How to Use Chinese Social Media and Apps: Essential Mandarin Phrases for WeChat, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Everyday Digital Life in China

WeChat (微信 — Wēi Xìn) is China's everything app — messaging, payments, social media, and mini-programs all in one. Key vocabulary: 微信 (wēi xìn) — WeChat, 聊天 (liáo tiān) — chat, 朋友圈 (péng yǒu quān) — Moments (social feed), 公众号 (gōng zhòng hào) — official account / public channel, 小程序 (xiǎo chéng xù) — mini-program, 扫一扫 (sǎo yī sǎo) — scan QR code, 添加好友 (tiān jiā hǎo yǒu) — add friend, 二维码 (èr wéi mǎ) — QR code, 微信号 (wēi xìn hào) — WeChat ID, 群聊 (qún liáo) — group chat, 发消息 (fā xiāo xi) — send a message, 语音消息 (yǔ yīn xiāo xi) — voice message, 视频通话 (shì pín tōng huà) — video call, 表情包 (biǎo qíng bāo) — sticker pack, 拉黑 (lā hēi) — block someone, 删除好友 (shān chú hǎo yǒu) — delete friend.

Adding friends and chatting — key phrases: 我可以加你微信吗 (wǒ kě yǐ jiā nǐ wēi xìn ma) — Can I add you on WeChat? 你扫我还是我扫你 (nǐ sǎo wǒ hái shì wǒ sǎo nǐ) — Do you scan me or do I scan you? (standard QR exchange phrase). 我发你微信号 (wǒ fā nǐ wēi xìn hào) — I'll send you my WeChat ID. 通过一下 (tōng guò yī xià) — Please accept (the friend request). 在吗 (zài ma) — Are you there? (common way to start a chat). 收到 (shōu dào) — Got it / Received. 好的 (hǎo de) — OK / Got it (most common acknowledgment). 我拉你进群 (wǒ lā nǐ jìn qún) — I'll add you to the group. 群主 (qún zhǔ) — group owner/admin, 管理员 (guǎn lǐ yuán) — group admin. 请勿打扰 (qǐng wù dǎ rǎo) — Please do not disturb. 发朋友圈 (fā péng yǒu quān) — post to Moments. 点赞 (diǎn zàn) — like (a post). 评论 (píng lùn) — comment. 转发 (zhuǎn fā) — repost/forward. 收藏 (shōu cáng) — save/bookmark.

WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝 — Zhī Fù Bǎo) are the dominant payment methods in China — cash is rarely used. Key vocabulary: 支付 (zhī fù) — payment, 微信支付 (wēi xìn zhī fù) — WeChat Pay, 支付宝 (zhī fù bǎo) — Alipay, 扫码支付 (sǎo mǎ zhī fù) — scan to pay, 付款码 (fù kuǎn mǎ) — payment QR code (you show to merchant), 收款码 (shōu kuǎn mǎ) — receiving QR code (merchant shows you), 余额 (yú é) — balance, 充值 (chōng zhí) — top up, 绑定银行卡 (bǎng dìng yín háng kǎ) — link bank card, 转账 (zhuǎn zhàng) — transfer money, 红包 (hóng bāo) — red envelope (digital money gift), 发红包 (fā hóng bāo) — send a red envelope, 抢红包 (qiǎng hóng bāo) — grab/snatch red envelopes (in group chats).

Payment phrases: 我扫你 (wǒ sǎo nǐ) — I'll scan you (show my payment code). 你扫我 (nǐ sǎo wǒ) — You scan me (show your receiving code). 微信还是支付宝 (wēi xìn hái shì zhī fù bǎo) — WeChat or Alipay? 我微信转给你 (wǒ wēi xìn zhuǎn gěi nǐ) — I'll transfer it to you on WeChat. 发个红包 (fā gè hóng bāo) — Send a red envelope. AA制 (AA zhì) — split the bill / go Dutch. 我来买单 (wǒ lái mǎi dān) — I'll pay / It's on me. 多少钱 (duō shǎo qián) — How much? 转给你了 (zhuǎn gěi nǐ le) — I transferred it to you. 收到了吗 (shōu dào le ma) — Did you receive it? 收到 (shōu dào) — Received. For foreign visitors: 可以绑定外国银行卡吗 (kě yǐ bǎng dìng wài guó yín háng kǎ ma) — Can I link a foreign bank card? WeChat Pay now supports linking Visa/Mastercard for foreign visitors, though some features may be limited. 用护照认证 (yòng hù zhào rèn zhèng) — verify with passport.

