--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... the Chinese have become very good at…" description: "\"“... the Chinese have become very good at coming up with puns, alternative words, and memes. For example, they talk about the battle between the grass-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/michael-anti-39712_censorship_the-chinese-have-become-very-good-at-com_126369.png" --- # ... the Chinese have become very good at coming up with… ![“... the Chinese have become very good at coming up with puns, alternative words, and memes. For example, they talk about the battle between the grass-mud horse and the river crab. The grass-mud horse, caonima, is the phonogram for "mother-fucker" - what the netizens call themselves. The river…” quote by Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/michael-anti-39712_censorship_the-chinese-have-become-very-good-at-com_126369.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/michael-anti-39712_censorship_the-chinese-have-become-very-good-at-com_126369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/michael-anti-39712_censorship_the-chinese-have-become-very-good-at-com_126369.png) > ““... the Chinese have become very good at coming up with puns, alternative words, and memes. For example, they talk about the battle between the grass-mud horse and the river crab. The grass-mud horse, caonima, is the phonogram for "mother-fucker" - what the netizens call themselves. The river crab, hexie, is the phonogram for "harmonisation" or "censorship". So you have a battle between the caonima and the hexie. When big political stories happen, you find netizens discussing them using such weird phrases and words that you can't understand them even if you have a PhD in Chinese.”” [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chinese netizens use coded language to evade censorship, creating a linguistic arms race. **In simple terms:** Censorship drives creative slang online. Key Takeaway Language adapts to political pressure. Themes censorship internet culture language politics Mood wry critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - social media - online forums - activist campaigns Key Concepts semiotics digital resistance Practical Applications - monitor emerging slang for trends Questions to Reflect On - How does slang affect public discourse? - What are the limits of digital resistance? A Different Perspective Coded speech may obscure meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Censorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“So why is Chinese social networking booming despite the censorship? Part of the reason is the Chinese language. Posts on Twitter and Twitter clones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/so-why-is-chinese-social-networking-booming-despite-the-censorship/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/don-t-join-the-book-burners-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-conceal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [In a feature film, the question of censorship always comes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-jaffrey/in-a-feature-film-the-question-of-censorship-always-comes-up/) [Javed Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-jaffrey/) > [The only thing that is obscene is censorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-is-obscene-is-censorship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The tendency to want what has been banned and therefore to presume that it is more worthwhile is not limited to such commodities as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/the-tendency-to-want-what-has-been-banned-and-therefore-to-presume/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [Art made tongue-tied by authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/art-made-tongue-tied-by-authority/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I think that, honestly, people's censorship issues are personal but I disagree with most of those personal choices that I see others make. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-think-that-honestly-people-s-censorship-issues-are-personal-but-i/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [“I agree that it's a shame some books have to suffer ratings that clearly are invalid. However I can't think of a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-y-chandler/i-agree-that-it-s-a-shame-some-books-have-to-suffer-ratings-that/) Otis Y. Chandler > [When there is official censorship it is a sign that speech is serious. Where there is none, it is pretty certain that the official…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/when-there-is-official-censorship-it-is-a-sign-that-speech-is-serious/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [We must be talented, powerful and resilient creatures indeed given how much we manage to produce despite the constant undercutting, ridicule and needless censorship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/we-must-be-talented-powerful-and-resilient-creatures-indeed-given-how/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [I don't believe in censorship in any form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-don-t-believe-in-censorship-in-any-form/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/censorship-is-the-child-of-fear-and-the-father-of-ignorance/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“Censors don’t want children exposed to ideas different from their own. If every individual with an agenda had his/her way, the shelves in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/censors-don-t-want-children-exposed-to-ideas-different-from-their-own/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) ## More by Michael Anti > [“So why is Chinese social networking booming despite the censorship? Part of the reason is the Chinese language. Posts on Twitter and Twitter clones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/so-why-is-chinese-social-networking-booming-despite-the-censorship/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [One Chinese tweet is equal to 3.5 English tweets. ... Because of this, the Chinese really regard this microblogging as a media, not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/one-chinese-tweet-is-equal-to-3-5-english-tweets-because-of-this-the/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [China