鸡娃

雞娃

jīwá

verb

Meanings

1 to push a child to excel
2 tiger parenting
3 to pressure kids academically

Characters

chicken; to stimulate (slang)

Literally 'chicken the child' — injecting kids with competitive energy like a shot of chicken blood

Examples

现在的家长太喜欢鸡娃了。

Xiànzài de jiāzhǎng tài xǐhuan jīwá le.

Parents nowadays are way too into pushing their kids.

鸡娃不如鸡自己。

Jīwá bùrú jī zìjǐ.

Instead of pushing your kids, push yourself.

她从小被鸡，现在很反感这种教育方式。

Tā cóngxiǎo bèi jī, xiànzài hěn fǎngǎn zhè zhǒng jiàoyù fāngshì.

She was pushed hard since childhood and now resents that style of education.

Tips

culture

鸡娃 comes from 打鸡血 (inject chicken blood — an old quack remedy for energy). It describes anxious urban parents who enroll kids in endless tutoring, competitions, and extracurriculars. The term became especially popular before the 双减 (double reduction) education policy of 2021.

usage

Can be used as a verb (鸡娃 = to push a child) or shortened: 被鸡 (to be pushed by parents), 鸡自己 (to push oneself). The 娃 can be dropped when the context is clear.

Stroke Order

鸡 jī

娃 wá