Diaosi (屌丝) is a self-deprecating label for an ordinary, unremarkable young man seen as lacking money, status, or prospects; it's since broadened into more casual, gender-neutral use as a wry self-deprecating identity marker. The term's root, 屌 (diǎo), is a vulgar word for male genitalia, and 屌丝 originated as an insult before being reclaimed -- worth knowing even though it's now used in a desensitized, generalized sense.
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
"He jokes that he's just a 屌丝 (diaosi) -- no money, no car, no prospects, but making peace with it."
LORE & ORIGIN
It arose from an October 2011 flame-war on Baidu Tieba between fans of footballer Li Yi's forum ("李毅吧"/"帝吧") and fans of the "雷霆三巨头吧" (NBA Oklahoma City Thunder); rival fans insulted Li Yi's fanbase using the vulgar term 屌, mockingly calling them "屌丝," which Li Yi's fans then reclaimed as ironic self-deprecating humor, spreading to Weibo and mainstream use by 2012.
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