BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Netizens have become excited over a surprise use of colloquial Internet buzzword "Diaosi" by the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China.
It follows a much-discussed case from 2010, in which the same paper broke with Chinese media's usual formal tone and referenced "Geili" (literally translated as "giving strength," usually meaning "vigorous" or "cool"). Both have been taken as signs that journalists are embracing more proletarian language.
"Diaosi" was originally a self-deprecating term used by bachelors with meager income and plain looks who consider themselves losers in life.
The People's Daily, however, cited the term "Diaosi mentality" in an article in its Nov. 3 edition, referring to negative attitudes among young people who are pessimistic about their future and dispel brutality in life by cynical sneering.
About a week later, the newspaper's editor-in-chief responded amid the ensuing public interest that the article was just a normal report and the paper had not paid special attention to the term's usage.
However, Chinese Internet users have read much into the affair.
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