接

What does 接 mean?

Someone posts that they passed the exam, landed the offer, pulled the rare character or finally got a yes, and the comments fill up with one character: 接. It means catch, and typing it is a way of reaching for a share of that luck. The gesture works like a small ritual, hands held out so the good fortune bounces towards you instead of past you. Longer versions spell out what is wanted, 接好运 for luck in general, 接offer for a job, 接上岸 for getting through something gruelling. Nobody is solemn about it; the tone is friendly and superstitious-on-purpose, which is a large part of why it travels so well.

Where does 接 come from?

Bilibili made 接 its Bullet Comment of the Year for 2024, counting more than 5.76 million sends across the year. Behind it sits the wider 接好运 habit on Chinese social media, where people comment on lucky images and success stories to borrow a little of the fortune. (The platform's pick the year after was the far more solemn 致敬.)

How to use 接

• UP主考研上岸了！接！
  UP zhǔ kǎoyán shàng'àn le! Jiē!
  The creator passed the grad school entrance exam! Catching that luck!
• 这条锦鲤视频，接好运！
  Zhè tiáo jǐnlǐ shìpín, jiē hǎoyùn!
  Lucky koi video: I'm catching the good luck!