‘冷笑话’ literally means ‘cold joke’ — a humorous expression that falls flat, often because it’s overly literal, pun-based, or absurdly predictable. The character 冷 (lěng) conveys ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’, suggesting emotional distance or lack of warmth in the reaction; 笑 (xiào) means ‘to laugh’; and 话 (huà) means ‘speech’ or ‘remark’. Together, they describe jokes that provoke silence or awkward smiles rather than genuine laughter — like English ‘dad jokes’ or ‘groaners’.

These jokes are widely shared online and in casual conversation, especially among young Chinese speakers who enjoy them ironically or affectionately. They frequently rely on wordplay involving homophones, literal interpretations of idioms, or scientific/linguistic trivia. While not considered highbrow humor, ‘冷笑话’ reflects a self-aware, playful side of contemporary Chinese communication — valued more for its charm and shared recognition than its comedic impact.