抽象
chōu xiàng
In English
unhinged / chaotic / cursed (but funny)
What does 抽象 mean?
抽象 (chōu xiàng) is a internet Chinese slang term that literally means "abstract". Absurd, chaotic, makes-no-sense-on-purpose humor or behavior. Calling something 抽象 means it's so random and surreal that it's funny. In English, it's closest to "unhinged / chaotic / cursed (but funny)".
Hear it explained
A 30-second take on 抽象 — what it means, where it came from, and how to use it.
When something online is so random it loops back around to funny, Chinese calls it 抽象, chōu xiàng — abstract. Not art-class abstract. More like unhinged, chaotic, makes-zero-sense-on-purpose humor. 他的视频太抽象了，我笑死. If your friend is being 抽象, just buckle up.
Example
他的视频太抽象了，我笑死。
Tā de shìpín tài chōuxiàng le, wǒ xiào sǐ.
His videos are pure chaos — I'm dying.
What 抽象 goes with
Where 抽象 comes from
Grew out of livestream and meme culture (抽象文化) around 2023-2024, where deliberately nonsensical, surreal humor became its own comedic style.
Related slang
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