Updated July 2026
What does 翻车 mean?
翻车 (fān chē) means to crash and burn / it backfired in internet Chinese slang. To mess up badly or fail in public — a plan, a livestream, or a confident claim that blows up in your face. Literally, it means "the car flips over".
Hear it explained
A 30-second take on 翻车 — what it means, where it came from, and how to use it.
When a plan or a livestream blows up in your face on camera, Chinese says 翻车, fān chē — the car flipped over. 主播现场翻车，尴尬到不行. One second you're cruising, the next you're upside down in front of everyone.
Example
主播现场翻车，尴尬到不行。
Zhǔbō xiànchǎng fān chē, gāngà dào bùxíng.
The streamer crashed and burned live — beyond awkward.
What 翻车 goes with
Where 翻车 comes from
A literal "car overturning", used for a sudden, embarrassing failure — especially influencers flubbing on camera.
Related slang
FAQ
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