kāi hēi: 开黑 - To game together as a pre-made team, To squad up (in gaming)

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Summary: 开黑 (kāi hēi) is a hugely popular Chinese internet slang term that means to form a pre-arranged team with friends to play multiplayer online games. Instead of playing with random strangers, you “squad up” or “party up” with people you know, often coordinating through a private voice chat channel. This term is central to the social fabric of online gaming in China, used for everything from casual fun to competitive matches in games like League of Legends and Honor of Kings.

Pinyin (with tone marks): kāi hēi

Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Slang

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: To form a pre-arranged team with friends to play an online multiplayer game.

In a Nutshell: “Kāi hēi” is the go-to phrase for inviting friends to play an online game as a team. It literally translates to “open black,” which refers to starting a “black,” or private, game lobby or voice chat channel, separate from the public matchmaking pool. It's the Chinese equivalent of saying “Wanna squad up?” or “Let's party up.” The core idea is about teamwork, communication, and the social experience of gaming with friends rather than random players.

开 (kāi): To open, to start, to turn on, to initiate. This character signifies the beginning of an action.

黑 (hēi): Black, dark, secret, shady.

The literal combination “open black” can be confusing. The term originates from early gaming culture, particularly from LAN cafes (网吧, wǎngbā). The “黑” refers to a “black room” (黑屋, hēiwū) or a dishonest shop (黑店, hēidiàn). In gaming, this evolved to mean a private lobby or voice chat where a pre-made team could coordinate secretly, hidden from their random teammates or opponents. Therefore, “开黑” means to “initiate a private team session.”

Gaming as a Social Hub: In modern China, especially for younger generations, online gaming is a primary form of social interaction. It's as common as going to a bar or watching a movie together is in the West. “开黑” is the key that unlocks this social activity. An invitation to “开黑” is an invitation to hang out, bond, and strengthen friendships in a digital space.

Collectivism in the Digital Age: The concept of “开黑” reflects a modern, digital version of Chinese collectivist values. The emphasis is on the group's success and coordination rather than individual glory. Playing with a trusted team (an in-group) is highly preferred over relying on unpredictable strangers (the out-group). This contrasts with the more individualistic “solo queue” mindset that can be prevalent in Western gaming. While Westerners certainly “squad up,” the act of “开黑” in China often carries a stronger social weight as a core bonding ritual.

Building 'Gamer Guanxi': While not traditional `关系 (guānxi)`, “开黑” is a way to build and maintain a modern, informal type of social network. Consistently playing together, carrying your teammates, and communicating well builds trust and camaraderie that extends beyond the game itself.

“开黑” is highly informal and is used almost exclusively by people who play video games, primarily those in their teens, twenties, and thirties. You would hear it constantly in dorm rooms, internet cafes, and on social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo.

As an Invitation: It's most commonly used to ask someone to play. “晚上开黑吗?” (Wǎnshang kāi hēi ma? - Wanna squad up tonight?) is a very frequent invitation.

As a Status: Someone might say “我在开黑” (Wǒ zài kāi hēi - I'm in a game with my team right now) to explain why they are busy.

On Social Media: Gamers will often post screenshots of their team's victory with a caption like “开黑五连胜！” (kāi hēi wǔ lián shèng! - Five-game winning streak with the squad!).

Connotation: The term is overwhelmingly positive and social, associated with fun, friendship, and teamwork.

Not “Hacking”: A common mistake for learners is to see 黑 (hēi) and think of its negative connotations like “illegal” or “illicit” (e.g., 黑市 hēishì - black market; 黑客 hēikè - hacker). In the context of “开黑,” it does not mean to cheat or hack. It simply means “private” or “secret.”

Implies Communication: While “playing with friends” is a good approximation, “开黑” strongly implies that the team is communicating, usually via voice chat. It's about coordinated, strategic play, which is why it's so different from playing with a friend who is in the same game but not on a call with you.

`带飞 (dài fēi)` - To carry (a weaker player to victory). A skilled player is often invited to “开黑” to “带飞” the team.

`躺赢 (tǎng yíng)` - To win a game effortlessly while being carried by teammates. This is what you do when a “大神” is “带飞” you during “开黑”.

`菜鸟 (cài niǎo)` - A “noob” or beginner. The desire to avoid playing with random “菜鸟” is a primary motivation for “开黑”.

`大神 (dà shén)` - A “god-tier” or expert player. Everyone wants a “大神” on their “开黑” team.

`团战 (tuán zhàn)` - Team fight. This is the moment in a game where the coordination from “开黑” pays off the most.

`坑 (kēng)` - Literally “pit,” slang for a terrible player who drags the team down. A “坑” is the opposite of a “大神”.

`五排 (wǔ pái)` - “Five-person queue.” A specific term for a full 5-person pre-made team in ranked mode for a 5v5 game like League of Legends. This is a common form of “开黑”.

`语音 (yǔyīn)` - Voice chat. The essential tool that enables effective communication during “开黑”.