Welcome to the Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon

I'm a grass-mud horse

The Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon is a glossary of memes, nicknames, and neologisms created by Chinese netizens and encountered in online political discussions. The project is named in honor of the grass-mud horse (cǎonímǎ 草泥马), whose name sounds nearly the same in Mandarin as a vile curse and has become the de facto mascot of Chinese Internet users. Netizens use coded language to avoid outright censorship, and to allude to their desire for freedom of information and expression. They possess boundless creativity and ingenuity in the face of stifling government restrictions on online speech. By systematically documenting and interpreting the dynamics of censorship, domination, and resistance in Chinese communication and information networks, the Grass-Mud Horse Lexicon aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the Internet's cultural, social, and political impact. Learn more about the project and how you can contribute.

Five Newest Entries

Updated March 16, 2021

• Laam caau
• Online pursuit
• A grain of the sands of time
• Positive energy
• China's wailing wall