五毛

wǔmáo
noun

Meanings

  1. 1 fifty cents (0.5 RMB)
  2. 2 (figurative) a paltry sum of money
  3. 3 (slang, abbreviation of 五毛党) hired pro-government internet commenter

Examples

Zhè běn shū cái wǔ máo qián.
This book costs only fifty cents.
Wǎngshàng yǒurén mà tā shì wǔmáo.
People online called him a 'fifty-center' (paid commenter).

Tips

culture
The slang sense — short for 五毛 (wǔmáo dǎng, 'Fifty-Cent Party') — refers to internet users allegedly paid 0.5 yuan per pro-government post. The term emerged around 2004-2005 and has become a common political insult on Chinese social media.
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When used to mean a paid commenter, 五毛 is highly pejorative. Be very careful using it in conversation: you're accusing someone of being a paid propagandist.

Stroke Order

máo