Meaning:

    “晕” literally means “faint,” and this word has been popular among Chinese netizens for quite a long time. In the early 2000s, when online chatrooms were super hot in China, some people started to use the word when they were shocked, frustrated or simply did not know how to respond. People may say “我晕” (I’m going to faint) or simply “晕” (faint). This is similar to later expressions like “无语” (speechless) and “石化” (petrified).

    Example:

    A: 现在中学自主招生的考题可真是千奇百怪。

    Xiànzài zhōngxué zìzhǔ zhāoshēng de kǎotí kě zhēnshì qiānqí-bǎiguài。

    The exam questions high schools give their applicants are so weird nowadays.

    B: 有什么奇葩的考题说来听听。

    Yǒu shénme qípā de kǎotí shuō lái tīngtīng。

    Tell me one. I want to see how weird it is.

    A: 你看这个：我堂哥的妻子的儿子的父亲是谁？

    Nǐ kàn zhègè: wǒ tánggē de qīzi de érzi de fùqīn shì shuí?

    Check it out: Who is my cousin’s wife’s son’s father?

    B: 我晕，这是考逻辑吧？

    Wǒ yūn, zhè shì kǎo luójí ba?

    I’m going to faint. Is that a test for logic?