Get Ready to Learn Chinese, Buddy Meme: What’s the Origin

“Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy” began as a fake Bleacher Report graphic posted in November 2022, shortly after Kyrie Irving’s antisemitism controversy, featuring NBA commissioner Adam Silver with a fabricated quote telling Irving to “get ready to learn Chinese, buddy.”

From there, the image quickly spread across NBA Twitter before jumping to TikTok, Reddit, and even Valorant voice chats, evolving into a wider meme used to mock players, athletes, or really anyone seen as underperforming or washed. The joke implies that they no longer belong in a top-tier league and should instead prepare to play in a lower-profile one, most often China’s CBA, with the Shanghai Sharks becoming the meme’s most iconic fictional destination.

Since late 2022, the phrase has been endlessly Photoshopped onto everyone from Ben Simmons to your cousin who missed a free throw at the gym, turning six words into one of the internet’s most recognizable joke threats. Its popularity has extended beyond social media too, with “get ready to learn Chinese buddy” becoming a fast-rising long-tail search term and “learn Chinese meme” reportedly seeing a sharp spike in search interest.

What Does “Get Ready to Learn Chinese, Buddy” Mean?

In internet culture, this phrase is the ultimate “mock demotion notice.” When a professional athlete (especially in the NBA) plays poorly, fans spam this meme to suggest the player is no longer fit for the top-tier league.

The implication? They should start practicing Mandarin because their next job will likely be with a team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), such as the infamous Shanghai Sharks.

The Origin of Get Ready to Learn Chinese: A Fake Quote That Went Viral

While the sentiment of “sending players to China” has existed since the Daryl Morey controversy in 2019, the specific “Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy” macro was born on November 8th, 2022.

The Catalyst: 

NBA star Kyrie Irving was embroiled in an antisemitic controversy.

The Source: 

A parody Twitter account, @realnbaquotz, posted a fabricated Bleacher Report infographic. It showed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver with the caption: “Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy.”

The Impact: 

Despite being fake, the image perfectly captured the “NBA Twitter” humor. It garnered thousands of likes and retweets instantly, jumping from a specific critique of Irving to a general reaction for any struggling player.

The “Shanghai Sharks” & The Evolution of the Meme

You can’t talk about this meme without mentioning the Shanghai Sharks.

In the NBA community, the Sharks have become the “meme destination” for struggling stars. This started with Ben Simmons during his 2021 shooting slump and peaked with Dillon Brooks in 2023. When Brooks was released by the Grizzlies, the internet was flooded with photoshopped images of him in a Shanghai Sharks jersey.

Why China?

The CBA is a popular landing spot for former NBA players (like Stephon Marbury or Jimmer Fredette) to revitalized their careers. The meme turns this professional reality into a humorous “threat” for failing stars.

How to actually say this meme in Chinese?

Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy?

准备好学中文了吗，伙计？

(Zhǔnbèi hǎo xué Zhōngwén le ma, huǒji?)

Chinese Vocabulary Breakdown: “Get Ready to Learn Chinese, Buddy!”

Pro Tip from WuKong:

The word “伙计” (huǒjì) is a classic way to say “buddy” or “mate,” though in modern internet slang, young Chinese fans might just use “兄弟” (xiōngdì).

More Chinese Learning Related Memes:

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Mao Ying | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Master’s degree in International Chinese Education from Peking University. Dedicated to the field of Chinese language education, with 7 years of experience as an international Chinese language teacher.