yóunì: 油腻 - Greasy, Oily; (Slang) Cringey, Sleazy, Creepy

• Keywords: yóunì, 油腻, greasy, oily food, Chinese slang, cringey, creepy, sleazy, middle-aged man, uncle, what does youni mean, 油腻大叔, youni dashu, Chinese internet slang, dad-vibe
• Summary: The Chinese word 油腻 (yóunì) literally means “greasy” or “oily,” used to describe food or skin. However, in modern Chinese internet culture, it has evolved into a popular and powerful slang term to describe a specific type of person—usually a middle-aged man (油腻大叔, yóunì dàshū) —who is cringey, sleazy, smug, and out of touch. Understanding yóunì is key to grasping contemporary Chinese social commentary and online humor.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yóu nì
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5 (for its literal meaning)
• Concise Definition: Literally, greasy or oily; figuratively, used as slang to describe a person (typically a middle-aged man) who is sleazy, cringey, or smug.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine eating a delicious fried dish that is just a little too oily. At first, it's good, but soon it becomes too much, leaving a cloying, slightly disgusting feeling. This is the core of 油腻 (yóunì). The term takes this physical sensation of “too much oil” and applies it to a person's personality. A 油腻 person is “too much”—they try too hard to be cool, brag unsubtly, give unsolicited advice, and have a self-satisfied air that others find off-putting or even creepy.

• 油 (yóu): This character means “oil,” “fat,” or “grease.” The three dots on the left (氵) is the “water” radical, indicating a liquid.
• 腻 (nì): This character means “greasy,” “oily,” or to be “tired of” or “sick of” something due to overexposure. The radical on the left (月) is the “meat” radical. So, you can think of 腻 as the feeling of being saturated and sickened by too much rich, fatty meat.
• Together, 油腻 (yóunì) creates an intensified meaning of “oily” to the point of being cloying and unpleasant, which forms the perfect foundation for its modern slang usage.

The slang usage of 油腻 exploded in popularity around 2017, largely thanks to an influential article by Chinese author Feng Tang titled “How to Avoid Becoming a Greasy, Cringey Middle-Aged Man” (如何避免成为一个油腻猥琐的中年男). This article listed traits of the quintessential 油腻大叔 (yóunì dàshū), or “Greasy Uncle,” which resonated deeply with the Chinese public. These traits include:

• Bragging about their past achievements or connections.
• Lecturing young people with unsolicited, cliché advice.
• Being physically out of shape yet displaying a smug self-satisfaction.
• Wearing accessories associated with “new money” taste, like large prayer beads or thick gold chains.
• Making slightly inappropriate or “dad” jokes that aren't funny.
• Trying to appear sophisticated or cultured in a clumsy, transparent way.

Comparison to Western Concepts: While you might compare 油腻 to terms like “cringey,” “sleazy,” or having a “creepy dad vibe,” it's not a perfect match. A 油腻 man isn't just awkward; he possesses a specific kind of self-satisfied smugness, often tied to having achieved a moderate level of success, which he believes entitles him to act this way. It's a critique of a certain type of masculinity in modern China that lacks self-awareness and refinement. The opposite of 油腻 is 清爽 (qīngshuǎng)—fresh, clean, and natural, both in appearance and personality.

• Describing Food (Literal): In daily life, this is the most common, neutral usage. If a dish has too much oil, you'd call it 油腻.
  • Connotation: Neutral to slightly negative.
  • Formality: Used in all settings, from casual dining to formal restaurant reviews.
• Describing People (Slang): This usage is highly informal and judgmental. It's used on social media, in text messages, and in casual conversations among friends to criticize or mock someone's behavior.
  • Connotation: Strongly negative.
  • Formality: Highly informal. You would not say this in a professional setting or directly to someone's face unless you intend to insult them. It can describe a person, their words, their smile, or their actions.

