Why read this: This A2 version gives lower-level students access to a current trend that their classmates at higher levels are also reading. The habits described (hot water, congee, slippers) are things Chinese-L1 students already know, so the language is the only new thing — which is exactly what A2 practice needs: a real topic, at a level that does not overload. Students can discuss the trend in simple English without needing to track hedging, allusion, or irony.
What to notice: Two things. First, each paragraph makes one simple point. Paragraph 1 introduces Emma Peng; paragraph 2 lists the habits; paragraph 3 explains how Chinese creators feel; paragraph 4 shows that the trend also covers style, not only food; paragraph 5 adds toys and apps; paragraph 6 offers a broader reason. A student who can name the one point of each paragraph has understood the article. Second, simple past and present tense: the article stays in one tense at a time and does not shift inside a sentence, which is exactly what A2 grammar expects.
Skills practised: Reading: finding the main idea of a short paragraph; following a simple list structure. Writing: using simple past tense to describe actions ('Americans started drinking hot water'); writing short, direct sentences using known vocabulary; listing examples with 'for example.' Speaking: explaining what the trend is to a partner in two or three sentences.
Why ‘becoming Chinese’ is taking over social media
Americans are copying Chinese wellness habits online.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
A Chinese woman on TikTok, Emma Peng, shared a short video. In it, she said, “You are hydratinghydrate: To take up, consume or become linked to water — 补水;水合 yourself. I am proudproud: Feeling pleased about something you have done or something you own. — 自豪的；骄傲的 of you.” The video has more than three million viewsview: What you can see from a particular place, especially something beautiful. — 景色；视野；看法. It is about Americans who copy Chinese habitshabit: Something you do regularly without thinking much about it. — 习惯.
Americans are drinking hot water. They are eating congeecongee: A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat — 粥；稀饭. They are wearing house slippersslipper: Such a shoe intended for indoor use; a bedroom or house slipper — 室内拖鞋. These are normalnormal: According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern — 正常的 things in China. This trendtrend: a general direction in which something is developing or changing — 趋势；潮流 is called “becoming Chinese.” Many Chinese TikTok creatorscreator: A person who brings something into existence, especially through imaginative skill or effort. — 创造者；创作者 are making videos about it. One creatorcreator: A person who brings something into existence, especially through imaginative skill or effort. — 创造者；创作者, Sherry Xiiruii, says to her viewersviewer: a person who watches television or looks at something — 观众；观看者: “Tomorrow, you are turning Chinese.”
Usually, when people copy another culture, it causescause: To set off an event or action — 引起;导致 problems. The word for this is cultural appropriation: when people copy another culture's things in a way some see as unfair — 文化挪用. But this time, Chinese creators are happy. They are gladglad: Feeling happy and pleased about something. — 高兴的；乐意的 that Americans are copying Chinese wellnesswellness: The quality or state of being in good health — 健康;康健 habits. “What took you so longlong: For a great amount of time — 长时间?” one creator asked.
The trend is not only about food and drinks. Some people also copy Chinese style. For example, they wear toggle jackets: coats with wooden-bar buttons (a Chinese-style coat) — 牛角扣外套 or smoke crouched low to the ground: sitting on your heels very close to the floor — 蹲得很低. This is called chinesemaxxing: an internet trend where people copy Chinese style as much as they can — 极致模仿中国风. The videos are not mean. They show that Americans find Chinese style interesting.
There are also Chinese toystoy: An object that children play with. — 玩具. In 2025, a toytoy: An object that children play with. — 玩具 called Labubu was very popular. It is made by a Chinese company called Pop Mart. People around the world bought many Labubu toys. For a short time, a Chinese socialsocial: Relating to society and people living together. — 社会的；社交的 mediamedia: TV, radio, newspapers, and other ways of giving information — 媒体；媒介 app called Rednote also became popular in the United States.
Some people think this trend is about more than health and toys. Many Americans are unhappyunhappy: Not feeling happy or satisfied; sad. — 不快乐的；不满意的 with American politicspolitics: The activities involved in governing a country or area. — 政治；政治活动. They are looking at other countries for new ideas. The “becoming Chinese” trend is one example.
A Chinese woman on TikTok, Emma Peng, shared a short video. In it, she said, “You are hydratinghydrate: To take up, consume or become linked to water — 补水;水合 yourself. I am proudproud: Feeling pleased about something you have done or something you own. — 自豪的；骄傲的 of you.” The video has more than three million viewsview: What you can see from a particular place, especially something beautiful. — 景色；视野；看法. It is about Americans who copy Chinese habitshabit: Something you do regularly without thinking much about it. — 习惯.
Americans are drinking hot water. They are eating congeecongee: A type of thick rice porridge or soup, sometimes prepared with vegetables and/or meat — 粥；稀饭. They are wearing house slippersslipper: Such a shoe intended for indoor use; a bedroom or house slipper — 室内拖鞋. These are normalnormal: According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern — 正常的 things in China. This trendtrend: a general direction in which something is developing or changing — 趋势；潮流 is called “becoming Chinese.” Many Chinese TikTok creatorscreator: A person who brings something into existence, especially through imaginative skill or effort. — 创造者；创作者 are making videos about it. One creatorcreator: A person who brings something into existence, especially through imaginative skill or effort. — 创造者；创作者, Sherry Xiiruii, says to her viewersviewer: a person who watches television or looks at something — 观众；观看者: “Tomorrow, you are turning Chinese.”
Usually, when people copy another culture, it causescause: To set off an event or action — 引起;导致 problems. The word for this is cultural appropriation: when people copy another culture's things in a way some see as unfair — 文化挪用. But this time, Chinese creators are happy. They are gladglad: Feeling happy and pleased about something. — 高兴的；乐意的 that Americans are copying Chinese wellnesswellness: The quality or state of being in good health — 健康;康健 habits. “What took you so longlong: For a great amount of time — 长时间?” one creator asked.
The trend is not only about food and drinks. Some people also copy Chinese style. For example, they wear toggle jackets: coats with wooden-bar buttons (a Chinese-style coat) — 牛角扣外套 or smoke crouched low to the ground: sitting on your heels very close to the floor — 蹲得很低. This is called chinesemaxxing: an internet trend where people copy Chinese style as much as they can — 极致模仿中国风. The videos are not mean. They show that Americans find Chinese style interesting.
There are also Chinese toystoy: An object that children play with. — 玩具. In 2025, a toytoy: An object that children play with. — 玩具 called Labubu was very popular. It is made by a Chinese company called Pop Mart. People around the world bought many Labubu toys. For a short time, a Chinese socialsocial: Relating to society and people living together. — 社会的；社交的 mediamedia: TV, radio, newspapers, and other ways of giving information — 媒体；媒介 app called Rednote also became popular in the United States.
Some people think this trend is about more than health and toys. Many Americans are unhappyunhappy: Not feeling happy or satisfied; sad. — 不快乐的；不满意的 with American politicspolitics: The activities involved in governing a country or area. — 政治；政治活动. They are looking at other countries for new ideas. The “becoming Chinese” trend is one example.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What do Americans in the trend do?
- 02
How do Chinese creators feel about the trend?
- 03
What is Labubu?
- 04
List three Chinese habits that Americans are copying in this trend. For each one, write one sentence about it.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Why do some people think the trend is about more than health? Answer in two or three sentences.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What do Americans in the trend do?
- 02
How do Chinese creators feel about the trend?
- 03
What is Labubu?
- 04
List three Chinese habits that Americans are copying in this trend. For each one, write one sentence about it.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Why do some people think the trend is about more than health? Answer in two or three sentences.
Suggested length: ~50 words