The Humor of "七擒七纵" [Advanced]

Chinese Short Dialogue

Exploring Chinese-style humor through the mockery of "七擒七纵" sparked by the national football team's crushing defeat.

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《English Translation》

王明月: Teacher, recently the national football team lost 0-7 to Japan, and fans are very upset. But I noticed that many people online are using '七擒七纵' to joke about this match. What do you think are the characteristics of this type of humor?
陈智高: 王明月, you've observed very keenly. '七擒七纵' comes from "三国演义", telling the story of 诸葛亮 capturing 孟获 seven times and releasing him seven times, ultimately winning his sincere submission. Now fans are using it to describe the national team's crushing defeat, seemingly saying that the national team was repeatedly 'toyed with' by the Japanese team like 孟获, but in reality, it's a way of using self-deprecating humor to alleviate feelings of disappointment.
王明月: Is this kind of self-deprecating humor a common form of expression in Chinese culture?
陈智高: Indeed it is. Chinese culture emphasizes subtlety and restraint. We're not accustomed to directly expressing sadness and anger, but prefer to use humor to dissolve emotions. For example, we often use '阿Q精神' to describe the 'spiritual victory method', and use 'black humor' to express helplessness and criticism towards reality.
王明月: So, what are the benefits of this self-deprecating humor?
陈智高: On one hand, it can relieve stress and help us better face setbacks and failures; on the other hand, it can also provoke people to think about problems and motivate us to seek solutions. For instance, the mockery of '七擒七纵', although seemingly joking on the surface, also reflects fans' dissatisfaction with the current state of the national team and their expectations.
王明月: I understand now, Chinese-style humor actually contains rich cultural connotations and social significance.
陈智高: Exactly. Humor is not just a way of expression, but more of a life attitude, a kind of life wisdom. It allows us to remain optimistic when facing adversity, be full of courage when facing challenges, and dare to speak up when facing injustice.