The term “damn single” (单身狗) blew up in Chinese online communities around 2011 after a mocking line from the movie A Chinese Odyssey—”he looks like a dog”—hit a nerve with young singles. Its rise mirrors modern struggles: loneliness in fast-paced society, marriage pressures, and younger folks using dark humor to push back against old-school relationship rules.
The phrase twists “guanggun” (光棍), a plain term for unmarried people. While “guanggun” just meant “single,” adding “dog” (symbolizing low status in Chinese culture) and the English-sounding “damn single” turned it into a self-roasting meme.
This mix of sarcasm and wordplay made it the ultimate slang for single life online.
“Guanggun” translates to:
- Bachelor (for men): “He’s been a bachelor forever.”
- Single (neutral): “I’m happily single.”