When combined, 肉麻 (ròumá) literally means “flesh-tingling.” This brilliant combination creates a vivid image of the physical reaction one has to something cringeworthy—your skin crawls, you get goosebumps (鸡皮疙瘩 - jīpí gēda), and you feel a sense of physical discomfort from the sheer cheesiness of the situation.
The concept of 肉麻 (ròumá) is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, which traditionally values subtlety and restraint (含蓄 - hánxù) in emotional expression. In many Western cultures, especially American culture, grand, public declarations of love and highly expressive compliments are often seen as romantic and sincere. Think of a character in a Hollywood movie shouting “I love you!” from a rooftop. While seen as romantic in that context, a similar real-life act in China might easily be labeled as 肉麻. This is because overt, flowery, and dramatic displays of affection can be perceived as lacking sincerity or being performative. There's a cultural preference for showing love and respect through actions, quiet support, and more reserved language. Therefore, the threshold for what is considered 肉麻 is often lower in a Chinese context than what might be considered “cheesy” in the West. It highlights a cultural appreciation for emotional subtlety over dramatic expression.
肉麻 is a very common, informal word used in a variety of everyday situations. Its connotation is generally negative or teasing.