Questionnaire on the creative reuse of viral utterances on Weibo

Informed Consent Form 1: LRR

Version number & date: Version 2, 23 April 2026

Research ethics approval number: ER-LRR-11000205120260422161030

Title of the research project: The creative reuse of viral utterances on Weibo

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor, Esther Pascual, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Co-Investigator: Professor, Todd Oakley, Case Western Reserve University

The Contact Details of Principal Investigator:
*University office address: IA-326 (South Campus), Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University
*Phone number: +86 (0)512 89165972

*University email: Esther.Pascual@xjtlu.edu.cn

Participant Information Sheet:
Before deciding whether or not to participate in this research project, you should read the participant information sheet carefully. Please click this link to access it. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the principal investigator before agreeing to participate.

Informed Consent Statements:

1. I confirm that I have read and have understood the information sheet dated [Version 2, 23 April 2026] for the above study. I have had the opportunity to consider the information, ask questions and have had these answered satisfactorily.

2. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason, without my rights being affected. In addition, I understand that I am free to decline to answer any particular question or questions.

3. I understand that I can withdraw from this study at any time and request the destruction of my data. I also understand that this right is limited, and it will no longer be possible to withdraw my data after it has been fully anonymised or included in an aggregated analysis, as explained in section #13 of the Participant Information Sheet.

4. I consent for my anonymised quotes to be used in reports or publications.

5. I understand and agree that ––in the unlikely case of an individual follow-up interview––my participation will be [audio recorded /video recorded] and I am aware of and consent to the recording being used for research purposes.

6. I have carefully read and considered the sub-section ‘IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSFERRING DATA OUTSIDE CHINA’ in section #10 of the Participant Information Sheet. I agree for my personal data to be transferred outside of Mainland China and I have been informed of where the data will be sent and of the safeguards in place.

7. I agree to take part in the above study.

YesNo

Informed Consent Form 2

Title of Study: The creative reuse of viral utterances on Weibo

WHO IS CONDUCTING THE STUDY?

Principal Investigator:

· Assistant Professor Elise Stickles, The University of British Columbia

o Telephone:604 822 9824

o Email:elise.stickles@ubc.ca

Co-Investigators:

· Associate Professor Esther Pascual (primary contact), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

o Telephone: +86 (0)512 89165972

o Email:Esther.Pascual@xjtlu.edu.cn

· Professor Todd Oakley, Case Western Reserve University

o Telephone: +1 (216) 368-0798

o Email:tvo2@case.edu

· Lei Huang, PhD student in English, The University of British Columbia

o Telephone:604 822 9824

o Email:lei.cog@outlook.com

· Miaomiao Kuang, MA student in Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Shanghai International Studies University

o Telephone: +86 15518169381

o Email:mmk011711@163.com

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?

You are being invited to take part in this research study because you are a native (or very competent) speaker of Mandarin Chinese, are enrolled as a student at a Chinese university, and are familiar with the popular Chinese social media platform Weibo.

We are doing this study to learn more about creative language use on social media. Specifically, we want to explore how popular phrases and viral utterances are used, adapted, and understood on platforms like Weibo.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU IN THE STUDY?

If you say “Yes,” here is how we will do the study:

· You will be directed to an online survey on the WeChat platform.

· The survey consists of 20 multiple-choice questions about your personal information, Weibo usage, and your interpretation of 6 creative reusages of 2 prior viral utterances. The final question asks you to provide 2-5 similar examples.

· The total amount of time required for the survey is 10-20 minutes.

STUDY RESULTS

The results of this study will be published in academic publications (e.g. journal articles). If you would like to receive a report of the study’s findings, you can provide your email address to us, and the results will be made available to you.

IS THERE ANY WAY BEING IN THIS STUDY COULD BE BAD FOR YOU?

We do not think there is anything in the study that could harm you. The risks associated with taking part are considered minimal and are no greater than those you would encounter in everyday life.

Please let the researcher know if you require adjustments to be made in order to allow your participation. The researcher is obligated to accommodate reasonable changes and can discuss your situation with you.

WILL BEING IN THIS STUDY HELP YOU IN ANY WAY?

We do not think taking part in this study will help you directly. However, in the future, others may benefit from what we learn in this study by advancing the research of a common yet poorly studied linguistic phenomenon. You may also benefit by gaining further linguistic awareness of how language works.

