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China ACG Culture

10 Viral Chinese Phrases You Didn’t Know Came From Video Games

Gaming lingo isn’t just for players — it’s become part of modern-day Chinese language.

Andrew Methven

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Artwork by Zhang Zhigang for RealTime Mandarin

China has a thriving gaming culture with far-reaching impact — not just on pop culture, but on language too. Even those who aren’t into gaming inevitably use expressions that come from it. RealTime Mandarin’s Andrew Methven explains.

It might be an unexpected source, but online gaming has had a significant impact on the evolution of modern Chinese slang. Words and expressions that once appeared in gaming chat rooms or livestreams have made their…

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China ACG Culture

A Very Short Guide to China’s Most Popular Designer Toys

Manya Koetse

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In our last article, we’ve determined how Wakuku’s rise is not just about copying & following in Labubu’s footsteps and more about how China is setting the pace for…

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Chapter Dive

The Next Labubu: What the Rise of Wakuku Tells Us About China’s Collectible Toy Wave

From ugly-cute rebellion to a new kind of ‘C-pop,’ the breakout success of Wakuku sheds light on Chinese consumer culture and the forces driving China’s trend toy industry.

Manya Koetse

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Wakuku is the most talked-about newcomer in China’s trend toy market. Besides its mischievous grin, what’s perhaps most noteworthy is how closely Wakuku follows the marketing success of Labubu. As the strongest new designer toy of 2025, Wakuku says a lot about China’s current creative economy — from youth-led consumer trends to hybrid business models.

As it is becoming increasingly clear that Chinese designer toy Labubu has basically conquered the world, it’s already time…

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