The next translations are from a collection of posts on WeChat public account 育知录 Yuzhilu—a reference to a citation from the Nice Studying, certainly one of Confucianism’s “4 Books”: 育人先育己，知世先知人 Yù rén xiān yù jǐ, zhī shì xiān zhī rén, or “To coach others, first educate your self; to know the world, first know others.” Based mostly on evidently bitter private expertise, the writer affords recommendation on getting probably delicate matters previous WeChat’s pre-publication filters; steerage on dealing with setbacks; and sympathy when all else fails. Later posts—translated selectively right here to keep away from repetition—chronicle the next deletion of the writer’s personal posts on numerous different matters. To be able to escape additional deletions, the writer employs a number of widespread methods reminiscent of using homophones, pinyin, international languages, and misdirection. Right here, these tips had been profitable—the posts under remained on-line as of those translations’ publication. For far more on “delicate phrases,” see CDT’s archives.
What Ought to I Do if I’ve By chance Used a Delicate Phrase in My WeChat Submit? March 18, 2025
“It’s solely been a yr, and also you’re bored of me already. It’s one factor to lose curiosity, however even delicate phrases don’t do it for you anymore!”
“What do you imply, ‘delicate phrases’? Has Aunt Flo come to go to?”Q: What ought to I do if I’ve by accident used a delicate phrase in my public account put up?
A: In a phrase: delete!
Q: What are “delicate phrases”? Is there a precise definition?
A: “Delicate phrases” usually refers to phrases with delicate Zheng Zhi orientation (or which oppose the ruling occasion or Guo Jia), violent tendencies, or an unhealthy or uncivilized tone. Some websites and platforms additionally compile their very own lists of delicate phrases in accordance with their very own specific circumstances.
[郑智 Zhèng Zhì is the name of a professional soccer manager and former player and a homophone for 政治 zhèngzhì, meaning “politics.” The Chinese word for “political party,” 党 dǎng, is spelled out in Roman script as “dang”. 郭嘉 Guō Jiā, the name of an advisor to the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao, is a near homophone for 国家 guójiā, meaning “country.”]
Q: Are you able to give a full checklist of delicate phrases, or some particular examples?
A: There isn’t any definitive checklist. WeChat has by no means given greater than imprecise indications of which phrases are delicate, so many individuals have damaged the principles unintentionally. Some examples seem above [in the previous answer].
“DON’T DISCUSS NATIONAL POLITICS”
Q: What are essentially the most generally seen varieties of delicate phrases?
A: 1. The most typical kind of delicate phrases is the Zheng Zhi [political] class, so for references to political figures or occasions, attempt to use widespread code phrases. Some code phrases are themselves delicate, so use pinyin or pinyin abbreviations [e.g. “zhengzhi” or “zz”]. If that doesn’t work, you’ll be able to attempt English, French, Japanese, and so on. Previous that time, the very best factor is definitely simply to delete it.
2. Talk about political views little, if in any respect, and don’t presume to touch upon the nationwide political system. Use specific warning if writing about present political affairs, as a result of it’s quite common for individuals to by accident step on landmines, resulting in account suspension or termination.
3. Superstitious, sexually express, or profane phrases, and unlawful or false info, can all simply turn into delicate phrases.
4. Particular delicate phrases outlined and utilized by websites or platforms based mostly on their very own circumstances. Some e-commerce platforms, for instance, gained’t allow you to point out the names of their rivals.
Q: What’s your worst expertise of stepping on certainly one of these landmines together with your public account?
A: There’s no “worst,” solely “worse.” As soon as, a couple of years in the past, I used to be enhancing a draft within the account dashboard, and had simply completed formatting it and was including the title when the entire web page out of the blue went clean, aside from the message on the prime: “Content material should not violate the platform’s phrases of use or related legal guidelines, rules, or insurance policies. Please revise.”
F***, hours of laborious work worn out in a flash. It’s sufficient to drive you nuts, however the place would that get you? That’s how I realized the laborious method to all the time again up my drafts in a Phrase doc first.
[“Fuck,” 肏 cào, is represented here by the isolated character component for grass, 艹 cǎo, another near-homophone.]
“Content material should not violate the platform’s phrases of use or related legal guidelines, rules, or insurance policies. Please revise.”
Q: Something newer?
A: Yesterday! 5 occasions I attempted to put up one thing, 5 occasions it was shot down, and 5 occasions I revised it, till lastly on the sixth attempt, I managed to get it by means of. In this sort of state of affairs, you’ve actually simply obtained to delete, nevertheless reluctant you is likely to be to pare down your fastidiously crafted textual content. The issue is, they don’t truly let you know which phrases had been delicate, and all you are able to do is use trial and error. This technique of elimination is absolute torture.
“Printed yesterday at 19:50: 2025 Want Checklist: Can anybody resolve the sanitary pad …”
“Publication failed yesterday at 19:46: 2025 Want Checklist: Can anybody resolve the sanitary pad drawback?”