HOW WILL YOUR IDENTITY BE PROTECTED?

Your confidentiality will be respected. Information that discloses your identity will not be released without your consent, unless required by law.

· Data Security: All raw data will be stored on a password-protected local computer with full-disk encryption and backed up on a dedicated, encrypted external storage device kept in a physically secure, locked cabinet.

· Pseudonymization: Your data will be pseudonymized immediately upon download with a unique Participant ID. Contact information (emails) will be stored in a separate encrypted “Master Key” document and fully removed from the main dataset used for analysis.

· International Transfer limits: Because the survey is conducted online via WeChat, and the research team spans multiple countries, your personal data will be transferred outside of Mainland China. Data will be transmitted to researchers at Case Western Reserve University (USA) and The University of British Columbia (Canada). Data is encrypted using an AES-256 bit algorithm before transmission and stored on FOIPPA-compliant OneDrive accounts.

OPEN ACCESS

Raw data will not be shared. However, fully anonymized and aggregated data may be included in academic publications or stored securely by the research team for 5 years following publication. If the data is collected anonymously (if no email is provided), it cannot be withdrawn once it has been submitted. If you choose to provide your email, once the data are made publicly available or fully anonymized into aggregated analysis, you will not be able to withdraw your data.

WILL YOU BE PAID FOR YOUR TIME?

We will not pay you for the time you take to be in this study.

WHO CAN YOU CONTACT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STUDY?

The researcher will answer any participant questions to ensure full understanding before consent is requested. If you have any questions or concerns about what we are asking of you, please contact the Associate Professor Esther Pascual, at Esther.Pascual@xjtlu.edu.cn or +86 (0)512 89165972.

WHO CAN YOU CONTACT IF YOU HAVE COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE STUDY?

If you have any concerns or complaints about your rights as a research participant and/or your experiences while participating in this study, contact the Research Participant Complaint Line in the UBC Office of Research Ethics at 604-822-8598 or if long distance e-mail RSIL@ors.ubc.ca or call toll free 1-877-822-8598.

PARTICIPANT CONSENT AND SIGNATURE

Taking part in this study is entirely up to you. You have the right to refuse to participate in this study. If you decide to take part, you may choose to pull out of the study at any time without giving a reason and without any negative impact.

What You Are Consenting

· To By completing the survey or signing this form, you are indicating that you understand the information provided and agree to the following:

· To participate in a 10-20 minute online survey via WeChat regarding your Weibo usage and interpretation of viral utterances.

· To allow your pseudonymized data to be securely transferred to researchers in the USA and Canada for analysis.

· To allow your anonymized and aggregated data to be used in academic publications.

· That you understand your participation is entirely voluntary and you may withdraw at any time without any negative impact.

Next Steps Following Consent

· Once you indicate your consent by continuing, you will be directed to the WeChat platform to begin the survey.

How Consent is Recorded

For the Online Survey: If the questionnaire is completed, it will be assumed that consent has been given.

I agree to take part in the above study.

YesNo

性别（Gender）:

男（male）女（female）

年龄（Age）:

您当前所处的教育阶段是（Your current education level）:

请选择

您目前在微博上关注的人数（关注列表总量）是多少（How many accounts do you currently follow on Weibo (total following)）?

0 – 5051 – 150151 – 300301 – 500500人以上（More than 500）

您在微博上关注的人主要是（可多选）（The people you follow on Weibo are mainly (you may select multiple options)）:

朋友（Friends）家人（Family）职业关系（例如，老师、老板、同事）（Professional relations (e.g., professor, boss, colleague)）兴趣相投的陌生人（例如：兴趣爱好、生活方式）（Strangers with similar interests (e.g., hobbies, lifestyle)）名人（例如：影星、偶像艺人、网红）（Famous people (e.g., movie stars, idols, influencers)）

您目前的微博粉丝数是多少（How many followers do you currently have on Weibo）?

0 – 100101 – 500501 – 1,0001,001 – 5,0005000人以上（More than 5,000）

您的微博粉丝主要是（可多选）（Most of your Weibo followers are (you may select multiple options)）:

朋友（Friends）家人（Family）职业关系（例如：老师、老板、同事）（Professional relations (e.g., professor, boss, colleague)）兴趣相投的陌生人（例如：兴趣爱好、生活方式）（Strangers with similar interests (e.g., hobbies, lifestyle)）名人（例如：影星、偶像艺人、网红）（Celebrities (e.g., movie stars, idols, influencers)）

您使用微博的频率（How often do you use Weibo）?