Xiaohongshu (小红书 — Xiǎo Hóng Shū, lit. "Little Red Book", also called RED) is a lifestyle platform where users share product reviews, travel guides, beauty tips, and restaurant recommendations — think Instagram meets a review site. Douyin (抖音 — Dǒu Yīn) is the Chinese version of TikTok — short videos, live streaming, and trending content. Key vocabulary for Xiaohongshu: 笔记 (bǐ jì) — a post/note, 种草 (zhòng cǎo) — literally "plant grass", meaning to recommend a product that makes others want to buy it, 拔草 (bá cǎo) — literally "pull weeds", meaning to finally buy something you've been wanting, or to debunk a hyped product, 博主 (bó zhǔ) — blogger/content creator, 探店 (tàn diàn) — store/restaurant exploration review, 测评 (cè píng) — product review/test, 穿搭 (chuān dā) — outfit/fashion styling, 安利 (ān lì) — recommend (from Amway, colloquial for strongly recommending something), 素人 (sù rén) — regular person (non-influencer), 干货 (gān huò) — useful/practical content ("dry goods"), 关注 (guān zhù) — follow, 收藏 (shōu cáng) — save/bookmark.

Douyin key vocabulary: 短视频 (duǎn shì pín) — short video, 直播 (zhí bō) — live stream, 主播 (zhǔ bō) — streamer/host, 打赏 (dǎ shǎng) — send virtual gifts/tips during live stream, 热门 (rè mén) — trending, 挑战 (tiǎo zhàn) — challenge, 滤镜 (lǜ jìng) — filter, 特效 (tè xiào) — special effect, 带货 (dài huò) — livestream selling/e-commerce, 下单 (xià dān) — place an order, 老铁 (lǎo tiě) — bro/buddy (Northeastern slang, common on Douyin), 双击 (shuāng jī) — double tap (like). Phrases: 关注一下 (guān zhù yī xià) — Follow me / Give a follow. 求关注 (qiú guān zhù) — Please follow. 刷抖音 (shuā dǒu yīn) — scroll through Douyin. 这个视频火了 (zhè ge shì pín huǒ le) — This video went viral. 你抖音号多少 (nǐ dǒu yīn hào duō shǎo) — What's your Douyin ID?

Meituan (美团 — Měi Tuán) is the dominant app for food delivery, restaurant reviews, movie tickets, hotel booking, and local services. Ele.me (饿了么 — È Le Me) is the main competitor for food delivery. Didi (滴滴 — Dī Dī) is the ride-hailing app. Key food delivery vocabulary: 外卖 (wài mài) — food delivery/takeout, 下单 (xià dān) — place an order, 配送费 (pèi sòng fèi) — delivery fee, 起送价 (qǐ sòng jià) — minimum order amount, 预计送达 (yù jì sòng dá) — estimated delivery time, 骑手 (qí shǒu) — delivery rider, 取餐 (qǔ cān) — pick up the food, 评价 (píng jià) — review/rating, 差评 (chà píng) — negative review, 好评 (hǎo píng) — positive review, 优惠券 (yōu huì quàn) — coupon, 满减 (mǎn jiǎn) — spend-X-get-Y-off discount. Phrases: 帮我点个外卖 (bāng wǒ diǎn gè wài mài) — Help me order delivery. 备注里写一下 (bèi zhù lǐ xiě yī xià) — Write it in the order notes. 不要辣 (bù yào là) — No spicy. 少放盐 (shǎo fàng yán) — Less salt. 不放香菜 (bù fàng xiāng cài) — No cilantro.

Didi ride-hailing vocabulary: 打车 (dǎ chē) — hail a ride/call a taxi, 快车 (kuài chē) — express car, 专车 (zhuān chē) — premier/black car, 拼车 (pīn chē) — carpool/shared ride, 顺风车 (shùn fēng chē) — rideshare/hitch, 定位 (dìng wèi) — location/GPS, 上车点 (shàng chē diǎn) — pickup point, 目的地 (mù dì dì) — destination, 预计到达 (yù jì dào dá) — estimated arrival, 司机 (sī jī) — driver, 车牌号 (chē pái hào) — license plate number, 取消订单 (qǔ xiāo dìng dān) — cancel order. Phrases: 我在定位的地方 (wǒ zài dìng wèi de dì fang) — I'm at the pinned location. 司机到了吗 (sī jī dào le ma) — Has the driver arrived? 我找不到车 (wǒ zhǎo bù dào chē) — I can't find the car. 师傅，麻烦开一下后备箱 (shī fu, má fan kāi yī xià hòu bèi xiāng) — Driver, please open the trunk. Other useful service apps: 大众点评 (Dà Zhòng Diǎn Píng) — Dianping (restaurant/service reviews), 高德地图 (Gāo Dé Dì Tú) — Amap (most popular maps/navigation), 百度地图 (Bǎi Dù Dì Tú) — Baidu Maps, 携程 (Xié Chéng) — Ctrip (travel booking), 12306 (yāo èr sān líng liù) — official train ticket app.