盘它

What does 盘它 mean?

盘它 covers a range of actions: polishing a walnut, taming a difficult problem, teasing a friend, even dealing with a rival. It comes from the world of 文玩, where collectors 盘 their beads and walnuts until they shine, and then got stretched into general slang for “get to work on it”. The tone is boisterous and slightly over the top.

Where does 盘它 come from?

The phrase comes from the crosstalk sketch 《文玩》 by 孟鹤堂 and 周九良, performed on the TV contest 《相声有新人》 in 2018, with the punchline 干干巴巴的、麻麻赖赖的……盘它！ In early 2019 clips went viral on short-video platforms and 盘它 became a catch-all verb; by March, interviews with the performers were running in national media.

How to use 盘它

• 厨房乱成这样，周末哪儿也不去，在家盘它。
  Chúfáng luàn chéng zhèyàng, zhōumò nǎr yě bú qù, zài jiā pán tā.
  The kitchen is a disaster. No plans this weekend; I am staying home to pan it into shape.
• 教练放话决赛要盘它，队员们在更衣室笑成一片。
  Jiàoliàn fànghuà juésài yào pán tā, duìyuánmen zài gēngyīshì xiào chéng yí piàn.
  The coach declared they would pan the final, and the locker room burst out laughing.