极少使用（一年几次）（Rarely (a few to several times a year)）偶尔使用（一个月几次）（Occasionally (a few to several times a month)）经常使用（一周几次）（Frequently (a few to several times a week)）频繁使用（每天多次）（Often (a few to several times a day)）

您使用微博的主要目的是（可多选）（What do you mainly use Weibo for? (You may select multiple options)）:

获取时事消息（To be informed about current events）娱乐消遣（For entertainment）表达个人观点/看法（To express your opinions/views）分享个人情绪/生活（To share your emotions/personal life）与他人保持联系（例如：家人、朋友、老师、老板）（To stay in touch with your contacts (e.g., family, friends, professors, bosses)）

“真香”最初来源于《变形记》，用于描述起初不看好农村饭菜、尝试后发现美味的态度转变。随着在微博上的传播，网友开始在各种语境中使用它，开玩笑地评价某人“起初不太讨喜，但后来逐渐被欣赏/认可”。阅读以下三条微博:

（The exclamation “真香!” (“So yummy!”) was originally produced by a young boy in a famous Chinese reality upon tasting the rural food that he had previously shown contempt for”. When the video of the boy’s drastic change of attitude went viral, netizens began using it in various contexts to jokingly comment on somebody being initially not favorable, but later appreciative of something or someone. Read the following 3 Weibo posts）:

https://weibo.com/181 1848 673/QA3Dm1bKj?refer_flag=10 01 030103_

Lit. Lurk is infinitely rewatchable—it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Every time a clip pops up on my feed, I find myself watching it till the end. I can practically recite the Station Master’s iconic lines verbatim. I remember when I first joined Weibo, Lurk was all the rage. Back then, as a student, I couldn't see the appeal of spy thrillers and would just swipe past anything related to it. Well...So yummy!

b.

https://m.weibo.cn/status/4693727811734897?sourceType=weixin&from=10B5195010&wm=20005_0002&featurecode=newtitle, Oct 18th, 2021)

Lit. ‘It’s indeed true that the nature of human beings is repetitively So yummy.’

https://m.weibo.cn/status/4681626972062601?sourceType=weixin&from=10B5195010&wm=20005_0002&featurecode=newtitle, Sept 15th, 2021)

Lit. ‘You are all discussing the price and color of iPhone 13. Does nobody care about its signal anymore? It’s another slap in the face from the law of ‘so yummy’.

这段引用语（“真香”）想要传达的态度是什么（可多选）（What is this quote (“So yummy!”) used to communicate (You may select multiple options)）?

伪善（hypocrisy）打脸（humiliation or shame）惊喜（pleasant surprise）感激（gratitude）形容食物好吃（字面意思）（the food tasting good (literally)）傲慢/自大（arrogance）自嘲（self-deprecating）其他（other）

这些微博帖子对“真香”这一措辞进行了创新性的使用。你以前遇到过这种用法吗（These 3 Weibo posts use the utterance “So yummy!” in a creative manner. Have you encountered this utterance used this way before）?

是（Yes）否（No）

您认为，相较于直接、直白的表达（“打脸了吧”），这种对流行梗（“真香”）的创新性使用会对微博读者产生怎样的心理或社交影响（可多选）（What effect do you think using this creative use of a viral quote (“So yummy!”) instead of just saying things literally (“I’m pleasantly surprised”, “Look who’s talking!”) has on Weibo readers (You may select multiple options)）?

幽默感（humor）强化与其他微博用户（甚至是陌生人）的情感纽带/拉近心理距离（reinforce the bond/shorten the distance with fellow Weibo users (even strangers)）.以更礼貌的方式表达个人观点或分享经历（express one's opinions or share personal experiences indirectly）.以一种大家都能心领神会的方式，传达复杂的情感或体验（communicate complex emotions or experiences in a way everybody will understand）.创造更强的互动感与画面感（create engagement/vividness）.向粉丝证明自己紧跟时下热点，不是一个“断网”的人（to show followers that they are not out of date/knowledgeable of the latest online hit）.其他（other）

“那我走？”最初来源于一个走红的视频（见衍生表情包）。你知道这背后的故事吗（The question “Then, should I leave?” originally comes from a video that went viral (see the derived meme). Do you know the backstory）?