is a BRIC country. BRIC country means Brazil, Russia, India and China. This emerging economy really is helping the revival of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/china-is-a-bric-country-bric-country-means-brazil-russia-india-and/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [More and more Chinese intend to embrace freedom of speech and human rights as their birthright, not some imported American privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/more-and-more-chinese-intend-to-embrace-freedom-of-speech-and-human/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [Social media changed Chinese mindset. More and more Chinese intend to embrace freedom of speech and human rights as their birthright, not some imported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/social-media-changed-chinese-mindset-more-and-more-chinese-intend-to/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [There is a long tradition in China for writers and journalists to take pen names, partly as protection from retaliation by authorities. If Facebook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/there-is-a-long-tradition-in-china-for-writers-and-journalists-to/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [ \[On Chinese Internet,\] freedom is a targeted and precise window. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/on-chinese-internet-freedom-is-a-targeted-and-precise-window/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [Chinese central government doesn't need to even lead public opinion: it just selectively stops censorship. In other words, just as censorship is a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/chinese-central-government-doesn-t-need-to-even-lead-public-opinion/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [Chinese national Internet policy is very simple: Block and clone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/chinese-national-internet-policy-is-very-simple-block-and-clone/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) > [You have Google, we have Baidu. You have Twitter, we have Weibo. You have Facebook, we have Renren. You have YouTube, we have Youku…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anti/you-have-google-we-have-baidu-you-have-twitter-we-have-weibo-you-have/) [Michael Anti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) [Explore all 11 Michael Anti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anti/) ## More Censorship quotes > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [“Censors don’t want children exposed to ideas different from their own. If every individual with an agenda had his/her way, the shelves in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/censors-don-t-want-children-exposed-to-ideas-different-from-their-own/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/censorship-is-the-child-of-fear-and-the-father-of-ignorance/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I don't believe in censorship in any form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-don-t-believe-in-censorship-in-any-form/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [We must be talented, powerful and resilient creatures indeed given how much we manage to produce despite the constant undercutting, ridicule and needless censorship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/we-must-be-talented-powerful-and-resilient-creatures-indeed-given-how/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When there is official censorship it is a sign that speech is serious. Where there is none, it is pretty certain that the official…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/when-there-is-official-censorship-it-is-a-sign-that-speech-is-serious/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [“I agree that it's a shame some books have to suffer ratings that clearly are invalid. However I can't think of a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-y-chandler/i-agree-that-it-s-a-shame-some-books-have-to-suffer-ratings-that/) Otis Y. Chandler > [I think that, honestly, people's censorship issues are personal but I disagree with most of those personal choices that I see others make. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-think-that-honestly-people-s-censorship-issues-are-personal-but-i/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [Art made tongue-tied by authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/art-made-tongue-tied-by-authority/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“The tendency to want what has been banned and therefore to presume that it is more worthwhile is not limited to such commodities as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/the-tendency-to-want-what-has-been-banned-and-therefore-to-presume/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [The only thing that is obscene is censorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-is-obscene-is-censorship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a feature film, the question of censorship always comes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-jaffrey/in-a-feature-film-the-question-of-censorship-always-comes-up/) [Javed Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-jaffrey/) > [“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/don-t-join-the-book-burners-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-conceal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [ If no one speaks out for \[young readers\], if they don’t speak out for themselves, all they’ll get for required reading will be the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/if-no-one-speaks-out-for-young-readers-if-they-don-t-speak-out-for/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) [Browse all 884 Censorship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/censorship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“... the Chinese have become very good at coming up with puns, alternative words, and memes. For example, they talk about the battle between the grass-mud horse and the river crab. The grass-mud horse, caonima, is the phonogram for \"mother-fucker\" - what the netizens call themselves. The river crab, hexie, is the phonogram for \"harmonisation\" or \"censorship\". So you have a battle between the caonima and the hexie. 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