Meaning:

“单身” means “single,” and “狗” is “dog.” Traditionally, to call someone a “dog” in Chinese is very demeaning. But Chinese netizens have changed the connotations of many characters with their creative, usually sacarstic use of the language. A term used by Chinese netizens to address singles jokingly, “single dog” is often used in self mocking. There is even a popular song by the name of “Single Dog.”

Example:

A: 我想找个男朋友。

Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo gè nánpéngyǒu。

I want a boyfriend.

B: 受什么打击了？

Shòu shénme dǎjī le?

Did someone upset you?

A: 老板说准备放圣诞假，我一脸兴奋还来不及说话！

Lǎobǎn shuō zhǔnbèi fàng shèngdàn jià, wǒ yīliǎn xīngfèn hái láibùjí shuōhuà!

My boss said he was planning to give us a holiday at Christmas, and I was so excited. Before I could say anything —

B: 然后呢？

Ránhòu ne?

Then what?

A: 他就补上一句：“首先，你得有个男朋友才让你放！” 这不是歧视单身狗嘛！

Tā jìu bǔshàng yījù: “Shǒuxiān, nǐ děi yǒu gè nánpéngyǒu cái ràng nǐ fàng!” Zhè bùshì qíshì dānshēngǒu ma!

Then he said to me, “I will give you the day off if you have a boyfriend!” Isn’t that discrimination against singles?