操
What does 操 mean? 操 is a Chinese nuclear that translates to “fuck” in English.
Literal Translation
fuck / exercise (character substitution)
Meaning & Usage
"fuck"
The most vulgar verb meaning 'to fuck.' Often written with substitute character 操 (exercise) to avoid censorship.
Examples in the Wild
操！(Cào!) - Fuck!
When to Use It
Context
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- Only among very close friends who share this register
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Public spaces — will cause genuine offense
- Almost any situation — this is as offensive as it gets
- Mixed company or unfamiliar social groups
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Ultimate profanity in Mandarin. The original character 肏 combines 'enter' (入) and 'meat' (肉). Using 操 (exercise) is a euphemism.
More in Chinese 🇨🇳
View all →去你的 (qù nǐ de)
“go to hell / fuck off / get lost”
Milder way to tell someone to go away.
他妈的
“fuck / damn / fucking hell”
The most common Chinese expletive. Literally 'his mother's' but used as all-purpose profanity.
BT
“pervert / psycho / BT”
Abbreviation for 变态 (biàntài - pervert).
操你妈
“motherfucker / fuck your mother”
The gravest insult in Mandarin. Directly attacks the target's mother sexually.
肏你妈 (cào nǐ mā)
“fuck your mother”
Sexual violation of the listener's mother.
狗东西 (gǒu dōng xi)
“son of a bitch / dog thing / cur”
Contemptible person; literally 'dog thing/object.'
鸭子 (yā zi)
“duck / gigolo / male prostitute”
Duck; slang for male prostitute.
牛屄 (niú bī)
“badass / awesome / fucking great”
Awesome, cool, powerful; literally 'cow vagina.'