Meaning:

    “冒” means to “rise above the surface,” and “泡” is a “bubble.” Literally, “冒泡” means “bubbles rising to the surface.” Chinese netizens now use it to mean “making a remark online,” as in contrast to “潜

    水” (diving).

    Example:

    A: 昨天论坛里的讨论太热烈了，我都忍不住冒泡了。

    Zuótiān lùntán lǐ de tǎolùn tài rèliè le, wǒ dōu rěnbuzhù màopào le。

    The debate was so heated on the BBS that I couldn’t help making a remark.

    B: 你是说关于取消红灯禁止右转的讨论吗？

    Nǐ shì shuō guānyú qǔxiāo hóngdēng jìnzhǐ yòuzhuǎn de tǎolùn ma?

    Are you talking about the discussion on the new rule that drops the ban on vehicles turning right against red lights?

    A: 是啊，你也在线上？

    Shì a, nǐ yě zài xiàn shang?

    Yeah. Were you online too?

    B: 我在潜水。

    Wǒ zài qiǎnshuǐ。

    I was “diving.” (I was looking on the debate but didn’t speak — similar to “lurking” in English.)

    A: 你怎么看这件事？

    Nǐ zěnme kàn zhè jiàn shì?

    What’s your opinion?

    B: 我觉得这是文明的倒退。

    Wēi juédé zhè shì wénmíng de dàotuì。

    I think it a backslide for a civilized society.