鸽子精

• Pinyin: gē zǐ jīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 鸽子 comes from 放鸽子, to stand someone up; 精 turns it into a joking person label.

Meaning

Someone who often cancels plans, delays replies, or fails to show up.

鸽子精 is playful but can sound annoyed because it points to flaky behavior. Use it only with close friends, and avoid it when someone has a serious reason to cancel.

Examples

1. 他又临时取消，鸽子精名号坐实了。 He cancelled at the last minute again, so his reputation as a flake is well and truly earned.
2. 别当鸽子精，约好的电影要来。 Don't be a flake, you've promised to come to the film.
3. 我这周太忙，差点变成鸽子精。 I've been so busy this week that I nearly turned into a flake.

Usage Guide

Context: friends, plans, group chat

Tone: teasing, annoyed

Do Say

• 朋友总临时爽约，可以轻轻调侃鸽子精。
• 自嘲差点失约也可以用鸽子精。

Don't Say

• 不要在对方有急事时骂鸽子精。

Common Mistakes

• Using it with strangers; the teasing can feel rude without closeness.

Origin & History

From 放鸽子, standing someone up, plus 精, a playful person-label suffix in internet slang.

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: Gen Z and young millennials, with many items familiar to wider internet users

Social background: Urban entertainment fans, students, office workers, and social media users

Regional notes: Used across Mainland China in casual comments, group chats, fandom spaces, and daily-life posts.