原始人

Primitive Person / Cave Person
yuán shǐ rén
What Does It Mean?

Calling yourself a 'primitive person' is the ultimate Gen-Z humble-brag about opting out of modern tech culture. Think: no short-video apps, no group chats, maybe a flip phone. In a world of algorithmic feeds and 24/7 connectivity, proudly claiming you live like a cave person became a weird badge of honor — or just a way to confess you're hopelessly behind on trends without feeling too embarrassed about it.

Cultural Context

As Chinese internet culture grew increasingly exhausting — endless Douyin scrolling, hustle-culture pressure, and social media anxiety — many young people began romanticizing 'digital detox' lifestyles. The '原始人' label emerged as a self-deprecating way to describe anyone who rejected hyper-connectivity, either by choice or sheer laziness, resonating with the broader '躺平' (lying flat) and '摆烂' anti-hustle sentiment sweeping Chinese youth culture.

中文解释

用"原始人"自嘲生活方式落后、不跟潮流、甚至刻意回归简单生活的人。

How It's Used
我连微信朋友圈都不发,纯纯的原始人。
I don't even post on WeChat Moments — I'm a total cave person.
室友嘲笑我还在用旧手机,说我是原始人,我觉得挺好的。
My roommate mocked me for still using an old phone and called me a primitive person — honestly, I'm fine with that.
Related Memes