Updated July 2026
What does 社恐 mean?
社恐 (社交恐惧, shè kǒng) means socially anxious / socially awkward in everyday Chinese slang. Social anxiety — dreading small talk, parties, or phone calls. Used loosely and half-jokingly. Its opposite is 社牛, a social butterfly. Literally, it means "social fear".
Opposite / pairs with
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A 30-second take on 社恐 — what it means, where it came from, and how to use it.
Dread small talk, parties, even answering the phone? You might be 社恐, shè kǒng — socially scared. Used half-jokingly for everyday introverts. 让我当众发言？我社恐犯了. The fearless opposite is 社牛, a social bull who chats up anyone.
Example
让我当众发言？我社恐犯了。
Ràng wǒ dāngzhòng fāyán? Wǒ shèkǒng fàn le.
Speak in public? My social anxiety is flaring up.
What 社恐 goes with
Where 社恐 comes from
Clipped from 社交恐惧症 (social phobia). Young people adopted it for everyday introversion, spawning the opposite 社牛.
Related slang
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