Abstract

Remarkable changes have been witnessed in the areas of educational, social, and economic development in China. These changes have resulted in the development of innovative address terms in daily communication. In particular, this is noticeable in the widespread use of the address terms “Shuaìge” and “Meinǚ” in the twenty-first century. These terms, which were originally regarded as terms of praise to those people who look handsome and pretty, have become the most popular address terms among young and middle-aged people in urban areas in China. In order to investigate the factors influencing the usage of these two popular address terms, a mixed research method was used for the research study. The results show that these two address terms, being important in social interactions, have been changed from their original meanings. These changes in social meanings reflect cultural connotations and also have important educational implications for the younger generation.