#yabi

GUIDE TO YABI!! 亚比

‘yabi’ is a compound word made of 亚 ‘ya’ (meaning ‘sub-,’ as in subculture) and the derogatory word 逼 ‘bi’ (often found in many insults such as shabi (傻逼) meaning ‘idiot,’ and zhuangbi (装逼) meaning ‘poser’ or ‘fake’).

inspired by subcultures like punk, goth, hippie, grunge, and cyberpunk as well as cultural aspects of the neo-chinese style and the too cool movement, the aesthetic was born from china’s underground music scene.

Round 1, Match 19 — Autumn Aesthetic vs. Yabi

The Autumn aesthetic, sometimes referred to as Fallcore, is a social media-driven lifestyle trend focused on romanticizing the autumn season. It is not the season itself, but rather a curated and idealized interpretation of it, centered on themes of coziness, nostalgia, and a slower, more intentional pace of life. The aesthetic is heavily influenced by specific media portrayals and is expressed through fashion, home decor, seasonal activities, and a distinct sensory palette. The aesthetic uses a warm, earthy color palette dominated by the hues of changing leaves: rich browns, deep reds, mustard yellows, and burnt oranges. Visually, it is characterized by images of pumpkin patches, streets covered in foliage, misty mornings, and cozy, candlelit interiors. The trend is heavily sensory. Textures are central, with an emphasis on soft and cozy materials like chunky knits, flannel, and wool in both fashion and home decor. Scents are very important, with cinnamon, pumpkin spice, apple, vanilla, and sandalwood being iconic fragrances, often dispersed through candles, baked goods, or simmer pots. Tastes also define the aesthetic, most commonly warm drinks like pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider, and comforting baked goods like pumpkin bread.

vs.

Yabi (亚逼) is a contemporary Chinese subculture and social label that emerged from the urban underground music and club scenes of cities like Shanghai and Beijing around 2019. Unlike traditional aesthetics defined by a strict fashion style, Yabi is characterized by an extreme form of eclecticism and the arbitrary mixing of diverse global and local styles. The movement is largely driven by Gen Z youth who navigate the "cultural supermarket" of the internet to construct highly individualized identities, often as a response to societal pressures known as "involution" (内卷, neijuan). While the term originated as a vulgar pejorative, it has since been reappropriated by its adherents as a badge of subcultural pride and aesthetic defiance. The term itself is a compound word: "ya" (亚) is derived from "yawenhua" (亚文化, subculture), and "bi" (逼) is a derogatory, diminutively feminine curse often used in insults like "shabi" (傻逼, idiot) or "zhuangbi" (装逼, poser). Literally translating to "subcultural c***," the label was initially weaponized by netizens to mock individuals perceived as superficial posers who "dress loud" but lack critical social awareness or deep knowledge of the subcultures they emulate. However, influencers and artists within the scene have actively challenged this narrative, reframing Yabi as a "neo-tribe" that prioritizes "aesthetic freedom" over historical authenticity or gatekeeping.

[PT: Yabi Themed ID Pack].

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Names

[PT: Names].

Aamon, Abigor, Adder, Alias, Atlas, Beffa, Blake, Buster, Cage, Cain, Cary, Cascade, Cipher, Corbin, Damien, Darcy, Delaney, Doyle, Eris, Etain, Glitch, Harper, Iggy, Jayden, Jinx, Juno, Karma, Leia, Locke, Lola, Luca, Maddox, Mal, Mara, Matteo, Morgan, Moxie, Nova, Pandora, Piper, Ramona, Rave, Render, Rogue, Salem, Tynan, Viggo, Viper, Voxel, Xanthe, Zoe

Pronouns

[PT: Pronouns].

Alt / Alts / Alts, Chao / Chaos / Chaos', Cy / Cyber / Cyrs, Dae / Dark / Dar, DIY / DIYs / DIYs, Grun / Grunge / Grunger, Hex / Hexed / Hexes, Lay / Layer / Layers, Media / Medias / Medias, Ne / Neon / Neons, Noi / Noise / Noises, Nost / Nostalgia / Nosts, Post / Posts / Posts, Pu / Punk / Punks, Rebe / Rebel / Rebels, Sub / Subs / Subs, Tech / Techno / Techs, Voi / Voids / Voids

Titles

[PT: Titles].

[Pronoun] Finding Beauty in the Mess, [Pronoun] Taking Insults as Flattery, [Pronoun] Whose Identity is a Protest, A Glitch in the Mainstream System, A Modern Fever Dream, An Idiot Who Stole The Future, The Chaotic Child of 21st Century, The Eclectic Error, The King/Queen/Monarch of Clutter, The Media Decadent, The Mix-n-Match, The Post-Subcultural Wasteland

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Requested by anon