The SBTI craze

Chinese social media has a new personality obsession — but this time, it's less about self-discovery and more about self-roasting.

On April 9, the SBTI (Silly Big Personality Test) shot to the top of trending charts.

Modeled on the long-dominant MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), it offers a playful twist on traditional personality quizzes. Packed with self-deprecating labels like "ZZZZ" and "MALO", along with meme-friendly humor, it struck a chord with young internet users and sparked a fresh wave of online buzz.

The label "ZZZZ" describes a laid-back personality that copes with challenges by simply taking a nap, and "MALO", borrowed from Chinese internet slang for "monkey", has been adopted as a funny way to capture everyday bad luck or awkward moments.

According to its creator, SBTI was originally intended as a playful reminder for friends who tend to overindulge, nudging them to pay more attention to their health.

"I'm not trained in psychology, and some of the personality descriptions may be vague or completely inaccurate. Apologies for any offense," the creator wrote on the site.

Psychologist Zhong Huilan told Yangcheng Evening News that SBTI is not a professional assessment."It's mainly for entertainment — a way to express emotions rather than to define personality," she said.

"Human personality is complex and ever-changing. Any test can offer only a partial glimpse. A more mature approach is to treat such labels lightly and not let them define you," Zhong added.