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Q: Please explain the term 'wumao'
Having read several recent posts referring to other people as 'wumao' [5 hair], I still have no idea what that might mean.
I have been in China for 5 years and never came across that expression before until reading here but then, I am not a regular contributor or reader. Thank you.
A Wumao (5 jiao - not 5 hairs) is a person who is 'employed' by the central gov't to troll forums (English and Chinese) looking for topics that put China and the Chinese people in a bad light (i.e 'hurts the feelings of China'). Their "job" is to join the discussion and post pro-Chinese/China/CCP messages and discredit whomever is 'hurting the feelings of China'.
The moniker 'wumao' is used because such people are rumored to get paid .5 RMB per post.
One can usually spot a wumao based on their tendency to 'argue' like a child...ex. A foreigner posts that Chinese girls are immature and vapid. The wumao will join the discussion to say that foreigners only want sex from Chinese girls and are selfish.
Wumaos often make an attempt to come across as a foreigner but certain phrases give them away...mispelling 'true' as 'ture', the use of 'and so on' instead of 'etc.', the use of 'nowadays, as we all know, lovely, famous, delicious...' and other stock expressions that drive any teacher of academic writing insane.
I should add that on this forum, some people get branded as a wumao for their relentless support of all things Chinese (usually their posts contain the inane expression, "China, love it or leave it {gtfo}"). Some others are posting nothing but negative comments. The 'thumbs up/down' feature tends to reflect which side is being personally offended rather than allowing discourse and freedom of expression - something that should never be suppressed.
Happy everyday!!!!
bayuvar139:
What a great explanation!!! Thank you so much.
Indeed, I have seen many such posts which often looked strange and wrong.
A Wumao (5 jiao - not 5 hairs) is a person who is 'employed' by the central gov't to troll forums (English and Chinese) looking for topics that put China and the Chinese people in a bad light (i.e 'hurts the feelings of China'). Their "job" is to join the discussion and post pro-Chinese/China/CCP messages and discredit whomever is 'hurting the feelings of China'.
The moniker 'wumao' is used because such people are rumored to get paid .5 RMB per post.
One can usually spot a wumao based on their tendency to 'argue' like a child...ex. A foreigner posts that Chinese girls are immature and vapid. The wumao will join the discussion to say that foreigners only want sex from Chinese girls and are selfish.
Wumaos often make an attempt to come across as a foreigner but certain phrases give them away...mispelling 'true' as 'ture', the use of 'and so on' instead of 'etc.', the use of 'nowadays, as we all know, lovely, famous, delicious...' and other stock expressions that drive any teacher of academic writing insane.
I should add that on this forum, some people get branded as a wumao for their relentless support of all things Chinese (usually their posts contain the inane expression, "China, love it or leave it {gtfo}"). Some others are posting nothing but negative comments. The 'thumbs up/down' feature tends to reflect which side is being personally offended rather than allowing discourse and freedom of expression - something that should never be suppressed.
Happy everyday!!!!
bayuvar139:
What a great explanation!!! Thank you so much.
Indeed, I have seen many such posts which often looked strange and wrong.
bayuvar139:
A 'thank-you' to you for the link! I tried Wikipedia but got not a good result.
The word Wu Mao is now like saying Voldimort , we are now not allowed to talk about them Admin must have forgotten to lock this post hahaha
Memo from CCP propaganda office: Due to rising inflation in China's crashing economy, and the sharp rise in the cost of living, they shall all receive a wage cut, and henceforth be known as sanmao.
Kaiwen:
Maybe even "liang jiao" which could also ironically be translated at "two horns" 
Traveler:
They'd have to have two horns. They couldn't get that silly playing with just one.
It's like w growth under you foot, you can live with them but it's better without.
