Teacher Liu, I often see young people online calling themselves ‘single dogs’ and ‘overtime dogs’. Are they insulting themselves? I don’t really understand.

It’s not an insult, but a humorous way of laughing at oneself! ‘Single dog’ is used by single people to playfully describe not having a partner. It sounds pitiful yet cute and makes people smile.

So that’s how it is! Then what about ‘overtime dog’? My husband often works very late, and he says that too.

‘Overtime dog’ describes office workers who work very hard and often do overtime. Using ‘dog’ shows how tiring the work is but also adds humor, making it lighter and more fun than directly complaining.

This way of expressing things is really interesting! Why do Chinese people like this kind of self-deprecating way of speaking?

Self-deprecation is a smart way to express yourself. When facing pressure and setbacks in life, using humor to dissolve them can improve your mood and also easily win others’ empathy and understanding.

I understand! It’s like wrapping bitter medicine in a sugar coating so people can accept it more easily.

Your metaphor is very accurate! This self-deprecating culture shows young Chinese people’s optimistic attitude in the face of difficulties. If you learn these expressions, you’ll be able to fit into modern Chinese internet culture better.