Slang

YYDS stands for 永远的神 (yǒngyuǎn de shén, 'forever god'), the Chinese internet's equivalent of 'GOAT.' Originally from esports, it's now used to hype literally anything: food, celebrities, exam scores, sunsets.

What YYDS means

1

In the dictionary

Not in any textbook. YYDS is a pinyin acronym: 永远的神 (yǒngyuǎn de shén).

2

What people mean online

Short for 永远的神 (yǒngyuǎn de shén, 'forever god'), the Chinese internet's version of 'GOAT' (greatest of all time). Used to hype up anything: athletes, food, songs, memes, even everyday objects. Started in gaming esports fandom and became China's most ubiquitous slang acronym.

Character breakdown

永
yǒng
forever
+
远
yuǎn
far/eternal
+
的
de
('s)
+
神
shén
god
=
YYDS
YYDS
“eternal god”

How people use it

Hype · Bilibili comment under a cooking video

这个红烧肉YYDS！看完我直接下楼买五花肉。

"This braised pork is YYDS! I went straight downstairs to buy pork belly after watching."

Ironic · WeChat group after a friend aces an exam

考了98分？你就是YYDS，我们都是凡人。

"98 points? You are YYDS. The rest of us are mere mortals."

Casual · Douyin comment under a sunset video

这晚霞真的YYDS，手机拍不出十分之一。

"This sunset is truly YYDS. A phone can't capture even a tenth of it."

Where it comes from

YYDS emerged from Chinese esports commentary in 2020 when League of Legends player Uzi retired and fans flooded Bilibili and Weibo with '永远的神' tributes. The pinyin acronym (Y-Y-D-S from yǒng-yuǎn-de-shén) caught on because typing four letters was faster than four characters. Within months it escaped gaming entirely: food bloggers called hotpot YYDS, students called their favorite teachers YYDS, and it became China's default hyperbolic compliment.

The term is notable as one of the few pinyin-initial acronyms to cross into mainstream spoken Chinese. Unlike text-only slang, people actually say 'Y-Y-D-S' out loud. It was so pervasive that Chinese state media published editorials asking young people to use 'proper Chinese' instead. This backlash, predictably, only made it more popular. By 2021 it was voted one of China's top internet buzzwords.

Common questions

What does YYDS mean in Chinese?

YYDS stands for 永远的神 (yǒngyuǎn de shén), which literally translates to 'forever god' or 'eternal god.' It's the Chinese internet's version of 'GOAT' (greatest of all time), used to express extreme admiration or hype for anything: people, food, places, experiences.

Where did YYDS come from?

YYDS originated in Chinese esports fandom in 2020, specifically from fans of League of Legends player Uzi (简自豪). When he retired, fans flooded Bilibili and Weibo with '永远的神' tributes. The pinyin acronym (Y from yǒng, Y from yuǎn, D from de, S from shén) caught on as a faster way to type it, then escaped gaming entirely.

How do you pronounce YYDS?

People say the individual letters: 'Y-Y-D-S' (like reading English letters). It's one of the rare Chinese internet acronyms that crossed from text into spoken conversation. The full phrase is 永远的神 (yǒng yuǎn de shén).

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