{"id":42048,"date":"2024-12-27T16:31:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T08:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/?p=42048"},"modified":"2026-04-16T14:44:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T06:44:46","slug":"get-ready-to-learn-chinese-buddy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wukongsch.com\/blog\/get-ready-to-learn-chinese-buddy-post-42048\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Ready to Learn Chinese, Buddy Meme: What’s the Origin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cGet ready to learn Chinese, buddy\u201d began as a fake Bleacher Report graphic posted in November 2022, shortly after Kyrie Irving\u2019s antisemitism controversy, featuring NBA commissioner Adam Silver with a fabricated quote telling Irving to \u201cget ready to learn Chinese, buddy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, the image quickly spread across NBA Twitter before jumping to TikTok, Reddit<\/a>, and even Valorant voice chats, evolving into a wider meme used to mock players, athletes, or really anyone seen as underperforming or washed. The joke implies that they no longer belong in a top-tier league and should instead prepare to play in a lower-profile one, most often China\u2019s CBA, with the Shanghai Sharks becoming the meme\u2019s most iconic fictional destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since late 2022, the phrase has been endlessly Photoshopped onto everyone from Ben Simmons to your cousin who missed a free throw at the gym, turning six words into one of the internet\u2019s most recognizable joke threats. Its popularity has extended beyond social media too, with \u201cget ready to learn Chinese buddy\u201d becoming a fast-rising long-tail search term and \u201clearn Chinese meme\u201d reportedly seeing a sharp spike in search interest.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Learn authentic Chinese<\/span> from those who live and breathe the culture.<\/p>\n<\/h3>\r\n

Specially tailored for kids aged 3-18 around the world!<\/p>\r\n \r\n Get started free!\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\"Get<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Does “Get Ready to Learn Chinese, Buddy” Mean?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In internet culture, this phrase is the ultimate “mock demotion notice.” When a professional athlete (especially in the NBA) plays poorly, fans spam this meme to suggest the player is no longer fit for the top-tier league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The implication? They should start practicing Mandarin because their next job will likely be with a team in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)<\/strong>, such as the infamous Shanghai Sharks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Basketball<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>The Origin of Get Ready to Learn Chinese: A Fake Quote That Went Viral<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the sentiment of “sending players to China” has existed since the Daryl Morey controversy in 2019, the specific “Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy”<\/strong> macro was born on November 8th, 2022<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Catalyst:<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NBA star Kyrie Irving was embroiled in an antisemitic controversy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Source:<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A parody Twitter account, @realnbaquotz<\/strong>, posted a fabricated Bleacher Report<\/em> infographic. It showed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver with the caption: “Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Impact:<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite being fake, the image perfectly captured the “NBA Twitter” humor. It garnered thousands of likes and retweets instantly, jumping from a specific critique of Irving to a general reaction for any struggling player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>The “Shanghai Sharks” & The Evolution of the Meme<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t talk about this meme without mentioning the Shanghai Sharks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the NBA community, the Sharks have become the “meme destination” for struggling stars. This started with Ben Simmons<\/strong> during his 2021 shooting slump and peaked with Dillon Brooks<\/strong> in 2023. When Brooks was released by the Grizzlies, the internet was flooded with photoshopped images of him in a Shanghai Sharks jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why China?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The CBA is a popular landing spot for former NBA players (like Stephon Marbury or Jimmer Fredette) to revitalized their careers. The meme turns this professional reality into a humorous “threat” for failing stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How to actually say this meme in Chinese?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u51c6\u5907\u597d\u5b66\u4e2d\u6587\u4e86\u5417\uff0c\u4f19\u8ba1\uff1f<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Zh\u01d4nb\u00e8i h\u01ceo xu\u00e9 Zh\u014dngw\u00e9n le ma, hu\u01d2ji?)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n