Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== wǎnghóng diàn: 网红店 - Internet-Famous Store, Influencer Spot, Instagrammable Shop ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** wanghong dian, 网红店, what is wanghong, internet famous store China, Chinese influencer store, Instagrammable cafe China, viral shops in China, daka, social media spots, trendy Chinese shops, Xiaohongshu spots * **Summary:** "网红店" (wǎnghóng diàn) is a modern Chinese term for an "internet-famous store," a physical establishment like a cafe, restaurant, or shop that gains immense popularity through social media. These places are typically designed to be highly photogenic or "Instagrammable," attracting customers who want to "dǎkǎ" (打卡) — check in and post photos online. The term captures a key aspect of modern Chinese consumer culture driven by influencers (网红) and platforms like Xiaohongshu. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wǎnghóng diàn * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A (This is a modern neologism, not yet in the HSK, but extremely common in daily life.) * **Concise Definition:** A physical store, restaurant, or cafe that has become famous online through social media and influencers. * **In a Nutshell:** A "网红店" is a business whose fame is born on the internet. It's less about traditional quality or reputation and more about aesthetics, novelty, and shareability. Think of a cafe with a unique theme, a restaurant with beautifully presented food, or a milk tea shop with a signature colorful drink. The primary goal is to get people to take photos and post them online, creating a viral loop of free marketing. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **网 (wǎng):** Means "net". Originally referring to a physical net for fishing or catching things, it's now universally used to refer to the internet (网络 wǎngluò). * **红 (hóng):** Means "red". In Chinese culture, red is an auspicious color associated with success, fortune, and celebration. In modern slang, being "red" means being popular, famous, or "hot" (like a "red-hot" celebrity). * **店 (diàn):** Means "store" or "shop". Combining them, **网红 (wǎnghóng)** literally means "internet red," which is the Chinese term for an "internet celebrity" or "influencer." Adding **店 (diàn)** creates **网红店 (wǎnghóng diàn)**, an "influencer store" or, more accurately, a store made famous by the internet and its influencers. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of the "网红店" is deeply tied to the meteoric rise of social media and e-commerce in China. Platforms like **小红书 (Xiaohongshu)**, **微博 (Weibo)**, and **抖音 (Douyin)** are the breeding grounds for these trendy spots. The core cultural practice driving this phenomenon is **打卡 (dǎkǎ)**, which literally means "to punch a card" (like a time clock). In this context, it means "to check in" at a location by visiting it and, most importantly, posting photographic evidence online. For many young Chinese people, visiting a 网红店 is a social activity centered on creating content for their feeds, proving they are in touch with the latest trends. Compared to the Western concept of an "Instagrammable spot," the 网红店 is a more defined and commercialized category in China. While a Western cafe might accidentally become "Instagrammable" due to its nice decor, a 网红店 is often **engineered** from the ground up to be a perfect photo backdrop. This can sometimes lead to a reputation for prioritizing style over substance, where the food or products may be secondary to the experience of being there. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== The term is used ubiquitously in daily conversation, especially among younger generations. * **Finding Trendy Spots:** People will search for "网红店" on apps like Dianping (China's Yelp) or Xiaohongshu to find the hottest new