Meaning
This word has two main meanings. Originally it referred to glass noodles or vermicelli made from mung bean or sweet potato starch. In modern usage, it's also a loanword from English 'fans' that refers to enthusiastic supporters or admirers of celebrities, sports teams, or brands.
Usage
When referring to admirers, 粉丝 is extremely common in internet culture and entertainment contexts. You can be someone's 粉丝 or have your own 粉丝. The food meaning is still widely used in cooking contexts. Context usually makes the meaning clear, though the food sense often appears in restaurant menus and recipes.
Examples
- 01她有上百万的粉丝关注她的微博。.She has millions of fans following her Weibo account.
- 02这道菜用粉丝、白菜和猪肉做成。, .This dish is made with vermicelli, Chinese cabbage, and pork.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个粉丝
- 群一群粉丝
- 把一把粉丝(noodles)
Common collocations
- 铁粉die-hard fan
- 粉丝团fan club
- 粉丝数number of fans/followers
- 炒粉丝stir-fried vermicelli
Antonyms
Origin
As a food term, 粉丝 literally means 'powder threads' describing the thin, translucent noodles. The modern 'fan' meaning is a phonetic borrowing from English, where the characters were chosen for their similar sound to 'fans'.