Chinese video platform Bilibili released its Annual Bullet Comments list, highlighting the phrase zhijing, or "salute".
According to the platform, in 2025, the "salute" comment was posted over 22.82 million times, with more than 4.59 million users participating. Notably, 80 percent of them were born after 2000.
In the vast world of short videos, young people often gravitate toward humor and light-hearted entertainment. Yet they reserve the "salute" comment for moments that reflect kindness, bravery, love, and heroism. Over time, it has become a meaningful way to express sincere admiration and respect.
The first "salute" of 2025 appeared in a video featuring a vlogger who, despite losing a limb, continued to face life with optimism. The video that received the highest number of "salute" comments of the year — 109,962 — shows the creator cleaning a martyrs' cemetery at the request of a veteran.
Since 2017, Bilibili has selected and published its annual bullet comments for nine consecutive years. These phrases not only reflect how young people's communication styles are evolving, but also reveal the emotional values and connections that resonate most deeply with today's youth.