Language is a mirror of society, and this year’s buzzwords reflect the characteristics of the times.
On December 2, the editorial department of Yaowen Jiaozi (咬文嚼字), released the top ten buzzwords of 2024, highlighting the emergence and widespread popularity of artificial intelligence words. Let’s see what they’ve discovered.
The Intelligent Era
1、数智化 Digital Intelligence
The combination of digitalization and intelligence, such as autonomous learning, decision optimization, predictive analysis, etc.
2、智能向善 AI for Good
The development of artificial intelligence should be conducive to improving human well-being.
3、未来产业 Future Industry
This term refers to forward-looking emerging industries that are strategic, leading, and disruptive, driven by cutting-edge technologies. For example, future manufacturing, information, materials, energy, space, and health.
4、City不City
American blogger Baobao Xiong(保保熊) posted his vlogs of traveling China. In the video, he asked his sister: “Shanghai city不city ?” “好city啊! ” Baobao Xiong said that the “city” in his dialogue refers to fashion, foreign style, and modernity, as well as excitement and happiness.
5、硬控 Hard Control
The term “hard control” originally came from games, referring to a type of skill that prevents game players from controlling their characters for a certain period. Then, the use of the word has gradually expanded to a wider social context. It is used to describe a certain thing or phenomenon that has a strong attraction to someone, making it impossible for people to divert their attention.
The Typical Characteristics of Times
6、水灵灵地 Brightly and Beautifully
Often used to describe people whose actions are beautiful and energetic. Then, the usage of this phrase has gradually expanded, to emphasize and highlight.
7、班味 The Smell of Work
The popularity of “the smell of work” originated from an online article: “As long as you have been to work, you will be tainted with the work smell and you will never get rid of it. For instance, people have tired eyes, haggard faces, and unkempt appearance. This state is the smell of work.
8、松弛感 A Sense of Relaxation
It refers to the mental state of calmly coping with pressure, being kind to oneself, and not panicking or becoming anxious.
9、银发力量 The Power of Silver Hair
Silver hair represents the elderly. Nowadays, more and more elderly are participating in volunteer services, cultural education, and other activities, injecting a steady stream of “silver power” into social development.
10、小孩哥/小孩姐 Little Brother/Little Sister
It refers to children who have extraordinary talents in some aspect, such as cooking, performing, singing, etc. Their performance won the respect and love of adults.
Language Mirrors the Society
Huang Anjing, editor-in-chief of the magazine, noted that these words are supposed to adhere to the evaluation criteria of linguistic “sociological value.”
Language mirrors the society, Huang said. This year, the popular words reflect the typical characteristics of our times fairly clearly – the fact that the intelligent era is here, and that the younger generations, especially Generation Z, are stepping into the limelight of our society, while at the same time, the elder generations are becoming the driving forces of social development.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by ECNS, Global Times and GMW.cn. Pictures created by Yuma.
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