社牛
释义 DEFINITION
社牛（shè niú）是“社交牛人”或“社交牛逼症”的缩写，原指在社交场合如鱼得水、毫不怯场的人。该词包含两层含义：
- 字面解释：指天生具备超强社交能力，能在陌生环境中迅速建立关系的“社交天才”。
- 网络延伸义：现多用于形容故意用夸张言行打破社交常规（如公共场所大声表演、与陌生人强行互动），通过制造“社交牛逼”效果获取关注的人，这种行为常带有表演性质。
当前网络语境中，第二种解释使用频率更高，且词性逐渐从中性转向调侃或轻微贬义。
词源故事 ETYMOLOGY
【社牛进化史】
2021年，“社牛”作为“社交牛逼症”的缩写席卷中文互联网。其起源可追溯至早期网红“明星权志龙”在地铁大声外放土味视频的行为——这种刻意制造的尴尬场景，恰与“社恐”（社交恐惧）形成戏剧化对比。
该词爆发源于两个文化触点：一是B站UP主“双喜哥”系列视频，记录他在火锅店给陌生人敬酒、街头强行帮人理发等行为；二是综艺《脱口秀大会》中选手鸟鸟以“社恐”人设走红，反向助推“社牛”成为流量密码。
发展过程中，“社牛”经历了语义漂移：早期带有敬佩意味（如外交官华春莹被称“外交社牛”），后因大量短视频博主为流量刻意制造尴尬互动（如超市货架前假装直播卖货），逐渐衍生出“厚脸皮”“博眼球”的负面联想。值得玩味的是，2023年《中国青年报》调查显示，62%的Z世代一边嘲讽“社牛表演”，一边承认羡慕其“情绪自由”能力。
例句：“真正的社牛不是嗓门大，而是像谷爱凌那样，能用中文讲脱口秀逗笑全场美国人。”
DEFINITION
Social Savant (shè niú), literally translated as 'socially skilled ox', is a Chinese internet slang combining the words for 'social' (社交) and 'cattle' (牛). It describes two types of behavior:
- Positive connotation: Someone with exceptional social skills who can effortlessly charm any crowd, akin to a 'social butterfly on steroids'.
- Internet culture twist: More commonly refers to people who intentionally break social norms with outrageous public behavior (e.g., singing loudly on subways, fake-proposing to strangers) to gain viral attention – think 'cringe comedy meets performance art'.
Warning: While Western culture celebrates confidence, 社牛 behavior often crosses into territory that Americans might consider 'second-hand embarrassment' material.
ETYMOLOGY
[The Rise of Social Savants]
The term 社牛 exploded in 2021 as China's answer to cringe culture. It originated from viral videos of influencers like 'Fake-GDragon' blasting cheesy music on subways – a deliberate contrast to 社恐 (social anxiety), creating what netizens call 'second-hand embarrassment porn'.
Two key moments fueled its spread: Bilibili creator 'Double Happiness' filming himself toasting strangers in hotpot restaurants, and stand-up comedian Niao Niao's 'social anxiety' persona going viral, making 社牛 the perfect comedic foil.
Cultural context matters: While Americans might see this as mere clout-chasing, in China's collectivist society where 'saving face' (面子) is paramount, 社牛 behavior represents a rebellious performance art. State media even analyzed this phenomenon, with China Youth Daily noting that 62% of Gen-Z admit envying 社牛's 'emotional freedom' despite mocking their antics.
Example: 'Real 社牛 isn't about being loud – it's Eileen Gu flawlessly roasting Americans in Chinese during her TED talk.'