Buzz
Discover the meaning and history behind the viral John Cena meme
You’ve probably encountered the phrase “bing chilling” on social media, but do you know what it truly means? This catchy phrase is the phonetic translation of “冰淇淋 (bīng qílín),” which means “ice cream” in Mandarin. It gained fame after a viral video featuring John Cena speaking Mandarin. Over time, it has evolved into a lighthearted response used in casual conversations. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about “bing chilling,” from its pronunciation to how to use it respectfully.
The Meaning, Origin & Usage of 'Bing Chilling'
'Bing chilling' is the phonetic rendering of '冰淇淋 (bīng qílín),' which means 'ice cream' in Mandarin. The phrase became a viral sensation in 2021 after John Cena released a promotional video for Fast & Furious 9. Since then, 'bing chilling' has transformed into a neutral, playful expression that can be used in almost any situation.
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What exactly does 'bing chilling' mean?
'Bing chilling' is the phonetic version of the Mandarin word for 'ice cream.' This phrase became popular after a viral video featuring John Cena sitting in a car, eating ice cream, and promoting his film Fast & Furious 9. Though Cena is fluent in Mandarin, he mispronounces “冰淇淋 (bīng qílín)” several times during the video. The clip quickly spread online, and social media users, especially younger audiences, began using 'bing chilling' as a neutral, playful response to all sorts of questions.
- The first syllable 冰 (bīng) translates to 'ice' in Chinese, while the remaining two syllables are based on the English word 'cream.'
The Origins & Spread of 'Bing Chilling'
'Bing chilling' originates from a 2021 video of John Cena speaking Mandarin. On May 21, 2021, Cena posted the video on Weibo, China’s second-largest social platform. His amusing pronunciation of '冰淇淋 (bīng qílín)' quickly went viral, sparking translation videos on YouTube. Soon after, people began creating remixes, parodies, and meme edits of the clip.
- Mandarin transcription of the video: '早上好中国. 现在我有冰激淋 我很喜欢冰激淋. 但是《速度与激情9》比冰激淋.'
- English translation: 'Good morning, China. Now I have ice cream. I like ice cream very much, but Fast & Furious 9 is better than ice cream.'
- Phonetic transcription: 'Zǎoshang hǎo zhōngguó. Xiànzài wǒ yǒu BING CHILLING. Wǒ hěn xǐhuān BING CHILLING dànshì sùdù yǔ jīqíng 9 bǐ BING CHILLING.'
The audio from John Cena’s video went viral on TikTok in November 2022. After creators began posting videos mimicking Cena’s lines in Mandarin, the audio gained immense popularity. On November 14, 2022, TikTok user @giapaoohehe posted a video that quickly racked up over 4 million views and 300,000 likes within four days. Another video by @alfalis received over 13 million views and 2.7 million likes in just under three days.
- The TikTok trend focused on humorously exaggerating Cena’s mispronunciation of '冰淇淋 (bīng qílín),' rather than presenting an accurate Mandarin rendition.
How are people using 'bing chilling'?
Some people use 'bing chilling' as an adjective to describe something as 'chill.' Whether it's a situation, a mood, or an object, you can use 'bing chilling' to mean something is relaxed, easygoing, or just laid-back. It’s a playful way to respond and adds some fun to the conversation.
- You: 'How was the party?'
Them: 'Bing chilling 🤙' - You: 'What’s the vibe tonight?'
Them: 'Bing chilling 🛋️'
Others use 'bing chilling' as a verb to mean 'chilling.' In this case, 'chilling' refers to relaxing and not engaging in anything too intense. You can say you're 'bing chilling' when you’re just unwinding, whether that’s cooking, reading, or watching TV.
- You: 'What are you up to?'
Them: 'Just bing chilling 😌' - You: 'How was your weekend?'
Them: 'I was bing chilling.'
Many social media users include the 'bing chilling' dialogue in their posts. On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, users often caption their ice cream photos with the famous phonetic lines from John Cena’s video. The phrase 'bing chilling' is also widely used in memes, or to add humor to videos by including the viral audio clip in the background.
Is it okay to use 'bing chilling?'
It depends on the context, but 'bing chilling' could be seen as offensive. While it's commonly used as a neutral or playful expression in casual conversations, some people feel that it can be problematic. Some non-Asian individuals may use the phrase to mock the Chinese language or, more broadly, to stereotype Asian cultures. On the Internet, 'bing chilling' is often paired with images or videos featuring East or Southeast Asian individuals, even if they are not Chinese. This can be problematic, as it reduces diverse cultures to a single identity and comes across as insensitive or offensive.
- To pronounce “冰淇淋 (bīng qílín)” correctly, focus on making a 'ts' sound for the character 淇 (qí), instead of the typical 'ch' sound. It might help to place the tip of your tongue near the roof of your mouth as you say it. Also, make sure to apply rising tones to both syllables in 淇淋 (qílín), avoiding stress on the first syllable.
