玉米虫

    yùmǐchóng

    Meaning: Literally translated as "cornbug," this term is the nickname for "cybersquatters," as Chinese cybersquatters call a domain name "玉米" (corn). That's because the Chinese pronunciation of "domain name" (域名) is sort of similar to that of "corn." Cybersquatters also call the practice of registering a domain name "煮玉米" (cooking corns). Cybersquatting (also known as domain squatting) is registering, trafficking in, or using an Internet domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. The cybersquatter then offers to sell the domain to the person or company who owns a trademark contained within the name at an inflated price.

    Example

    A: 小丽就是普通白领，怎么日子过得那么奢华？

    Xiǎolì jìushì pǔtōng báilǐng, zěnme rìzi guòde nàme shēhuá?

    Xiaoli is just a common white-collar worker. How can she afford a luxurious lifestyle?

    B: 她是个玉米虫，之前有个抢注的域名卖了一百万元。

    Tā shì gè yùmǐchóng, zhīqián yǒu gè qiǎngzhù de yùmíng mài le yībǎiwàn yuán。

    She's a cybersquatter and she sold one of her registered domain names for a million yuan.