Meaning:

    “种” means to “plant,” and “草莓” are strawberries. Rather than the literal meaning of planting strawberries, this term is used by Chinese people, especially those born after the 1980s, to refer to the behavior of leaving a hickey on a loved one. A hickey is a bruise or bruise-like mark caused by the kissing or suckling of the skin, usually on the neck, its redness reminding people of strawberries.

    Example:

    A: 昨晚你和男朋友约会了吧？

    Zuówǎn nǐ hé nánpéngyǒu yuēhuì le ba?

    You went out with your boyfriend last night, right?

    B: 我们去看了场电影。你怎么知道？

    Wǒmen qù kàn le chǎng diànyǐng。Nǐ zěnme zhīdào?

    We went to a movie. How did you know?

    A: 你男朋友在你脖子上种草莓了。

    Nǐ nánpéngyǒu zài nǐ bózi shàng zhòngcǎoméi le。

    He left a hickey on your neck.

    B: 哎呀，不明显吧？

    Aiya, bù míngxiǎn ba?

    Alas, is it so obvious?

    A: 我这儿有围巾，借你用一下。

    Wǒ zhèr yǒu wéijīn, jiè nǐ yòng yīxià。

    I have a scarf that you can borrow.