是（Yes）否（No）

如果看过，这个故事是关于什么的（请选择正确答案）（If yes, what was it about (select the right answer)）:

学生没做作业（a student not doing their homework）糟糕的第一次约会（a bad first date）厨师把食物烧糊了（a cook burning the food）游泳的人忘带泳衣（a swimmer forgetting the swimming suit）

阅读以下三条微博（Read the following 3 Weibo posts）:

(https://m.weibo.cn/status/4660128869777574?sourceType=weixin&from=10B5195010&wm=20005_0002&featurecode=newtitle, July 18^th, 2021)

Lit. ‘(I) searched Baidu [i.e. Google-like search engine] for instructions on the appropriate time to add salt when making scrambled eggs.

First hit result: add the saltbefore [scrambling the eggs].

Second hit result: add the salt after [scrambling the eggs].

Third hit result: add the salt both before and after.

Then, should I leave?’

“那我走？”这句话在这里表达什么意思（可多选）（What is this quote (“Then, should I leave?”) used to mean here (You may select multiple options)）?

打情骂俏（flirting）迷惑（confusion）搞笑（light amusement）请求允许离开（asking permission to go away）非常尴尬（deep embarrassment）讽刺（sarcasm）不耐烦（impatience）生气（anger）其他（other）

(https://weibo.com/2900451823/QvLbjaLJf?refer_flag=1001030103_)

Lit. 'The father-in-law says “I will not have my son quit his job to be a stay-at-home dad!”

The mother-in-law says “I will not have my daughter-in-law quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom!”

The child says “Then, should I leave??”'

“那我走？”在这里表达什么意思（可多选）（What is this quote (“Then, should I leave?”) used to mean here (You may select multiple options)）?

(https://weibo.com/7476748260/QgE9J8ahw?refer_flag=1001030103_)

Lit. ‘Trump Accuses Japan and South Korea of Ripping the U.S. off for Years'

Donald J. Trump: ‘“I won’t use the names. I won’t mention Japan; I refuse to mention South Korea. I will not mention names... but they’ve been ripping us off for years.”’

Sanae Takaichi: ‘“Then, should I leave?”’

“那我走？”这句话在这里表达什么意思（可多选）（What is this quote (“Then, should I leave?”) used to mean here (You may select multiple options)）?

打情骂俏（flirting）迷惑（confusion）搞笑（light amusement）请求离开（asking permission to go away）非常尴尬（deep embarrassment）讽刺（sarcasm）不耐烦（impatience）生气（anger）其他（other）

流行话语的创新性再使用，指的是原本在某个特定语境中产生或流行的表达，被网民在新的语境、场景或话题中重新使用，并赋予了新的语用意义。

（The creative reuse of viral utterances are expressions that originally emerged or became popular in a specific context, and are then reused by netizens in new contexts involving different topics, and getting slightly new meanings）.

20. 请提供2-5个您从微博上见到的创新性再使用类似流行话语的例子（请勿与示例重复）。如果可以，请提供链接（Please provide 2-5 examples of this same type of phenomenon of creatively re-using viral utterances in different contexts that you have seen on Weibo (Please avoid repeating any of the two examples provided as illustration above). Provide the link, if possible）:
1.____________________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________________

4.____________________________________________________________________

5.____________________________________________________________________

您是否愿意参加针对该主题的后续问卷调查或访谈（Would you be willing to participate in a follow-up questionnaire or interview on this topic）?

是（Yes）否（No）

22. 若愿意参加，请提供一个可以联系到您的有效电子邮箱地址（If yes, please provide a valid email address where we may contact you）: ______________.

23.

如果您希望在研究结束后收到本研究的结果摘要，请提供您的电子邮箱地址（If you would like to receive a summary of the findings once this study is completed, please provide your email address）:_______________.

（本项为选填，不填写不会影响您的问卷提交。您的邮箱将仅用于发送研究报告。它将与您的问卷回答分开存储以确保匿名性，并将在结果发送后被永久删除）。(This is entirely optional and will not affect your participation. Your email will be used only for sending the research report. It will be stored separately from your survey responses to ensure your data remains anonymous and will be permanently deleted after the results are sent.)

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