• Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Events/Win
  • Best Beauty Buys 2023
  • Food
    • Eating Out
    • Cooking Tips
    • Festive Food
    • Asian Recipes
    • Food
    • Celebrity Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Western Recipes
  • Family
    • Family
    • Save Money
    • Parenting
    • Sex & Marriage
    • Travel
  • Beauty & Health
    • Beauty & Health
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Awards
    • Diet & Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
  • Style
  • Great Women
    • Career
    • Great Women of Our Time
    • Real Life
  • Entertainment
  • EVENTS/WIN
  • #SchoolForLife
  • Hair Awards
  • Great Escape
  • Explore Singapore
  • Also available at:
Privacy Menu
SPH Media

Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. All rights reserved.

  • Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • 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
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
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

The Next Generation Of Rich Kids Of Inst...

Entertainment

How Fann Wong, Lee Nanxing, Sharon Au An...

Entertainment

All The Celebs Expecting Babies In 2023

Entertainment

Where To Follow The Cast Of Netflix's "P...

Entertainment

What Fann Wong, Joanne Peh, Tay ...

Entertainment

Single's Inferno S2: What To Know About ...

Entertainment

10 Things To Know About Actress And Busi...

Entertainment

Here's What Singapore's Famous "Nepo Bab...

Entertainment

5 Revenge K-Dramas With Gripping Plots &...

Entertainment

Fann Wong Celebrates 52nd Birthday On A ...

Entertainment

Hannah Quinlivan Posts Picture Of Baby D...

Entertainment

10 Romantic Shows For A Cosy Netflix And...

Don’t Miss These
  • Hair Fight Frizz And Dry Ends: 3 Easy Tips To Keep Coloured Ha...
Editor’s Picks
  • Entertainment The Next Generation Of Rich Kids Of Instagram: Singapore Edition
  • Entertainment How Fann Wong, Lee Nanxing, Sharon Au And More Celebrated 2023
  • Entertainment All The Celebs Expecting Babies In 2023
  • Entertainment Where To Follow The Cast Of Netflix's "Physical: 100" On Instagram
  • Entertainment What Fann Wong, Joanne Peh, Tay Kewei & Other Celebs Did For Luna...
  • Entertainment Single's Inferno S2: What To Know About The New Cast
Don't Miss Out Ever Again!
Tips & tricks to stay sane + win invites to our events!

By signing up, you indicate that you have read and agreed with our Privacy Statement
Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Conditions of Access
  • PDPA
  • Privacy Policy
?>">
SPH Magazine

Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. All rights reserved.