冷梗

• Pinyin: lěng gěng
• Hanzi breakdown: 冷 (cold) + 梗 (joke / meme) -> joke that lands with a chill.

Meaning

A joke or meme that feels obscure, dry, or produces an awkwardly cold reaction.

It can be intentionally deadpan or simply fail to land. People often use it with friends who enjoy niche references.

Examples

1. 他讲了个冷梗，全桌安静三秒。 He told a 冷梗, and the whole table went quiet for three seconds.
2. 这个冷梗只有老粉能懂。 Only old fans will get this 冷梗.
3. 冷梗讲对场合也很好笑。 A 冷梗 can be really funny if you tell it in the right setting.

Usage Guide

Context: comments, group chats, entertainment

Tone: deadpan, teasing

Do Say

• 没人立刻笑时可以自嘲这是冷梗。（Call it a cold joke if it lands quietly.）

Don't Say

• 把所有不好笑的话都叫冷梗。（Some are just unclear or rude.）

Common Mistakes

• Missing the niche-reference side; 冷梗 can mean obscure, not only bad.

Origin & History

冷 means cold or low-energy reaction; 梗 is a meme or joke point.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s-2020s

Generation: Students, Gen Z, and young office workers

Social background: Urban internet users

Regional notes: Common in fandoms and group chats where shared references matter.