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鸡娃

雞娃
jīwá
verb

Meanings

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

Characters

鸡
jī
chicken; to stimulate (slang)
娃
wá
child; baby
Literally 'chicken the child' - injecting kids with competitive energy like a shot of chicken blood

Examples

HSK 3
她不想鸡娃，只希望孩子快乐地长大。
Tā bù xiǎng jīwá, zhǐ xīwàng háizi kuàilè de zhǎngdà.
She doesn't want to push her child; she just hopes the kid grows up happy.
HSK 4
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.
HSK 4
鸡娃不如鸡自己。
Jīwá bùrú jī zìjǐ.
Instead of pushing your kids, push yourself.

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