Chinese Slang Explained

爱你老己

ài nǐ lǎo jǐ

Literally
"Love you, old self" — 老己 is a buddy-style nickname for 自己 (oneself).
Meaning
A playful self-care phrase for treating or comforting yourself, as if you were your own best friend.
Popular since
2025
爱你老己 (ài nǐ lǎo jǐ)
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What does 爱你老己 mean?

爱你老己 is what you say when you are being kind to yourself: buying a little treat, leaving work on time, or simply surviving a long day. The full version, 爱你老己,明天见 ("love you, me, see you tomorrow"), is a popular sign-off before bed or at the end of a vlog. Calling yourself 老己, like an old pal, makes self-care sound casual and funny instead of sappy. It is mostly sincere and warm, closely tied to the idea of 情绪价值 — giving yourself the emotional support you need.

Where does 爱你老己 come from?

It parodies a line from the League of Legends champion Sett, 爱你老妈,明天见 ("love you, Ma, see you tomorrow"), swapping 老妈 (Mom) for 老己. Early uses are traced to a Douyin post in late November 2025, and the phrase peaked in mid-to-late December 2025, when it appeared on a list of 2025 youth buzzwords. It remained popular into 2026.

How to use 爱你老己

  • 加班到十点,给自己点个奶茶,爱你老己。
    Jiābān dào shí diǎn, gěi zìjǐ diǎn ge nǎichá, ài nǐ lǎo jǐ.
    Worked late till ten, so I ordered myself a bubble tea. Love you, me.
  • 今天也辛苦啦,爱你老己,明天见!
    Jīntiān yě xīnkǔ la, ài nǐ lǎo jǐ, míngtiān jiàn!
    Another tough day done. Love you, me — see you tomorrow!

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