老司机

Literally 'old driver,' this meme started as a compliment for someone experienced and skilled, then swerved into innuendo territory — a 'seasoned driver' who knows all the back roads, if you catch the drift. It's used to wink at someone worldly in romance or adult content, but can also just mean a savvy veteran at anything. The phrase thrives on plausible deniability: perfectly innocent on the surface, delightfully knowing underneath.

The meme exploded on platforms like Bilibili and WeChat around 2015, partly as a workaround for China's strict content moderation. Using coded, innocent-sounding language let users discuss risqué topics without triggering filters. It also tapped into a broader culture of layered internet slang where the real meaning lives one level below the surface — a game Chinese netizens have long been skilled at playing.

原指经验丰富的老手，后演变为暗示熟悉"成人内容"或情场老手的网络隐语。