South Korean girl group BABYMONSTER member Ahyeon (아현) shared beach photos on social media on May 9. After the photos were released, fans quickly noticed she had worn her dress backward. Upon seeing the comments, Ahyeon immediately responded in Chinese, but her choice of words, which included a vulgar term, sparked discussion among Chinese-speaking fans.
When fans pointed out her dress was on backward, Ahyeon initially tried to use Chinese to poke fun at her own carelessness, replying, "Wocao, I wore it backward? My brain must be fried!" The term she used, however, carried a vulgar connotation, surprising some fans. Realizing her mistake, Ahyeon quickly deleted the comment and posted a new apology.
She explained, "I'm truly sorry for the inappropriate expression! I was just trying to use a newly learned phrase and had no ill intentions at all." She also thanked fans for the reminder, stating that she would be more careful with her Chinese vocabulary in the future to avoid misunderstandings caused by semantic differences.
Ahyeon's Chinese proficiency has long been a point of interest for fans. She began learning Chinese at age seven, and even before BABYMONSTER's official debut, she showcased impressive conversational Chinese skills in pre-debut trainee videos. As the group gained more fans in Chinese-speaking regions after their debut, she continued to practice, occasionally interacting directly with fans in Chinese on social media and at public events.
Fans have praised not only her ability to use everyday Chinese but also her pronunciation and quick responses. Online videos have even described her as a "Top Tier Chinese idol," leaving many Chinese-speaking fans impressed by her language skills.
This incident, where Ahyeon intended to playfully mock herself in Chinese but inadvertently sparked discussion due to her word choice, quickly concluded. Despite the minor mishap, fans lightheartedly commented, "Her Chinese is so good, she even learned that kind of slang!" and "Next time, maybe check the meaning first!" unexpectedly creating a buzz online.
