傲娇 àojiāo

    Meaning:

    Unlike the common Chinese phrase “骄傲,” which means “proud,” “傲娇” originated from Japanese manga. Often found in cute female characters, “傲

    娇” is an attribute interpreted as “seemingly arrogant and standoffish but kind and tender inside.” The phrase has been accepted by Chinese netizens with the spread of Japanese manga. It can be used to describe both male and female.

    Example:

    A: 你女朋友是什么星座的？

    Nǐ nǚpéngyou shì shénme xīngzuò de?

    What’s the horoscope of your girlfriend?

    B: 她是狮子座，典型的傲娇女。

    Tā shì shīzizuò, diǎnxíng de àojiāonǚ。

    She is a Leo, and typical Tsunderella.

    A: 你是不是处处赔小心啊？

    Nǐ shìbushì chùchù péixiǎoxīn a?

    Do you have to accommodate her all the time?

    B: 傲娇这个词形容她太贴切了，其实她是个嘴硬心软的人。要是我惹她生气了，只要一个道歉，她就会当做什么事都没有发生过。

    Aojiāo zhège cí xíngróng tā tài tiēqiè le, qíshí tā shì ge zuǐyìng xīnruǎn de rén。Yàoshi wǒ rě tā shēngqì le, zhǐyào yīgè dàoqiàn, tā jìuhuì dāngzuò shénme shì dōu méiyǒu fāshēng guò。

    Tsunderella is the exact word to describe her, because she is one of those who talk harshly but don’t really mean it. If I make her angry, I give her just one apology and she will act as if nothing had happened.