• Mind & Body
  • Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Videos
  • Events/Win
  • Mind & Body
  • Covid-19 Health Guide
  • Food
    • Food
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Asian Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Eating Out
    • Festive Food
    • Cooking Tips
  • Videos
  • Family
    • Family
    • Parenting
    • Sex & Marriage
    • Travel
  • Home Ideas
    • Home Ideas
    • Decor Tips
    • Organising
    • Appliances
    • Domestic Diva Awards
    • Entertaining
  • Beauty & Health
    • Beauty & Health
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Awards
    • Diet & Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
  • Fashion
  • Career
  • Money
  • Real Life
  • Great Women
  • Entertainment
  • EVENTS/WIN
Subscribe Now!
  • Also available at:
Privacy Menu
SPH Magazine

Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved

  • Mind & Body
  • Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Videos
  • Events/Win

Entertainment

‘Ma La Ji” and “Luo Ba”: The Nicknames China Is Giving Your Favourite Celebs

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Entertainment

‘Ma La Ji” and “Luo Ba”: The Nicknames China Is Giving Your Favourite Celebs

March 22, 2018

When it comes to Chinese names for Western celebrities, “Sweet Tea” is definitely hot, “Fruit Sister” is off the menu, and an ample posterior can have you anointed “Lord of Butt”.

Chinese is expressed using idiomatic characters rather than an alphabet, making it difficult to use the language to transliterate foreign names, and opening the door for a range of creative and often bizarre appellations for well-known stars.

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/entertainment/strange-nicknames-china-giving-favourite-celebs/
'Ma La Ji" and "Luo Ba": The Nicknames China Is Giving Your Favourite Celebs
Timothee Chalamet
image

The recent Academy Awards minted a new star in China, Timothee Chalamet, a best actor nominee for — ironically — “Call Me By Your Name”.

He is known as “Tian Cha” or “Sweet Tea”, a play on the first syllables in his names and a nod to his heartthrob looks.

He is now among the hottest celebrities on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform, the subject of posts like: “Come and drink this cup of sweet tea, until the summer.”

Yep. I sure did pop in to my pop up store unannounced today in Sydney. I think the customers just thought they were bringing in another mannequin ?#KPPOPUP

Katy Perry
image

Things are not so sweet these days, however, for “Shui Guo Jie” or “Fruit Sister”, also known as Katy Perry, so-dubbed because of the fruit-coloured costumes she is known to perform in.

Jennifer Lawrence
image

In China’s hyperactive cybersphere, some names get propagated to the point where some people might find them obscure, as in the case of actress Jennifer Lawrence, or “Da Biaojie” (“Big Cousin”).

Tom Hardy
image

British actor Tom Hardy is known as “Tang Lao Shi”. “Lao Shi” means “always wet”, apparently because of his typically slicked-back hair.

Benedict Cumberbatch
image

Another hair-inspired name belongs to Benedict Cumberbatch, who sports a curly top in the “Sherlock Holmes” series and has been dubbed “Juan Fu” (“Curly blessing”).

Britney Spears
image

China’s passion for flavourful food has led to “Xiao Tian Tian” (“Little Sweetie”) for Britney Spears. 

Nicki Minaj
image

“Ma La Ji” (“Little Spicy Chicken”) for sex-symbol singer Nicki Minaj. Although we’re not quite sure how she’s a chicken 

Jennifer Lopez
image

Last but not least, there’s Jennifer Lopez, whose well-known posterior has earned her the designation “Luo Ba”, or “Lord of Butt”.

SHARE THIS ON

What’s Hot

Entertainment

Meet Kane Lim, Jamie Xie, Kim Lim And Ot...

Entertainment

Meet The Real Crazy Rich Asians In Netfl...

Entertainment

The Top Korean Dramas To Watch In 2021

Entertainment

Chinese Horoscopes 2021: Here Are The Pr...

Entertainment

5 Things You Never Knew About Bling Empi...

Entertainment

A Peek Inside Rain & Kim Tae Hee's House...

Entertainment

Romantic Korean Dramas To Watch This Feb...

Entertainment

Gardens By The Bay To Unveil Sakura Disp...

Entertainment

TV host Diana Ser's 14-Year-Old Son Look...

Entertainment

7 Juicy Details From Meghan And Harry's ...

Entertainment

Cat Lovers, The 'Cats of the World Purrz...

Entertainment

6 Billionaires And Celebrities Accused O...

Don’t Miss These
  • Wellness How 3 Singaporean Women Define What It Means To Love Your...
  • Beauty & Health Is This Taiwanese Clinical Skincare Line The Secret To Yo...
  • Family A Kid-Friendly Art Tour From The National Gallery To Litt...
Editor’s Picks
  • Entertainment A Peek Inside Rain & Kim Tae Hee's House With A Home Gym & Wine Cellar
  • Entertainment Gardens By The Bay To Unveil Sakura Display Featuring Hello Kitty
  • Entertainment TV host Diana Ser's 14-Year-Old Son Looks Just Like His Dad, James Lye
  • Entertainment K-drama Crash Landing On You Is Set To Become A Musical
  • Family Changi Airport Has A Hershey's Pop-up Store With Giant Chocolates & Whimsical...
  • Entertainment Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announce they're expecting on Valentine's Day
Don't Miss Out Ever Again!
Tips & tricks to stay sane + win invites to our events!
Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement
Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Conditions of Access
  • PDPA
  • Privacy Policy
?>
SPH Magazine

Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved