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What does “cèngfàn” mean in Mandarin?

蹭饭 (cèngfàn) is mainland Chinese slang for “mooching a meal” off someone, literally “rubbing a meal.” The verb 蹭 (cèng) means “to rub” or “to scrape against,” but in modern Mandarin slang it’s a productive way to say “get something for free”: 蹭网 (mooch wifi), 蹭车 (hitch a ride), 蹭热度 (ride someone’s clout), 蹭饭 (mooch a meal). All carry a cheeky, unembarrassed tone.

In this clip, friends downgrade their plan: instead of going to one friend’s house to 蹭饭, they decide to 蹭饭 in his neighborhood instead. The joke turns on how casually Chinese friends offer and accept these freebies.