PUA

piīyūēi

verb

Meanings

1 to emotionally manipulate
2 to gaslight
3 pick-up artist tactics (used broadly)

Characters

Examples

她被男朋友PUA了很久才意识到。

Tā bèi nánpéngyou PUA le hěn jiǔ cái yìshí dào.

She was emotionally manipulated by her boyfriend for a long time before she realized it.

这个老板天天PUA员工，说他们不够努力。

Zhège lǎobǎn tiāntiān PUA yuángōng, shuō tāmen bú gòu nǔlì.

This boss gaslights employees every day, saying they don't work hard enough.

Tips

culture

Originally 'pick-up artist,' but in Chinese internet culture PUA has evolved far beyond dating. It now means any form of emotional manipulation — by bosses (职场PUA), partners, parents, or friends. It became a mainstream buzzword around 2020.

usage

Used as a verb: 被PUA = to be manipulated/gaslighted. Can describe workplace abuse (职场PUA), relationship abuse, or any situation where someone systematically undermines another's self-worth.