Ma Nian Master: 'Spot-on' lingo for talking about the Spring Festival Gala

Become Chinese in time for the Chinese New Year! The Spring Festival Gala is just around the corner. Join CGTN's Guo Meiping and pick up the must-know words so you can watch the show like a pro.

1. 梗 Gěng – Meme

Geng is basically a meme or running joke. It could be a killer one-liner from a sketch, a funny gesture, or even a single facial expression – and suddenly, it's everywhere. The Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, is one of China's biggest Geng generators each year. If your Chinese social media feed is flooded with the same Chunwan catchphrase or gag, congratulations – a new Geng has just been born!

2. 出圈 Chūquān – Going viral

Chuquan means going viral. When a sketch or song goes Chuquan, it goes from cult to mainstream, sometimes even beyond China. It's like a star's breakout moment. Suddenly, it's all anyone is talking about.

3. 名场面 Míngchǎngmiàn – Iconic moment

A Mingchangmian is an iconic, often viral moment. Every Chunwan delivers a few such scenes that capture the collective imagination. Just one clip, replayed endlessly, can become part of the nation's cultural vocabulary. For example, the robot dance from last year's Chunwan. It became an instant classic – a true Mingchangmian.

Videographer: Han Xu

Graphic designers: Huang Ruiqi, Yu Peng