Niang pao
| 娘炮 | |
| Pronunciation | Niángpào |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Literally "girlie guns / cannons" |
| Meaning | Effeminate man |
| Definition | Derogatory Chinese slang term for men perceived as effeminate |
| Classification | Gender-based slur |
| Other terms | |
| Synonyms | "Sissy" |
| Demographics | |
| Native to | Chinese language and culture |
Niang pao (Chinese: 娘炮) is a derogatory Chinese term for men perceived to be effeminate.
Overview
Niang pao literally translates to "girlie guns / girlie cannons" but is more commonly translated as "sissy".[1] It is generally used as an insult for effeminate men.[2][3]
History
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used the term in a 2018 Xinhua item intended to show its preference for the portrayal of virile Chinese men on the Internet.[4]
In 2018, the official WeChat account of People’s Daily published a commentary denouncing “such derogatory phrases including ‘niangpao,’” and called for respect and tolerance of diversified aesthetics.[5]
In 2019, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences endorsed the conspiracy theory that the United States Central Intelligence Agency initiated the phenomenon with a deliberate "campaign to 'brainwash' Asian men" starting in 1962 in Japan with the Johnny & Associates talent agency.[6]
On 2 September 2021, the CCP's Publicity Department announced that it would work on "comprehensive government" of the entertainment industry.[7]: 69 This was a response to excesses in the industry, including violations of law (such as tax evasion) and public scandals (as when a major online talent program had voting based on QR codes in milk caps, and some fans bought bottles solely for the QR codes and wasted the bottled milk).[7]: 69 The document stated that celebrity behavior that set a bad example for young people should be reined in, stating the need to curb "lawless and immoral entertainers" and "abnormal aesthetics."[7]: 69 Also on 2 September, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) issued a more concrete edict to prevent fandom behaviors deemed unhealthy:[7]: 69 It stated that abnormal aesthetics included niangpao,[7]: 70 which garnered media attention outside of China.[1][3][8] The Guardian noted Chinese television programs Youth With You and Produce 101 as examples that were targeted.[9]
See also
References
- 1 2 McDonald, Joe (2021-09-02). "China bans men it sees as not masculine enough from TV". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
- ↑ Elliott, Josh K. "China bans 'sissy' and 'effeminate' men under new macho media rules". Global News. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- 1 2 Van Oudenaren, John S. (November 5, 2021). "Chinese Government's Push for Masculinity Targets Boy Bands, Online Influencers". China Brief. Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ↑ Teixeira, Lauren (November 12, 2018), "China's Pop Idols Are Too Soft for the Party", Foreign Policy, archived from the original on September 22, 2023, retrieved September 2, 2021
- ↑ "China Targets 'Effeminate' Men in Xi's Mounting Push for Conformity". Bloomberg News. September 20, 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
- ↑ Hawkins, Amy (October 23, 2019). "CIA turned our celebrities into 'sissy pants', says Chinese Academy of Social Sciences". The Times of London. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Hockx, Michel (2026). Literature and Censorship in Modern China. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 9781032775838.
- ↑ Gu, Bo (2021-09-26). "China Tells Effeminate Male Celebrities to Man Up". Voice of America. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ↑ Ni, Vincent (September 2, 2021). "China bans reality talent shows to curb behaviours of 'idol' fandoms – Broadcasters ordered not to promote 'sissy' men in attempt to reshape country's entertainment industry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
Further reading
- Yuhan Xu (September 30, 2018). "A Fiery Debate Over 'Sissies' Vs. Macho Men In China's Social Media". National Public Radio.
- Jack Kilbride; Bang Xiao (September 14, 2018). "China's 'sissy pants phenomenon': Beijing fears negative impact of 'sickly culture' on teenagers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.