“Publication failed yesterday at 19:42: 2025 Want Checklist: Can anybody resolve the sanitary pad drawback?”
“Publication failed yesterday at 19:31: 2025 Want Checklist: Can anybody resolve the sanitary pad drawback?”
“Publication failed yesterday at 19:11: 2025 Want Checklist: Can anybody resolve the sanitary pad drawback?”
“Publication failed yesterday at 19:05: 2025 Want Checklist: Can anybody resolve the sanitary pad drawback?”Q: How a lot of that piece did you narrow, in the long run?
A: One image, two paragraphs.
Q: What was the image of?
A: The image itself wasn’t vital, the difficulty was that it included a propaganda poster with the slogan, in English: “Having just one little one is sweet, the federal government will maintain the aged.” [A 1980s family planning slogan on which the government’s position has since reversed.]
Q: And the 2 paragraphs?
A: The primary, which I’ll put right here in English [to avoid censorship]: “Don’t depend on males, nor on the federal government – the federal government isn’t all-powerful. In case you nonetheless have illusions concerning the authorities, it will probably solely be mentioned that you’re nonetheless ‘Too Younger, Too Easy.’”
The second, utilizing pinyin [again, to avoid censorship]: Girls must be unbiased! Don’t get mad, don’t complain—it’s no use. It’s not our fault that males fall brief, or that our authorities loves passing the buck
Q: What occurs in the event you preserve stumbling on delicate phrases in your public-account posts?
A: Site visitors and posting restrictions, at greatest; account suspension or termination, at worst.
Q: What’s your opinion on delicate phrases?
A: I’ve no opinion.
Q: What recommendation do you will have for individuals who’ve by accident posted delicate phrases on their public accounts?
A: A single phrase of recommendation: “delete”
Q: Is there anything you’d prefer to say?
A: I want you all profitable posting!
What are you able to do in case your public account put up is shot down? April 19, 2025
“This content material can’t be displayed due to rule violations”
“Following associated complaints, this content material has been discovered to violate the Provisions on the Administration of Web Consumer Public Account Data Providers. Click on right here for extra particulars.”Q: What are you able to do in case your public account put up is shot down?
A: What are you able to do? Dwell with it.
It’s already useless and buried, forcibly deleted by the platform.
The useless gained’t come again, and neither will these WeChat posts.
Rein in your grief and settle for destiny.
Q: However can I nonetheless entry my draft? I hadn’t gotten round to backing it up …
A: Seems to be prefer it “can’t be discovered” … for this reason you need to again up earlier.
As a result of (as pictured above) you’ll be able to’t entry the put up by means of the account dashboard, and in the event you click on by means of to “Additional info,” you’ll be redirected to brush up on the Provisions on the Administration of Web Consumer Public Account Data Providers, pictured under:
Q: You say “seems to be like it ‘can’t be discovered’” … effectively, can I discover it or not?!
A: You’re a pointy one—nothing will get previous you! Actually, the put up remains to be retrievable in any case.
Log in to the general public account assistant, discover the entry for the deleted put up, as pictured under, click on “…” within the top-right nook, click on “edit once more,” and you’ll get better the unique textual content.
“2025/04/11 07:18 – Can’t be displayed”
“The Private Expertise of 38-Yr-Previous Trainer Ah Qiang: Because the China-U.S. Commerce Conflict Rages, a Liberal Arts Division Descends Into ‘Verbal Warfare’”
Mug slogan: “To Commemorate Participation within the Reciprocal Tariff Conflict of April, 2025”Q: So, if I re-edit and publish, how am I speculated to know which delicate phrases I ought to reduce out? I didn’t suppose there was something delicate in there …
A: It doesn’t matter what you suppose—the platform thinks there’s content material that’s delicate or breaks the principles, so that you’ve obtained to chop it.
For extra element on delicate phrases, see my modest 2025 information: “What to do in the event you’ve discovered delicate phrases together with your public account.”
Q: What if I’ve revised it, reduce out a few of these so-called “delicate phrases,” and it nonetheless gained’t let me put up it? What am I speculated to do then?
A: Hold chopping! If it gained’t allow you to put up, it means you haven’t reduce sufficient, so preserve going! Hold whittling away till it enables you to put up.
After all, this technique of chopping and chopping is torture, as a result of there’s actually no method to know which phrase is delicate, and all you are able to do is preserve making an attempt to guess what to delete.
If at first you don’t succeed, attempt, attempt once more, and once more, and once more …
I as soon as had a put up that I revised 5 occasions, and it obtained shot down each time till lastly, the sixth time was the attraction.
It’s a reasonably painful course of.
To make use of an inappropriate analogy, it’s like a person castrating himself with a blade: the primary reduce’s not clear, so he tries once more, however that’s not clear both, so he cuts once more, and once more, and once more …
By the top, it’s laborious to say in the event you’re nonetheless “a person”, however likelihood is you’re useless anyway.
