At first glance, this seems just to be a quirky blend of English and Chinese—and that is exactly what it is!
Meaning
“City不city” (pronounced city bù city) literally translates to “Is it city or not? Here, the word ‘city’ does not directly mean a large town, but is a stand-in word for stylish, urban, or of a modern aesthetic.
For example, one might ask, “这个城市city不city?” (Zhège chéngshì city bù city?), translating to “Is this city city or not?” to determine if a place feels cosmopolitan. Similarly, commenting on an outfit, “这样穿搭city不city?” (Zhèyàng chuān dā city bù city?), means “Is this outfit city or not?”
The term reflects a desire among Chinese youth to identify and associate with contemporary, stylish experiences.
Origin
A British blogger named “Baobao Xiong” (Paul Mike Ashton) took his sister to visit the Great Wall of China and recorded a video, where the following conversation took place:
“Sister, is the Great Wall beautiful?”
“Yes, it is.”
“City or city?”
“City, I guess.”
While at its core, this was just a random comment, the moment stuck with Chinese citizens. The quirky mix of English and Mandarin had a nice poetic rhythm that made it memorable and fun to say. The tinge of playful Western pop-culture sound mixed with the cross-cultural identity made it an instant hit and ripe for reinterpretation.
Rise in Pop-Culture
Initially, the phrase started spreading in late 2023 on Xiaohongshu (小红书), being used ironically to mock over-the-top attempts to appear urban and trendy, often referencing influencers from “lower-tier cities” trying to mimic Shanghai-style luxury aesthetics.
This originally snarky judgment of others soon evolved into a self-aware, humorous tool. Now, many young people use it as a lighthearted tool to poke fun at life around them.
The phrase gained so much popularity that Ashton began being interviewed by the media and posting about the phrase on his TikTok account. In one interview, he comments that:
“‘city uncity’ is actually a philosophical question, and its meaning cannot be expressed in words. A city is something that gives people a lot of stimulation and excitement, and has a beauty that will never be forgotten. That’s what a city is to me.”
– Paul Mike Ashton
How To Use Examples
Lifestyle/Behavior
Chinese:
在星巴克里拍照打卡，这种行为到底city不city？
English:
Taking photos in Starbucks — is that even city anymore?
Chinese:
每天健身+喝美式+逛宜家，现在不这样都不city了？
English:
If you’re not working out, drinking Americanos, and shopping at IKEA daily, are you even city?
Places
Chinese:
重庆夜景太炸了，简直city到不行！
English:
The Chongqing night view is insane — totally city vibes!
Chinese:
这家餐厅装潢挺精致的，就是位置在五环外，不太city。
English:
This restaurant’s decor is classy, but it’s outside the Fifth Ring Road… not very city.
Ironic/Self-deprecating Use
Chinese:
我今天穿了个地摊T恤配洞洞鞋，不city但很舒服。
English:
Today I wore a street-market tee with Crocs — not city, but very comfy.
Chinese:
坐高铁吃泡面，瞬间city感消失😂
English:
Eating instant noodles on the bullet train — instant loss of city energy
Used as Commentary (Online Comments)
Comment on influencer’s photo:
city感拉满！
Translation:
City vibes maxed out!
Comment on someone doing a rural vlog:
不city但好真实，我喜欢。
Translation:
Not city, but so real. I like it.
Cultural Significance
At the core of the trend, we can see the core value of sophistication. This is not necessarily about pure wealth, but reflects the widespread desire in China to be part of higher-class city environments that are lifted up.
This slightly hints at some of the underlying class tension in China, specifically playing off the urban-rural divide. In one way, one might use the phrase to try to seem sophisticated while commenting on something that is seen as stylish. In another way, one might say it to mock those who care so much about the arbitrary standards of style we see in the modern day. In this way, city不city both highlights and resists urban aesthetic.
We can also see how city不city represents the growing globalization of Chinese youth with the mix of English and Mandarin. This highlights a China that is increasingly more welcome to Western influence, serving as an indicator of the change.
This all culminates in a generation of Chinese youth that is defining itself in a way that is fundamentally different from generations past. Ultimately, the trend sits at an intersection of two ideas: globalization and class tension. The technological transformation has exposed them to more ideas than their predecessors, leading to a new awareness of complex social issues and class divides.
While at first glance, city不city does not seem like a deeply philosophical trend, the more you look, you can actually see it represent a much greater theme. Whether he intended to or not, Ashton may have been right when he said, “city uncity is actually a philosophical question.” It subtly challenges how we define modernity, identity, and belonging in a rapidly changing China.
Conclusion
City不city started off as just a playful random remark from a travel blog, but has since been catapulted into a widespread cultural catchphrase that speaks to the creativity of modern language internet. Blending English and Mandarin, humor and social commentary, it captures how younger generations in China are navigating identity, taste, and the influence of global trends. Whether used to describe a fun event spot or to rag on a recent test, like many other pop-culture phenomena, the true power of the word lies in its flexibility and ability to transform over time.
Conclusion
City不city started off as just a playful random remark from a travel blog, but has since been catapulted into a widespread cultural catchphrase that speaks to the creativity of modern language internet. Blending English and Mandarin, humor and social commentary, it captures how younger generations in China are navigating identity, taste, and the influence of global trends. Whether used to describe a fun event spot or to rag on a recent test, like many other pop-culture phenomena, the true power of the word lies in its flexibility and ability to transform over time.
