What Does YYDS Mean? Chinese Slang for “GOAT” (永远的神) Explained
“YYDS” stands for the Mandarin phrase “永远的神” (Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén), which literally translates to “eternal god” or “god forever.” In everyday use, the closest English equivalent is “the GOAT” (Greatest of All Time). Chinese speakers use YYDS to praise a person, product, or moment that is considered the absolute best in its category — from a pro gamer’s clutch play to a friend’s homemade dumplings.
What Does YYDS Mean? Definition, Pinyin, and Character Breakdown
YYDS (永远的神, Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén) is a four-letter Chinese internet acronym built from the pinyin initials of its full phrase:
- 永 (yǒng) = forever, eternal
- 远 (yuǎn) = far, distant (combined with 永 to form 永远, “forever”)
- 的 (de) = possessive/descriptive particle, equivalent to “‘s” or “of”
- 神 (shén) = god, deity
Put together, 永远的神 (Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén) means “the god who lasts forever” — and shortening it to the four pinyin initials Y-Y-D-S lets users type it faster in chat rooms, comment sections, and livestreams. Functionally, YYDS works the same way English speakers use “the GOAT”: it’s a superlative reserved for something that is, in the speaker’s view, unbeatable.
🎧 Practice the pronunciation with the audio: Y-Y-D-S (letters) and Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén (full phrase).
🔊 Y-Y-D-S (letters)
🔊 永远的神 Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén (full phrase)
Example: “These dumplings are YYDS!” → “These dumplings are the GOAT!”
Where Did YYDS Come From? The Esports Origin Story
YYDS originated in 2020 among fans of Uzi (Jian Zihao), a professional Chinese League of Legends player widely regarded as one of the best AD carries in competitive history. Fans coined “永远的神” to praise his unmatched in-game skill, then shortened it to YYDS for faster typing during livestream chats and fan forums.
From esports, YYDS spread outward in stages:
- K-pop fandoms adopted it to hype idols’ performances.
- Food bloggers used it to rave about restaurants and street food.
- Sports fans applied it to athletes like Yao Ming.
- Mainstream social media — hashtags like #YYDS on Weibo and Douyin (China’s TikTok) accumulated billions of views, pushing the term from gaming slang into general Mandarin vocabulary used by teenagers, college students, and even parents.
How Do You Use YYDS in a Sentence?
YYDS is a flexible, almost always positive compliment — it is not used to criticize something. Below are the four most common scenarios with example sentences.
| Scenario | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Praising a celebrity/musician | “Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was YYDS.” | “…was the GOAT (an all-time best performance).” |
| Celebrating a sports moment | “LeBron’s last-minute three-pointer? Total YYDS!” | “…was an all-time-great play!” |
| Raving about food or drinks | “That coffee shop in Brooklyn makes lattes that are YYDS.” | “…makes the best lattes ever.” |
| Everyday compliments | “You fixed my laptop in 10 minutes? You’re YYDS!” | “You’re amazing/the best!” |
Is YYDS the Same as AWSL? Common Mixups to Avoid
YYDS is frequently confused with AWSL (啊我死了, “ah, I’m dying”), another popular Chinese internet acronym — but the two express different emotions. YYDS communicates admiration for excellence (“this is the best”), while AWSL expresses being overwhelmed by cuteness or excitement (“this is killing me/I can’t handle how cute this is”). Mixing them up is a common beginner mistake, but native speakers will usually just laugh and correct you rather than take offense — both terms are casual and forgiving to use.
Formality note: YYDS is casual slang and is not appropriate in formal writing, academic settings, or professional conversations. In those contexts, use standard Mandarin like 非常好 (fēicháng hǎo, “very good”) instead.
To avoid mix-ups, click to hear the difference:
🔊 YYDS (letters)
🔊永远的神 Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén (full phrase)
🔊 AWSL (letters)
🔊 啊我死了 (Ā wǒ sǐ le).
🔊 非常好 (fēicháng hǎo)
Discover More Chinese Slang: Essential Guides & Meanings
| Keyword | Topic |
| 5201314 meaning | I love you in Chinese number code |
| what does dd meaning on social media | The meaning of “dd” on Chinese social platforms |
| 666 chinese slang | Cheering and praising someone’s awesome skills |
| wo ai ni meaning | The foundational way to say “I love you” |
| baobei meaning | Calling someone “baby” or “babe” in Chinese |
| pokemon in chinese | Pop culture translation and names of Pokémon |
| yyds meaning (this topic) | “Goat” (Greatest of All Time) in Chinese internet slang |
| ma ma hu hu meaning | The classic idiom for “so-so” or “mediocre” |
| what does kitty mean in chinese | Slang, pet names, and cultural meanings of “kitty” |
| xswl meaning | Internet acronym for “laughing out loud” (LOL) |
FAQs
YYDS originated in 2020 among fans of Chinese League of Legends pro player Uzi (Jian Zihao), who coined “永远的神” to praise his gameplay before it spread to mainstream Chinese social media.ead to mainstream culture.
Yes! Both are superlatives used to describe someone or something as the “greatest of all time.” YYDS is the Chinese equivalent of “GOAT.”
“永远的神” (Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén), literally “eternal god.” It’s the Chinese internet equivalent of calling someone or something “the GOAT.”
WuKong Chinese offers dedicated courses on Chinese internet slang, with lessons on usage, origin, and practice.
No—YYDS is casual slang. Stick to it for chats, social media, or informal talks with friends. Use more formal language (like “fēicháng hǎo” = very good) in work or academic settings.
Conclusion
YYDS — short for 永远的神 (Yǒng Yuǎn De Shén), or “eternal god” — is the go-to Chinese slang term for calling someone or something “the GOAT.” Born in 2020 esports fan culture around player Uzi, it has since spread across K-pop fandoms, food reviews, sports commentary, and everyday compliments, making it one of the most useful pieces of modern Chinese internet slang to know. WuKong Chinese online classes break down real internet slang with native-speaker tutors and practice drills.
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Xuehua graduated from Beijing Language and Culture University with a Master’s degree in Linguistics and has 6 years of experience in Chinese language education. With a strong academic background in linguistics and extensive teaching experience, she understands the needs of different Chinese learners and is skilled at guiding students in a clear, professional, and approachable way. Xuehua is dedicated to helping more learners understand the Chinese language and Chinese culture in an effective and engaging learning process.
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