毛子

máo zi

A colloquial, often offensive Chinese slang term for Russian people; originally used to refer to all Western foreigners, now primarily used for Russians

有些网民在讨论的时候会不礼貌地使用毛子这个词。

Some netizens use this term impolitely when discussing Russian people.

Etymology

Originated in late imperial China, when early Russian traders and settlers in northern China were observed to have thicker body hair than Chinese people, leading to the descriptive nickname. It gradually became a specifically anti-Russian slur over time.

Memory Aid

Break the word into characters: 毛 máo = hair, 子 zi = common noun suffix. Remember the historical origin: early Chinese observers noticed thick hair on Russian visitors, leading to this name.

Collocations

老毛子白皮毛子

Synonyms

老毛子

Related Words

洋人俄罗斯外国人俚语