Chinese word

蹭

Pronunciation

Pinyincèng

Meaning

  • verbmooch

Example

他经常来我家蹭饭。tā jīng cháng lái wǒ jiā cèng fàn

He often comes to my house to mooch a meal.

Illustration for 蹭 (mooch)

More examples

学生们有时去旁听别的班级蹭课。xué shēng men yǒu shí qù páng tīng bié de bān jí cèng kè

Students sometimes sit in on other classes for free.

Core concept

Sliding alongside a source of convenience so its benefit comes with almost no personal cost.

Common phrases

  • 蹭饭cèng fàn

    mooch a meal

  • 蹭课cèng kè

    sit in on a class for free

  • 蹭网cèng wǎng

    use someone else's Wi-Fi for free

  • 蹭车cèng chē

    get a free ride

Similar words

搭便车dā biàn chē: Get a ride or other convenience from someone while contributing almost nothing.
占便宜zhàn pián yi: Exploit someone's kindness or a situation to obtain a benefit for yourself.
白吃bái chī: Join someone else's meal and eat for free.

Definition in Chinese

靠近别人或利用别人的物品或机会而不付出或只付出很少代价，从而获得好处。kào jìn bié rén huò lì yòng bié rén de wù pǐn huò jī huì ér bú fù chū huò zhǐ fù chū hén shǎo dài jià cóng ér huò dé hǎo chù

Word origin

The verb 蹭 (cèng, "to rub") shifts from contact between surfaces to contact with another person's resources, so physical rubbing becomes a model for taking a benefit at little cost.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the word is informal and mildly judgmental because it describes unequal participation rather than simply accepting a friend's generous offer.

Other meanings

  • rubverb
  • freeloadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 蹭饭党cèng fàn dǎngmeal moochernoun
  • 蹭蹭cèng cèngbrisklyadverb

Word lists with this word