“What’s the purpose in holding this factor?!”
Anybody who posts to a public account will perceive how laborious unique writing is.
Every painstaking article seems like a beloved son or daughter.
When a bit will get blocked from being posted, or deleted as soon as it’s up, how will you not really feel like a grieving dad or mum? How can it not drive you mad?
Because the saying goes: one treasures an previous, worn broom, and cherishes one’s personal humble writing.
In case you don’t love your individual writing, how will you anticipate anybody else to?
It’s like a girl who doesn’t love herself—how can she anticipate love from a person?
Right now marks seven days because the dying of that put up of mine. I solemnly supply this put up as its eulogy.
Its title was: “The Private Expertise of 38-Yr-Previous Trainer Ah Qiang: Because the China-U.S. Commerce Conflict Rages, a Liberal Arts Division Descends Into ‘Verbal Warfare’”
Q: What’s your opinion on public account posts getting shot down?
A: I’ve no opinion, and really feel nothing however gratitude towards the general public account platform.
Q: Is there anything you’d prefer to say?
A: As I as soon as wrote: “Castration is a brand new starting; you lose your balls, however win your freedom.” (From my humble piece “Out of Contact With Her Ex for Extra Than Six Months, Ma Dongmei Celebrated His Birthday Like This.”)
I respectfully submit this piece for our mutual encouragement!
I want you all profitable posting! Lengthy could your wonderful posts and success endure!
What are you able to do in case your public account put up is shot down? Half 2, August 9, 2025
[…] Within the final two weeks, this account has had 4 posts shot down: about Yang Lanlan [background], Liuzhou debt [background], on-line censorship, and the accident on July 23 [likely a reference to the 2011 Wenzhou train collision].
Your writer felt there was nothing out of the abnormal about these posts of his, however nonetheless they had been shot down.
Shot down: useless, on ice, over, zeroed, forcibly deleted by the platform.
The useless gained’t come again, and neither will these WeChat posts.
Rein in your grief and settle for destiny!
I humbly supply this sacrifice to their reminiscence!
What are you able to do in case your public account put up is shot down? Half 3, August 21, 2025
This account had one other three posts shot down:
One was in the present day’s cartoon, “Youth Asks Zen Grasp: Will Guangdong’s Mosquito Eradication Marketing campaign Succeed?” [background]
The opposite two had been from a month in the past: “Why is ‘Looking for Reality From Info’ So Onerous?” and “What to Make of the Tianshui Youngsters’s Lead Poisoning Incident?” [background]
The platform apparently “obtained complaints” about these two. I ponder who might have despatched them?
Don’t communicate, don’t argue, simply shut up and settle for your destiny.
Although they had been simply minor posts that by no means broke 100 views … nonetheless, one treasures an previous, worn broom, and cherishes one’s personal humble writing.
The useless gained’t come again, and neither will these WeChat posts.
Alas, settle for my tribute! Settle for my tribute!
What are you able to do in case your public account put up is shot down? Half 4, August 31, 2025
This account had the next 4 posts shot down prior to now week:
Cartoon | “Seeing the Essence Beneath the Floor: What They Name State-owned Is Official-owned; What They Name ’To Every In accordance with His Want’ Is ‘To Every In accordance with His Energy’”
Cartoon | “Eureka Second for India’s Plenty, After Dealing With Lead Poisoning, Sewage-Tainted Faucet Water, Official ‘Badge-Flashing,’ and Intrusive ‘Disinfections’ of Their Properties: If Solely They’d Pushed Their Youngsters to Get Authorities Jobs!” [In an unsuccessful attempt to avoid censorship, the author has used “India’s Masses” as a stand-in for “China’s Masses.”]
Cartoon | “Youth Asks Zen Grasp: If They Can Implement Obligatory Social Insurance coverage, Why Not Eight-Hour Days and Extra time Pay, Too?” (The Grasp’s reply: “As a result of the latter two can’t be embezzled.”)
Essay | “Because the Tiger-head Guillotine Rusts, Why Are We Nonetheless Ready for Our Zhan Zhao and Bao Zheng? A Thousand Years of Challenges to Justice”
[Bao was a virtuous Song Dynasty official, and a symbol of justice; Zhan was his fictional sidekick. Their legendary adventures were the subject of the wuxia novel “The Tale of Loyal Heroes and Righteous Gallants” and a number of later screen adaptations. The fictional “tiger-head guillotine” was used for beheading corrupt officials and treacherous ministers; the “dog-head guillotine” and “dragon-head guillotine” were used for executing commoners and imperial relatives, respectively.]
[…] One treasures an previous, worn broom, and cherishes one’s personal humble writing.
My posts had been shot down, alas!
I humbly supply this sacrifice to their reminiscence! [Chinese]
“Submit deleted”
“Alas! I humbly supply this sacrifice to their reminiscence!”
