吃瓜 · chī guā

Literally: eat melon Usually means: follow the gossip or drama

A seat on the sidelines

Imagine sitting back with a slice of melon while everyone else is caught up in a dramatic situation. That is 吃瓜: following gossip, a public argument, or an internet spectacle without being in the middle of it.

这件事我只是吃瓜，不发表意见。Zhè jiàn shì wǒ zhǐshì chī guā, bù fābiǎo yìjiàn.I’m only following the drama; I’m not giving an opinion.

Someone who is just watching is a 吃瓜群众 (chī guā qúnzhòng) — literally, “the melon-eating crowd.”

Basically: 🍉👀

Try another thing Chinese people “eat”

吃醋 — be jealous 吃土 — be broke