粉丝

• Pinyin: fěn sī
• Hanzi breakdown: 粉 = 米 + 分 (rice + divide — powdered/starch); 丝 = 糸 + 糸 (silk threads — thin strands)

Meaning

Fan; follower. A devoted admirer of a celebrity, public figure, or brand. Also refers to glass noodles made from mung bean or sweet potato starch.

Borrowed phonetically from English 'fans'. In modern usage, 粉丝 primarily denotes fans or followers of entertainers, athletes, brands, or social media accounts. The culinary meaning (thin transparent noodles) remains in use but is now secondary in everyday speech.

Examples

1. 这位歌手的粉丝在全球范围内超过五千万，其社交媒体账号每发布一条动态都能在短时间内引发海量互动。 The singer has more than 50 million fans worldwide, and every post on their social media accounts can trigger massive engagement in a short time.
2. 大量粉丝在演唱会场馆外彻夜排队等候，只为获得签名专辑和一次与偶像短暂合影的机会。 Huge numbers of fans lined up overnight outside the concert venue, just for a signed album and a brief chance to take a photo with their idol.
3. 砂锅里炖着的粉丝吸满了浓郁的肉汤，入口软糯，成为这道家常菜最受欢迎的食材之一。 The glass noodles simmering in the clay pot soaked up the rich meat broth and turned soft and tender, becoming one of the most popular ingredients in this home-style dish.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, social-media, food

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 品牌方越来越意识到，与其花费巨资在传统媒体上投放广告，不如深度培育一批高度忠诚的核心粉丝，让他们成为品牌最有说服力的自发传播者。(Brands are increasingly realising that rather than spending vast sums on traditional media advertising, it is better to deeply cultivate a group of highly loyal core fans, letting them become the brand's most convincing organic advocates.)
• 那位演员坦言，正是因为粉丝持续多年的支持与鼓励，她才得以在行业最低谷时依然坚持创作，最终迎来事业的全面复苏。(The actress candidly acknowledged that it was precisely the sustained support and encouragement of her fans over many years that allowed her to continue creating during the lowest point of her career, ultimately achieving a full professional revival.)

Don't Say

• 粉丝 in very formal or official contexts — use 支持者 or 崇拜者 in official documents or academic writing, as 粉丝 carries a colloquial register

Origin & History

Phonetic borrowing from English 'fans' (粉丝 fěnsī); separately, the culinary term derives from 粉 (starch) + 丝 (thread-like strands)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Gen Z, Millennials

Social background: Universal