辣妹子

làmèizi

noun

Measure Word

一个辣妹子 gè

Meanings

1 sassy young woman
2 spicy / fiery girl (esp. from southwestern China)
3 feisty country girl

Characters

younger sister; girl

Examples

她是个地地道道的湖南辣妹子。

Tā shì ge dìdìdàodào de Húnán làmèizi.

She's a real-deal Hunan firecracker of a girl.

辣妹子说话直来直去，从不绕弯。

Làmèizi shuōhuà zhí lái zhí qù, cóng bù rào wān.

Spicy girls talk straight — they never beat around the bush.

Tips

culture

The image is firmly tied to China's spice belt — Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Yunnan — where chili peppers are a staple and the women are stereotyped (affectionately) as bold, blunt and fiery. Note: distinct from English 'spice girl'; 辣妹子 is admiring, not sexualized.

register

Friendly and positive. Don't confuse with 辣妹 (làmèi, sometimes translated 'hot chick'), which can lean more toward physical attractiveness; 辣妹子 emphasizes personality.

In Pop Culture

辣妹子 Làmèizi

'Spicy Girl' (1999 song)

Hugely popular Chinese folk-pop song performed by 宋祖英 (Sòng Zǔyīng), celebrating Hunan women's fiery character. Made the term a household word.

Stroke Order

辣 là

妹 mèi

子 zǐ