METRO SHANGHAI / TWOCENTS
Are xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou really reliable for girls?
People are really good at creating internet slang and quickly making these words prevalent in life. I have seen two new words, xiao nai gou and xiao lang gou, recently on social media, which refer to teens or young adult men with specific pleasant characteristics.
Xiao nai gou, literally "baby milk dog," are considerate, innocent, sweet, clingy and loyal to his companion, while xiao lang gou, "baby wolfdog," are cool, domineering, aggressive and makes his companion feel secure. Of course, they are both young and good-looking.
For their companions who are usually older than them, it would be perfect if they can switch between the two different roles.
After xiao lang gou and xiao nai gou debuted on the internet, Xiao Xianrou, literally "little fresh flesh," an internet slang referring to young men who are good-looking but look innocent, is no longer as popular as before. This is probably because xiao lang gou and xiao nai gou are more specific and can better describe the ideal companion for girls.
In fact, the two words are frequently used by fans, mostly girls, to describe male pop idols in their teens or early 20s. I was extremely shocked by fans' crazy affections to their xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou idols when I read a news report in April about Fan Chengcheng, a male pop star who is defined as a xiao nai gou.
Fan posted two photos of himself on Sina Weibo on April 26. One of them was a paid one. If you want to see this photo, you must pay 60 yuan ($9.40) for a six-month exclusive membership to his Weibo account. With this membership, you can check all the paid photos of an idol and enjoy some privileges like taking top placement in the comments area, which might make the idol notice your comment easily.
Allegedly, 80,000 fans paid for that photo and Fan earned 4.8 million yuan overnight, according to media reports. It incited heated discussions on the internet. Some understand the fan economy and culture while some criticize Fan for taking advantage of his followers.
Fan wrote "sorry to let you go to this expense," and most of his fans showed strong support. "Baby baby, it doesn't matter. We love you," a fan of Fan wrote on Weibo.
He is still an ideal xiao nai gou boyfriend for his female fans, although his career achievements as a pop star are not as remarkable as his face and figure.
To some extent, xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou represent a change of Chinese women's perspectives on the ideal companion. They are freer to have more choices now. Older men who are knowledgeable, decent and have loads of life experience are no longer the only choice for women. Xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou bring fresh face, fresh air and fresh love experiences.
Furthermore, compared with some traditional adult Chinese men who are perceived as being either too tough, dominant, sloppy and greasy, xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou are young, reliable, obedient, energetic, tender, considerate and good-looking. What a perfect companion he is! But is this real?
There is nothing wrong about people yearning for love. However, the impression that xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou creates for girls is not reliable at its core. All humans have flaws and advantages. A rational, profound and comprehensive understanding is still necessary, rather than a shallow judgment on appearance and characteristics.
Moreover, the images of xiao nai gou and xiao lang gou pop stars that Fan Chengcheng creates might just be an illusion. What does he look like as a normal person in real life and what kind of girlfriend would he like? Who knows?
Moreover, the words xiao lang gou and xiao nai gou are demeaning to men. A gou, or a dog, is traditionally considered obedient, innocent and dependent on its owner. But a man is a person with independent spirit and thinking. A xiao lang gou or a xiao nai gou sound more like an appendage instead of a real life partner.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Times.
Xiao nai gou, literally "baby milk dog," are considerate, innocent, sweet, clingy and loyal to his companion, while xiao lang gou, "baby wolfdog," are cool, domineering, aggressive and makes his companion feel secure. Of course, they are both young and good-looking.
For their companions who are usually older than them, it would be perfect if they can switch between the two different roles.
After xiao lang gou and xiao nai gou debuted on the internet, Xiao Xianrou, literally "little fresh flesh," an internet slang referring to young men who are good-looking but look innocent, is no longer as popular as before. This is probably because xiao lang gou and xiao nai gou are more specific and can better describe the ideal companion for girls.
In fact, the two words are frequently used by fans, mostly girls, to describe male pop idols in their teens or early 20s. I was extremely shocked by fans' crazy affections to their xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou idols when I read a news report in April about Fan Chengcheng, a male pop star who is defined as a xiao nai gou.
Fan posted two photos of himself on Sina Weibo on April 26. One of them was a paid one. If you want to see this photo, you must pay 60 yuan ($9.40) for a six-month exclusive membership to his Weibo account. With this membership, you can check all the paid photos of an idol and enjoy some privileges like taking top placement in the comments area, which might make the idol notice your comment easily.
Allegedly, 80,000 fans paid for that photo and Fan earned 4.8 million yuan overnight, according to media reports. It incited heated discussions on the internet. Some understand the fan economy and culture while some criticize Fan for taking advantage of his followers.
Fan wrote "sorry to let you go to this expense," and most of his fans showed strong support. "Baby baby, it doesn't matter. We love you," a fan of Fan wrote on Weibo.
He is still an ideal xiao nai gou boyfriend for his female fans, although his career achievements as a pop star are not as remarkable as his face and figure.
To some extent, xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou represent a change of Chinese women's perspectives on the ideal companion. They are freer to have more choices now. Older men who are knowledgeable, decent and have loads of life experience are no longer the only choice for women. Xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou bring fresh face, fresh air and fresh love experiences.
Furthermore, compared with some traditional adult Chinese men who are perceived as being either too tough, dominant, sloppy and greasy, xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou are young, reliable, obedient, energetic, tender, considerate and good-looking. What a perfect companion he is! But is this real?
There is nothing wrong about people yearning for love. However, the impression that xiao nai gou or xiao lang gou creates for girls is not reliable at its core. All humans have flaws and advantages. A rational, profound and comprehensive understanding is still necessary, rather than a shallow judgment on appearance and characteristics.
Moreover, the images of xiao nai gou and xiao lang gou pop stars that Fan Chengcheng creates might just be an illusion. What does he look like as a normal person in real life and what kind of girlfriend would he like? Who knows?
Moreover, the words xiao lang gou and xiao nai gou are demeaning to men. A gou, or a dog, is traditionally considered obedient, innocent and dependent on its owner. But a man is a person with independent spirit and thinking. A xiao lang gou or a xiao nai gou sound more like an appendage instead of a real life partner.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Times.
Illustration: Lu Ting/GT
