容易成为色狼的目标。
Pinyin: Xiàtiān chuān de shǎo, gèng róngyì chéngwéi sèláng de mùbiāo.
English: Wearing less in the summer makes it easier to become a target for perverts.
Analysis: This reflects a common, though sometimes controversial, societal belief in China about preventing harassment. It clearly shows `色狼` as a predator and others as potential “targets” (`目标`).
Example 10:
别以为没人看见，你这个色狼！
Pinyin: Bié yǐwéi méi rén kànjiàn, nǐ zhège sèláng!
English: Don't think no one saw you, you pervert!
Analysis: A direct, confrontational accusation. Using the measure word `这个 (zhège)` makes the insult very personal and direct.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
False Friend: “Pervert”: The biggest mistake is to think `色狼` is a perfect one-to-one translation of the English word “pervert.” An English speaker might call someone a “pervert” for having a strange but private collection or interest. A `色狼` is not about private interests; it is defined by their outward, aggressive, and unwanted actions toward others, usually women.
Don't Use It Lightly: Never call someone a `色狼` as a joke. It is not a playful term for a friend who is a flirt. It is a serious accusation of predatory sexual behavior and is deeply insulting. Using it incorrectly can cause a huge social fallout.
Gender Specificity: The term `色狼` is almost exclusively used for men. While a lecherous woman might be called a `色女 (sènǚ)`, this term is far less common and doesn't carry the same weight or connotation of physical threat as `色狼`.
Related Terms and Concepts
咸猪手 (xiánzhūshǒu) - Literally “salty pig hand.” This is the *act* of groping, the primary action of a `色狼`.
流氓 (liúmáng) - Hooligan, rogue, gangster. This is a broader term for a scoundrel or bad person. A `色狼` can be a type of `流氓`, but a `流氓` might just be a thug without the specific sexual-predator connotation.
变态 (biàntài) - Abnormal; perverted. This term is actually closer to the broad English “pervert.” It can describe someone with strange psychology, a weird fetish, or disturbing behavior in general. A `色狼` is a type of `变态`, but not all `变态` are `色狼`.
好色 (hàosè) - Lecherous, lustful (adjective). This describes the attribute of being a `色狼`. You can say someone is `很好色 (hěn hàosè)`.
非礼 (fēilǐ) - To molest, to assault indecently. This is a more formal, almost legalistic verb for what a `色狼` does. It literally means “to act against propriety/rites.”
性骚扰 (xìngsāorǎo) - Sexual harassment. This is the modern, formal, and legal term for the crime that a `色狼` commits. You would see this term in legal documents and official news reports.
痴汉 (chīhàn) - A direct loanword from Japanese (chikan), meaning groper. It's used almost interchangeably with `色狼`, especially in contexts related to public transport, and is very common in pop culture (anime, manga).