• Example 1:
  • 这道菜太油腻了，我吃几口就饱了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dào cài tài yóunì le, wǒ chī jǐ kǒu jiù bǎo le.
  • English: This dish is too greasy, I was full after just a few bites.
  • Analysis: A standard, literal use of the word to describe food. It's a common complaint or observation.
• Example 2:
  • 夏天我的皮肤特别油腻，需要经常洗脸。
  • Pinyin: Xiàtiān wǒ de pífū tèbié yóunì, xūyào jīngcháng xǐliǎn.
  • English: In the summer my skin is especially oily, I need to wash my face often.
  • Analysis: Another literal use, this time referring to oily skin.
• Example 3:
  • 我真受不了他看人的眼神，太油腻了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhēn shòu bu liǎo tā kàn rén de yǎnshén, tài yóunì le.
  • English: I really can't stand the way he looks at people, it's so creepy/sleazy.
  • Analysis: Here, 油腻 describes something intangible—a “look” or “gaze”—to convey a feeling of discomfort and sleaziness. This is a classic slang usage.
• Example 4:
  • 那个老板总是跟年轻女员工开玩笑，显得很油腻。
  • Pinyin: Nàge lǎobǎn zǒngshì gēn niánqīng nǚ yuángōng kāiwánxiào, xiǎnde hěn yóunì.
  • English: That boss is always making jokes with the young female employees; it seems very cringey/inappropriate.
  • Analysis: This example links 油腻 to a specific behavior that is considered inappropriate and out of touch.
• Example 5:
  • 他就是一个典型的油腻大叔，天天在朋友圈炫耀他的车。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiùshì yí ge diǎnxíng de yóunì dàshū, tiāntiān zài péngyǒuquān xuànyào tā de chē.
  • English: He is a classic “greasy uncle,” showing off his car on WeChat Moments every day.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the full, iconic phrase 油腻大叔 (yóunì dàshū) to label someone who fits the stereotype perfectly.
• Example 6:
  • 他年轻的时候很帅，没想到中年发福，变得有点油腻了。
  • Pinyin: Tā niánqīng de shíhou hěn shuài, méi xiǎng dào zhōngnián fāfú, biànde yǒudiǎn yóunì le.
  • English: He was very handsome when he was young; I didn't expect him to get out of shape in middle age and become a bit cringey.
  • Analysis: This shows how 油腻 is often associated with the physical and behavioral changes of middle age.
• Example 7:
  • 别再说那些油腻的土味情话了，真恶心。
  • Pinyin: Bié zài shuō nàxiē yóunì de tǔ wèi qínghuà le, zhēn ěxīn.
  • English: Stop using those cringey, cheesy pick-up lines, it's really disgusting.
  • Analysis: 油腻 can describe words or phrases, particularly those that are meant to be romantic but come across as cheesy and insincere.
• Example 8:
  • 他努力想表现得很幽默，但结果却很油腻。
  • Pinyin: Tā nǔlì xiǎng biǎoxiàn de hěn yōumò, dàn jiéguǒ què hěn yóunì.
  • English: He tried hard to seem humorous, but the result was just cringey.
  • Analysis: This highlights the “try-hard” aspect of being 油腻. The effort to be cool or funny backfires and creates an unpleasant feeling.
• Example 9:
  • 保持健身和阅读是避免变得油腻的好方法。
  • Pinyin: Bǎochí jiànshēn hé yuèdú shì bìmiǎn biànde yóunì de hǎo fāngfǎ.
  • English: Staying fit and reading are good ways to avoid becoming a “greasy” person.
  • Analysis: This reflects the cultural conversation in China around the term, where people actively discuss how to avoid the 油腻 label as they age.
• Example 10:
  • 他的笑容不是真诚的，而是油腻的。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xiàoróng búshì zhēnchéng de, érshì yóunì de.
  • English: His smile isn't sincere, it's sleazy.
  • Analysis: This shows the deep nuance of the term. It's used to judge authenticity and intent, separating a genuine expression from a calculated, unpleasant one.

• Don't use it for women: The slang term 油腻 is almost exclusively used to describe men. Applying it to a woman would sound very strange and be considered an incorrect usage.
• False Friend: “Greasy”: While the literal meaning is the same, the English slang “greasy” often implies being physically dirty, unkempt, or associated with “greaser” subculture. Chinese 油腻 is not about a lack of hygiene; it's about a cringey, smug, and outdated personality or vibe. A man in an expensive, clean suit can still be very 油腻.
• Informal and Judgmental: Remember that using 油腻 to describe a person is informal and highly critical. Avoid using it in professional or formal contexts unless you are quoting or discussing the term itself.

• 清爽 (qīngshuǎng): Fresh, clean, refreshing. The direct antonym of 油腻. A person who is natural, clean-cut, and not cringey is 清爽.
• 大叔 (dàshū): “Uncle”; a general, often affectionate term for a middle-aged man. It becomes negative when paired with 油腻.
• 猥琐 (wěisuǒ): Creepy, lewd, sleazy. This term is much stronger and more pointed than 油腻, and often describes a more overtly perverted behavior. The two are sometimes used together.
• 爹味 (dièwèi): “Dad-vibe.” A newer slang term describing a condescending, lecturing, “father-knows-best” attitude. It has a significant overlap with the behavioral traits of a 油腻 person.
• 土 (tǔ): Literally “earth/soil,” used as slang for “unfashionable,” “tacky,” or “unsophisticated.” A 油腻 person's attempts to be cool often end up looking very 土.
• 恶心 (ěxīn): Disgusting, nauseating. This describes the feeling that a 油腻 person or dish can give you.
• 装 (zhuāng): To pretend, to pose, to act. A core element of being 油腻 is 装—pretending to be more cultured, successful, or cool than one actually is.