Zhu Hou Ren, Xiang Yun, Hong Hui Fang take a stab at what “dadbod” means

SINGAPORE — Channel 8’s newest drama, Super Senior, is essentially a show about “old people” doing “young people” things.

Starring veteran actors Zhu Hou Ren, Xiang Yun, Hong Hui Fang, Chen Shu Cheng, Richard Low, Jin Yin Ji and Wang Yu Qing, it follows the adventures of senior citizens who resolve to age gracefully and actively — by taking up diving, rock climbing and hip hop, among other adventurous things.

Having had to undertake these activities themselves, the veteran cast members are feeling more in touch with youth culture. But can they communicate in the vernacular of today’s hip and happening kids? Are they down with “young person speak”? Is their grasp of the lingo “on fleek”? We made them guess the meaning of these popular slang terms.

1. DADBOD

Usage: ‘Leonardo diCaprio debuted his dadbod on the beach last month.’

Zhu Hou Ren: Dead body? Oh, ‘dad’? It means an old person lor. It’s definitely negative — it can’t possibly be something good.

Xiang Yun: It’s used to describe the process of getting old.

Hong Hui Fang: A macho man?

What it really means: The soft, round, recently-fashionable body shape of a man who has let himself go. Naturally, Mrs Zheng Geping would not understand this concept.

Zhu Hou Ren: Wow, it’s in? Then I don’t have to try to get rid of the tummy I’ve gained recently!

Xiang Yun: Oh, really? That means married men are in danger! (Laughs)

Hong Hui Fang: Girls like ‘dadbods’ these days? Oh my goodness. That’s good then — it means no one will want my husband! (Laughs)

2. SHIP

Usage: ‘I totally ship Jayley Woo and Aloysius Pang together.’

Zhu Hou Ren: A boat lor. You ‘ship’ them? It must be something challenging. In the past we used to say, ‘I on him!’ meaning, ‘I want that guy or girl. I am going to conquer and possess them.’ Because boats are very big.

Xiang Yun: I ‘ship’ them? Uh… I want to break them up?

Hong Hui Fang: It’s used for scolding people: ‘Ship!’ I ‘ship’ them? I give them my blessings?

What it really means: Derived from fan fiction, when fans hope for the romantic pairing of fictional characters or personalities. In Super Senior, Jayloysius ‘shippers’ get to see them play a couple.

Zhu Hou Ren: Oh, it means the opposite? Young people these days say such things?

Xiang Yun: My daughter would know. Sometimes she writes stuff on her Instagram and I ask her: ‘What is this?’ In our generation, the most popular slang word was ‘orhbit’!

Hong Hui Fang: This is so difficult! There’s no connection whatsoever!

3. LEVEL UP

Usage: ‘Wow, you’ve really levelled up with that souffle.’

Zhu Hou Ren: Sounds like a good thing. Rising in rank?

Xiang Yun: It’s when you’re playing a game and you get to the next level. (Laughs) I know this because I am always playing Candy Crush.

Hong Hui Fang: Equal?

What it really means: When a player of a video game has earned enough points to acquire a new level in a skill. Used as a general term to describe an achievement. Points for everyone; a thousand points for Xiang Yun.

4. BAE

Usage: ‘I just want to spend all day having brunch with my bae.’

Zhu Hou Ren: Short form for ‘baby’. As long as it’s not ‘kao bae’.

Xiang Yun: It means ‘girl’. Like ‘chiobu’.

Hong Hui Fang: ‘Baby’? A pet name?

What it really means: Opinion is divided on whether it’s short for ‘babe’ or an acronym for Before Anyone Else. In any case, it’s used as a form of address for someone you’re exceedingly fond of. Points for everyone; a thousand points for Zhu Hou Ren.

Catch Super Senior starting June 18, weekdays at 9pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.